[Shotimes] Do a couple of things, then RUN IT....was: question #2 of 4 - fuel injector and fuel system cleaning

[George Fourchy]

On Wed, 10 Sep 2003 16:15:32 -0400, James F. Ryan III wrote:

>I'm a little worried about the fuel injectors
>being gummed up so I will be taking them out and having them cleaned and
>checked for flow.
>
>Since the car has been sitting for over a year there shouldn't be any fuel
>pressure in the rails, correct?

Jim....

Al Fitzgerald is right......

That car will start instantly, as soon as you pressure up the fuel system.  My
T-bird TC is sitting in the back yard, retired, waiting for paint before it goes to
the Ford Museum in Sacramento.  The last time it got gas was in 1996.  It has a
quarter of a tank, and the engine is all covered with spider webs.  (Thats the worst
that they get around here when they sit outside...!!)  When I need to move it, I
stick a battery in, crank up the original fuel pump a couple of times with the key
(needs replacing if I were to drive it, but it will run the engine fine as long as I
don't hit the turbo), and the starter cranks over about 5 compression strokes and
the engine pops to life.  It needs some throttle for about 30 seconds, so that it
won't die, probably due to the sticky IAB valve (original, never serviced), but
after things start to warm up, it runs just FINE.

(Yes, I know it needs to be cleaned up and gotten inside, but the alligators around
here just don't agree....)

Change your oil if you want, then start it up like it ran yesterday.  It will!  Then
go get gas, and DRIVE IT!  Don't take it apart....you don't need to.  You're liable
to chip away at the injector seals...we did that when we fixed the two cars in my
driveway in March of 02, then one car had a really bad fuel leak.  I was able to
spot it and replaced that pair of seals.  If your car was OK before, it'll be OK
now.

also......

On Wed, 10 Sep 2003 16:18:07 -0400, James F. Ryan III wrote:

> I'm concerned about this one and I won't remove the plugs until I hear
>from the gurus.  When I parked the car it was running strong and smooth, no
>hesitation, idled like a champ, and started quickly just like it had
>everyday for the previous 12 years.

I can't go to the site.....I can't stay on line that long while at work, but if you
are showing oil in the wells, and plug wires, I'd say blow the oil out with air
pressure then remove and check the plugs, then put them back in and RUN IT.  The
wires, if they are Ford wires, don't care if the engine has been running or not.  

plus..........

On Wed, 10 Sep 2003 16:15:32 -0400, James F. Ryan III wrote:

>However, Sta-bil says it's good for only a about a year so I plan
>on draining the fuel tank. 

Me.....I'd drive it for a day on that tank to see if it ran OK.  If it seemed to
have problems, then I'd drain it.  But if it has been inside, and not exposed to
outside winter conditions, I'd say the gas was still usable....it might have some of
the lighter components that make starting easier....the components that evaporate
faster, and contribute to a stale condition, but that's what the Sta-bil is supposed
to do, right?

George