Like an idiot I've allowed a car to sit for multiple years. Also, a motorcycle. Finally going to get them running. Change oil first or after startup? Trust me, I feel stupid enough for letting this happen.
To help others answer ..give more info Age/ mileage of oil before storing Type / make / year of car How long is a few years Environment where stored including state or region Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk
1992 Aston Martin V8 Probably 2K on the oil, changed a year before sitting 4.5 yrs. Garaged in SoCal. Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
By all means change the oil and filter BEFORE trying to start it. You should also disable the ignition (i.e. by pulling the coil wire) and crank the engine several times until you see the oil pressure gauge move off the peg. Obviously you need to have a fully-charged battery before you do this. Good luck! Alan N.J.
4.5 years?.. Well that is not the end of the world. I have started cars that have sat for 10-20 & 30 years with no plan from the owner when they were stored (meaning zero prep). Sometimes life just gets in the way. Yes I think the best route is to drain & fill the oil prior to cranking the engine but again, 4.5 years is not so terminal. You can go as far as fogging the cylinders before start up, or even just a squirt of any lubricant, but unless its been outside and had dozens of extreme hot & cold cycles (like 100 in summer, -10 in winter - think Illinois) there is a very good chance that you & the car will be okay. They are machines, not flesh & bone. Most machines will stand for severe service or simple dry storage without pain.
I have had a mondial cab sit for 4 years with same old gas in tank. I added new gas to the old and cranked motor without starting. Then I fired it right up on the old oil. I do not think there is an issue if the oil oil on the4 dipstick looks like old oil. If you get weird smell of the oil or it looks weird the change it. After I got the car running I put it on the lift and did the major which includes all fluid change including the brake fluid. Brake fluid it the one that goes bad due to its affinity for water that causes corrosion in the system.
You are fine on that oil - for sure if it's synthetic, I'm guessing it's not since it's a 92, but it will be fine to turn over but change right away....
