If you’ve ever had an old automobile that has been laying about for some time, you know how difficult it can be to get it working again. Engines are designed to run frequently. More issues could arise as a result of their inactivity, which you would then have to deal with.
Starting an Old Engine
Imagine a worn-out engine as your body Your body becomes more accustomed to not exercising the less you exercise, making it tougher to start doing out. The muscles in your body can even be more vulnerable to damage because they aren’t accustomed to that amount of physical exercise. The way a car operates is similar. The moving elements of an engine have a propensity to become stuck and difficult to move when they are not used or properly greased for an extended period of time.
However, when a car sits around, more than just the mechanical components deteriorate. When used in an engine after being in storage for months or even years, old oil, antifreeze, and gasoline don’t perform properly. Seals leak, fluids degrade, and corrosion takes hold in various engine components. Additionally, issues might arise while starting an old engine due to the delivery systems that carry fluids, such as gasoline and oil pumps, hoses, and filters. All of the fluids that once made your car run may now be actively working against it if it has been sitting idle.
It could be challenging to start an antique engine, but it’s not impossible. Despite the fact that each engine is unique, practically any engine can be made to run again using a few general procedures. Just keep in mind that it’s possible you’ll need to utilize more than one of the methods outlined below to start your engine.
6: Lubricate the Engine
The internal parts of an engine are less likely to start up when it is very old or has been sitting idle for a long time. It is comparable to Newton’s first law, according to which an item at rest tends to remain at rest. This just implies that the engine will require some encouragement.
The engine needs to be maintained because there hasn’t been any oil running through it in a while. Marvel Mystery Oil is a substance that can be used to lubricate the cylinders, pistons, and rings. To accomplish this, remove the spark plugs and inject a tiny amount of oil right into the cylinders. In any case, the plugs will probably need to be changed.
At this stage, there are two methods for starting the engine. In some vehicles, you might be able to start the engine by attaching a battery to the ignition or turning the crankshaft nut with a socket wrench. When you do this, any oil that is inside the cylinders will leak out. When the spark plugs are changed, the engine can start up if you crank it and it rolls over. Some individuals advise putting starting fluid into the carburetor of your engine if it has one to help with combustion.
Getting the engine to turn over is a positive indication, and if you’ve already fixed any other issues, the aforementioned advice might be sufficient. But even if everything with the engine is operating as it should, there are still a number of other things that you need to check before you can start the engine permanently.
5: Replace the Fluids and Filters
Making sure the fuel, oil, and engine coolant are all flowing properly is one technique to get an old engine to start. Vintage gas is a significant reason why old engines fail to start—we already discussed lubricating the engine before starting it. The shelf life of regular petroleum gasoline is between three and six months. More time than that can potentially lead to fuel system issues if it is left to sit.
A highly refined substance, gasoline easily vaporizes and ignites. The compounds that give gas these characteristics also enable it to evaporate over time, which makes the gas less likely to ignite readily. When compounds in the gas combine with oxygen, a process known as oxidation might take place in addition to evaporation. This results in deposits in the fuel that can clog the carburetor, fuel injectors, fuel lines, and fuel filters. Additionally, ethanol-containing gasoline has a tendency to absorb moisture from the air, which speeds up fuel system corrosion.
You might need to pump new fuel into an engine from an external source in order to start it if the gas is old. Before attempting to start the engine, you might also need to completely empty the tank and fuel lines of any remaining gas. If they have been unused for several months or years, fuel filters and injectors may need to be thoroughly cleaned or replaced.
Also take into account filling the gas tank with fuel stabilizer before putting a car in storage. While the fuel sits for a few months, this stabilizer slightly modifies its chemical properties, preventing corrosion. It will probably be necessary to cleanse the antifreeze in addition to refilling the old gas. Over time, antifreeze degrades and produces acids that might harm your engine.
It’s also essential to perform an oil change and replace the oil filter. Most producers advise, at most, refilling the oil every 12 months. After the engine is running, you might want to think about performing more frequent oil and filter changes solely to clear out any sludge that has been collecting in the engine block.
You might need to attempt an alternative strategy if replacing the gas, coolant, oil, and filters doesn’t work for your engine.
4: Inspect the Electrical System
The more electrical components you’ll likely find inside a contemporary car, but even older engines are susceptible to electrical issues. If all the mechanical components appear to be in working order but your old engine still won’t start, you might have an electrical issue.
The battery has the simplest diagnosis and repair process. The lead-acid or lead-calcium system that powers car batteries transforms chemical energy into electrical energy. When the alternator transmits current to the battery’s internal plates and then back into the electrolyte solution inside the battery, the battery goes through a recharging cycle.
A battery loses energy while it isn’t being utilized because the chemical reaction inside the battery disintegrates. The battery will lose its ability to start the engine if left sitting for an extended period of time. The battery’s terminals can also become contaminated with corrosive green slime. It’s time for replacement if there is more than a little rust evident. Prior to installing the new battery, make sure the wire contacts on your car are clean. A battery tender is another item that works well for car storage. The battery is kept from depleting and the health of the electrical components is maintained by this device’s little, continuous charge.
