Looking After Engine on Stand

[geordie]

My engine has been on a stand for about six months now. During than time non of the internals were disturbed. My questiion is, what steps if any do I need to take to prevent the engine from binding. Should I put a squirt of oil in each cylinder and rotate the crank once a month?

Opinions please.

 

[Tubo(2-bo)]

I'd use a little ATF, and pull the engine through. 6mos. probably wont hurt at all, but valve springs left compressed for an extended period of time, can get "tired" and loose strength.

 

[Edbert]

I cranked mine by hand a couple of revs, and more than once primed it with a cordless drill.

 

[geordie]

I'd use a little ATF, and pull the engine through

Do you mean squirt a little ATF into each cylinder and then rotate the crank? Why ATF and not regular oil?

 

[ForceFed70]

Personally, I'd just spray it with something like WD40.

Cranking it 180* every 6 months or so is a good idea.

My car sits for 6 months without running just about every winter...so far no problems.

 

[geordie]

Do you mean squirt a little ATF into each cylinder and then rotate the crank? Why ATF and not regular oil?

Replies would be welcomed.

 

[whwright]

On my Mustang, the rebuilt engine sat on the stand for about 18 months, and then in the car for about 3 months. It fired right up.

On my son's Firebird project, the rebuilt engine sat for a little over a year. It also fired right up.

On both projects I put a little motor oil in each cylinder before cranking the engine.

 

[geordie]

On both projects I put a little motor oil in each cylinder before cranking the engine.

Thank you

 

[Tubo(2-bo)]

Sorry Geordie,
Asleep at the wheel.
Yeah ATF(auto trans fluid) Squirted in each cylinder. Why ATF, Its what we used "Pickleing" marine engines for winter storage. We'd fog a half bottle of ATF down the carb, with the engine running, untill we killed it. Certain properties, cant remember what, make it better than regular oil.

 

[whwright]

Thank you

You're welcome.

 

[BullittStangV8]

Guys, my 5.0 longblock is going to be sitting for a while. Currently it sits with no pan, but the heads are on it, and no intake. What should I do to store the engine for the next couple of months while I get my parts together? The only lubricants the engine has in it are wd-40 and assembly lube from putting it all together. Thanks.

 

[BullittStangV8]

anyone?

 

[mikec35]

I would just make sure that all exposed moving components are coated with oil then cover it with plastic so that no air/moisture can get to it.

 

[65ShelbyClone]

I got a can of fogging oil from the autoparts store and sprayed it anywhere that didn't look oily. My engine came as an unassembled kit and it sat in different stages of completeness over the course of probably 18 months. I kept a trashbag over it and checked the surfaces occasionally for rust. Never found any.

 

[SoCalCruising]

If it will sit for a long while in a sealed plast ic bag, then WD40 (it was origuinally developed to displace moisture) and put a desiccant pack in with the engine to absorb moisture that will condense inside the bag. If you can leave the bag unsealed, you can prolly skip the desiccant. Anyway, that's what I'd do.