To: alpines(at)autox.team.net
From: nyclewit(at)nyhp03.serigate.philips.nl
Subject: Re: starting car in storage
Alpiners and Impers:
Starting a car in storage is VERY GOOD !
First it heats the engine compartment and will dry out the
electrical system like control boxes and their contact breakers
and will clean the rotor and brushes of your starter motor and
dynamo etc.
And of course will get the condensation out of the sump etc.
It dries the clutch plates which will otherwise rust fixed to the
flywheel with the consequence of having to get the engine out
completely when it can't be freed from it by a jump start.
It will also fill the fuel pump and carbs again will fresh fuel
otherwise the old fuel will block your jets, besides it will
keep the seals in better condition.
When you start the engine up first take the HT leads off so it doesn't
start running as there will not be any oil pressure yet: result
your mains and other bearings will wear instantaniously !
First built up that oil pressure ! (also after an oil change when
the oil filter is empty)
Then putting oil on the pistons is also very good, as it will see
to it that the piston rings will not get stuck in their pistons grooves.
There will be a carbon built up in the grooves you engine rebuilders
must have seen and cleaned that.
Remember that engine oil will creap up and down and will get anywhere
as that is what is was designed for.
When you start the engine I allways try the brakes as well and drive
it or at least roll the car so it's not standing on the same point
on the tyres and bearings, the tyres will get un-round and will give
a bad unbalance when driving fast later on.
I never put it on the hand brake to save the cables and prevent the
brake pads rusting to the drums or pads to disks.
Also I allways remove the battery which I load so now and then and
also for savety reasons (fire).
And I put paper on the engine to keep it dry in there.
So you see there are many advantages to start and drive/roll it so
now and then.
Hope this helps
Bert Clewits
'64 Alpine S IV GT OD moonstone white
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Tue Sep 05 2000 - 09:32:49 CDT