Start up after winter storage.

Venom351R

Founding Member
Apr 27, 2002
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Its still a ways off and I'm jumping the gun a little b/c it will be awhile before I start it up for the first time but I figured Id just start asking now. Ive stored Mustangs over the winter before but I think I'm just more careful with this one. Its not been started since Oct 6th and I probably wont start it until mid to late April/early May. Is there anything that should be done on the first initial start up after its sat for so long? Just concerned b/c I know all the oil is down in the pan and it will take a few seconds for it to pick it up and start to cycle it through the motor, any chance of minor damage being done or is it good to just fire it up as it sits when the time comes?
 
u can un plug something that will cuase ur engine not to start, but just crank over to alow some oil to get moving, then plug it back in to start the motor...just an idea...

I know it sounds stupid,....sorry lol im not much help
 
could try unplugging the ignition coil and cranking over the engine a couple times?

thats what I was thinking, as far as getting the internals to move but not to have it fire. It seems really obvious but Im just seeing if there is anything else that someone has done after their Mustang has sat for awhile
 
Pull the dizzy and use a priming tool on the oil-pump drive. If you have a mech gauge, you can watch it build pressure as you do this.

It doesnt get much better than this - you build pressure and move oil all over without ever turning the engine over.
 
Either buy or "rent" a priming tool and pull the dizzy.

IIRC if your just starting/turning over the car if you put the throt. at WOT I want to say it kills the inj.

change the oil and check all the hoses and fluids to make sure everything is good to go.
 
You could trip the fuel pump relay in the trunk so you wouldn't have fuel.

But really it's like changing your oil.....except now your filter is already completely full. Even when you change the oil and put oil in the filter before you put it on, it still has to force oil through it. If you don't put oil in your filter before you change it it is dry that much longer.
 
Its still a ways off and I'm jumping the gun a little b/c it will be awhile before I start it up for the first time but I figured Id just start asking now. Ive stored Mustangs over the winter before but I think I'm just more careful with this one. Its not been started since Oct 6th and I probably wont start it until mid to late April/early May. Is there anything that should be done on the first initial start up after its sat for so long? Just concerned b/c I know all the oil is down in the pan and it will take a few seconds for it to pick it up and start to cycle it through the motor, any chance of minor damage being done or is it good to just fire it up as it sits when the time comes?

Why don't you just go out and start it once a week and let it warm up? That way, you don't have to worry about some long term storage starting issue. Mine has been off the road too, since about November. I go out about every week or so and let it warm completely up. I run synthetic, so I don't worry too much about start-up wear.

Seems kind of silly to do all of that pulling wires and fuses and such.

Just my thoughts.
 
Why don't you just go out and start it once a week and let it warm up? That way, you don't have to worry about some long term storage starting issue. Mine has been off the road too, since about November. I go out about every week or so and let it warm completely up. I run synthetic, so I don't worry too much about start-up wear.

Seems kind of silly to do all of that pulling wires and fuses and such.

Just my thoughts.

Im running Mobil 1 Synth but its been sitting since Oct and will be until late april. The reason I dont start it up periodically is b/c Ive heard its not good to do that over the course of the winter. Just letting it run/idle for 5-10 mins is worse off them letting it sit w/ out starting. So Ive heard.
 
Im running Mobil 1 Synth but its been sitting since Oct and will be until late april. The reason I dont start it up periodically is b/c Ive heard its not good to do that over the course of the winter. Just letting it run/idle for 5-10 mins is worse off them letting it sit w/ out starting. So Ive heard.

Personally I think you are being too anal here. We are talking storage for months not years. I defy anyone to point me towards an engineering study/report that indicates you should be concerned.

I don't like the starting up bit as that will/could result in condensation forming as the engine cools. Problem might be more evident within the exhaust system where the condensation is slightly acidic.
 
Personally I think you are being too anal here. We are talking storage for months not years. I defy anyone to point me towards an engineering study/report that indicates you should be concerned.

Im just under the impression that after sitting that long any oil in the motor will find its way down to the pan and you wont have the required lubrication at initial start up.
 
The acidic formation in the motor oil is a valid concern (if letting it run, get it hot enough to flash contaminates).

What is considered over the top is different things to different folks. With the money some of you have in your cars, I dont see spending 20 mins priming the oil system as anything but a decent way to spend said time.
 
Pull the dizzy and use a priming tool on the oil-pump drive. If you have a mech gauge, you can watch it build pressure as you do this.

It doesnt get much better than this - you build pressure and move oil all over without ever turning the engine over.

Does this method actually get oil onto the cylinder walls, which I'm guessing is where everyones main concern might be. I am under the impression that the bearing journals and rod bearings are partially submerged in the oil. Now top end stuff is different and often we hear lifter noise that that stops almost immediately once the car is running stored or not. Or is this just old school stuff that doesn't apply anymore?
 
myself I pop the inertia in the trunk.... pull the coil wire and crank til I get full oil pressure then let it rip.

Starting it all the time does create alot of condensation and isn't recommended unless your can get everything up to full temp to ward off condensation, like a 1/2 hr ride. Plus if you dont do a fresh oil change before storage your just running rank, dirty oil thru your dead cold motor for 10 minutes...Oh the horror !!!:eek: Its better off not running at all to me..

On a carb set-up its easy as you can dump K1 down the carb til she smokes pure White and kill it... that fogs the cyl's and that helps bigtime....I used to store my 70 TA like that....This one I just Sta-Bil, oil / filter chg and say bye... So far so good...