Examine the ignition coils and coil wires in addition to the battery. Check the coil with a multimeter to determine if the resistance value corresponds to the specifications for your car. If not, the coil could not be working properly. Use a current reader to check whether the starter motor is receiving current if the coil and its wiring are functioning properly. The starter motor might become inoperable due to corrosion or poor wiring, which will stop the engine from starting. The starter motor may need to be rebuilt or replaced if it receives sufficient current but still does not engage.
If your electrical systems are functioning but the car still won’t start, the issue must be somewhere else.
3: Check for Vacuum Leaks
When the intake valve in the intake manifold is partially closed, your engine produces a vacuum. The vacuum is then used to power further automobile parts. It might ease the pressure you put on the brake pedal, or in older cars, it might even power the wipers. Your ancient engine might not start if enough of the vacuum hoses are leaking or if there is a single significant leak.
Some vacuum leaks can lead to engine sensors in contemporary cars reporting false values to the engine’s computer system. Even little leaks could prevent your engine from starting when this occurs. The throttle body, manifold seals, positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve, or PCV hose are a few potential trouble places for vacuum leaks. Although there are many vacuum hoses in every car, those may be some trouble locations.
The hoses may degrade and crack if the engine is left running for an extended period of time. A few minor leaks won’t prevent your car from starting, but huge leaks or an excessive number of minor leaks could be problematic. The most reliable method for figuring out if you have a vacuum leak is to use a smoke generator. With the help of this smoke-out equipment, you can observe where each hose’s vacuum leaks are originating from by creating smoke inside the engine.
Finding a schematic of your engine’s vacuum hoses and replacing them altogether may be a better idea as this gadget is relatively pricey and typically utilized by professionals. It’s not a terrible idea to replace every hose in an old engine because you can waste a lot of time trying to find a leak and you’ll need to replace a number of hoses anyhow.
Compression leaks in the cylinder heads of old engines are another possibility. A compression test at your neighborhood mechanic may be necessary since low compression can prevent gasoline from combusting in the chamber and prevent the engine from starting.
2: Replace Timing Belt
Your engine’s timing belts or chains are what keep the camshaft, distributor, crankshaft, and pistons in synchronization. The timing belt might prevent the engine from starting if it is damaged or broken. Timing belts typically last for 60,000 miles (96,561 kilometers), but if your engine has remained idle for a while, it may be wise to get it inspected.
Although many contemporary luxury cars have strengthened rubber seat belts, many older cars still have metal chains. Timing chains can wear out and become loose over many years of service, although they normally survive much longer than timing belts do. A broken timing belt (or chain) will prevent your engine from starting in either scenario.
Even while putting the belt on might only take a few minutes, getting to the belt might not be that simple. To access it, you’ll probably need to remove a number of hoses, shift electrical wires, and take out other engine parts. When you can reach the belt, make sure the crankshaft and camshaft markings are in line and that the first piston is at top dead center (TDC). If you don’t get this exactly right, the engine’s timing could be thrown off, which could lead to major internal damage when all of those metal pieces start colliding.
You might as well put on brand-new auxiliary belts while you’re replacing the timing belt or chain. Rubber accessory belts are also used, however these are exposed to the air outside the engine. They are therefore susceptible to developing dry rot after extended periods of inactivity.
It goes without saying that not everyone should change their timing belt. It takes a lot of skill, and in some circumstances, you might even need to remove an engine mount to get complete access while suspending part of the engine while you work on it. But in order to get your engine started, you’ll need to repair your timing belt or chain if it’s old, stretched, worn out, or damaged. If you don’t have the tools and knowledge necessary to replace it, you might think about taking it to a mechanic.
1: Care and Maintenance
It’s crucial to keep in mind that getting an engine running is only half the battle of making sure it lasts. The key to mechanical health is routine maintenance, and an unattended engine needs even more attention. If your automobile has been resting for a while, it could only require fluid and filter changes to get it running properly again. More extensive repairs will be needed if it hasn’t been used for years or perhaps decades.
After being inactive, gaskets, which act as seals between engine parts, may dry rot and begin to leak. Oil and coolant can leak outside of the engine or back into the combustion chamber if it is run for an extended period of time with defective gaskets. This can then result in more serious issues including corrosion, overheating, and ultimately an engine seizing. Fluids and gaskets in additional drivetrain parts, such as the differential and transmission, may need to be replaced.
Sludge deposits may obstruct oil passageways in an ancient engine, preventing the correct lubrication of the crankshaft bearings and piston rings. These tiny metal fragments will undoubtedly harm the parts they come into contact with if they are left dry, necessitating additional repairs. In the worst scenario, they could remove metal shavings that pollute the remainder of the engine when they enter oil passageways.
The best course of action is to have a professional disassemble the engine and examine each component before it even starts if the engine is an antique that hasn’t been running for 40 years. They will be able to repair bearings and gaskets, clear carbon buildup, and inspect the block for warpage or scoring. The only real method to guarantee an old automobile will operate like new is to completely rebuild the engine, which will be an expensive procedure.
