Starting a motor that has been sitting

[drunkenmaster]

Hey guys,

Im selling my L28ET setup as a few of you know and I want to make sure its running for the next owner. The L28E ran fine when I bought it around 6 monthes ago but the battery was flat and I havent started it since as i planned to rebuild it anyway.

I know this isnt a huge deal as some of you guys pick up motors that havent been used for several years, but is there any steps i should go through before I charge up a battery and fire her up?

Remove the rocker and oil the head etc?

[HKSZ]

Pull the plugs and a couple of squirts of WD40 into the bores will help get things moving again.

When I start a rebuilt motor for the first time I pull the HT leed off the coil and turn it over a few times to build up oil pressure.

Steve

[abas]

I would also (as you say ) remove the rocker cover and oil the cam lobes. They get pretty dry if not started for 6 months.

AndrewB

[280zx Fever]

no real prep needed imo. make sure the oil aint gluggy besides that crank it over the cam should still have oil still on it.

[drunkenmaster]

while we are on the topic, whats considered a good oil weight for a 20 year old L28E ?

Its not exactly a tight high revving screamer.

I was thinking a 10-30W but i have also heard that maybe using a synthetic on an older motor like this wouldnt be advisable as it would leak past the seals??

Thanks

[drunkenmaster]

Also is there a gasket which may be affected by removing the rocker?

[280zx Fever]

20w 40

[280zx Fever]

Yeah well there is a rocker cover gasket so if its broken when u put it back in it might leak a bit no real big problem

[drunkenmaster]

Every source has a different opinion when it comes to oil.

I have been steered towards 25-50 or 25-60 elsewhere.

The consensus everywhere is though that 10-30 is definately too thin.

Too many decisions

[280zx Fever]

well rule of thmub you never put lighter oil then whats in it already

[Inf]

Originally posted by drunkenmaster

...

I was thinking a 10-30W but i have also heard that maybe using a synthetic on an older motor like this wouldnt be advisable as it would leak past the seals??

...

Synthetic : I've heard the same thing about old engines in general. From most people i've heard that you shouldn't use synthetic unless you start using it right after the break-in after a rebuild (using regular oil during the break-in). Read something about some oils having a detergent in them that loosens up oil gunk that collected over the years and lets it float around and cause trouble clogging stuff up!

[sjcurtis]

when the oiling of the engine is what you want to achieve, I normally pull the plugs and squirt engine oil in each of the bores let it sit fo about 15 minutes or so the oil moves around the edge of the piston, use this time to prime the carbs and fuel system using an electric pump on the engine side of the engine driven fuel pump when the fuel filter is full of fuel continue pumping for 20 seconds. restore the fuel plumbing to normal check the time. Crank the engine for 5 seconds, install the plugs. Quick scan of the engine for tools and disconnected bits all good fire it up. all being equal you should have arunning engine in seconds.

my 2c

Steve :classic:

[Gav240z]

i know a few people who would be interested in that motor have you sold it?

[PrOxLaMuS©]

20w-50????

ahhh!

Unfortunatly.. with older engines with higher miles....

heavy oil is BADD for the engine...

Thick oil such as 20W can actually BLOW the seals, on older high mileage engines and that wouldn't be a good thing.

10W is perfect for older Z's like our's.

[drunkenmaster]

I got it running today.

Took the plugs out and removed the rocker, i was happy to see everything was still looking fresh and lubed up, but i gave the cam a splash of oil anyhow.

Refitted the rocker and let the starter turn a few times with the plugs out, all sounded fine.

Drained the oil, topped it up with 20-50 gtx2, changed oil filter, refitted the plugs, she starts first crack. Started very nicely and had a nice smooth idle, was very impressed.

flushed the radiator and engine water passages a few times, topped her up with new coolant, fitted a new fuel filter and couldnt wait to take her around the block.

This thing walks all over my 280zx, made me regret selling it as i forgot how nice this motor was. Buyer comes in from interstate tomorrow night.

[drunkenmaster]

Originally posted by Gav240z

i know a few people who would be interested in that motor have you sold it?

I advertised it for a while, i have only had two bites

[drunkenmaster]

Originally posted by PrOxLaMuS©

20w-50????

ahhh!

Unfortunatly.. with older engines with higher miles....

heavy oil is BADD for the engine...

Thick oil such as 20W can actually BLOW the seals, on older high mileage engines and that wouldn't be a good thing.

10W is perfect for older Z's like our's.

When oil shopping, all the oils targetted at older motors were very thick/heavy and all the lighter oils noted for late model cars only. There were way too many choices.