Engine storage

[Ben Wilson]

OK - I've got a perfectly good ZE long motor sitting in my shed which I have no real use for right now.

I'm thinking about putting it into storage for a while.

Other than draining the dirty oil and blocking up all the ports, is there anything else I should do to it before it goes into storage?

[blacktop]

i can store it in my car if you want. wont have to worry about blocking anything

[1200det]

A few squirts of engine oil into the cylinders via the spark plug holes.

.

[TooF]

also turn it so all the valves are shut.

[lojik]

People seem to oil em up and wrap in plastic?
Could condensation under the plastic encourage corrosion?

[Robbos_Toyotas]

People seem to oil em up and wrap in plastic?
Could condensation under the plastic encourage corrosion?

dont wrap it in plastic, put a sheet/ rags over it and leave it at that. take off the tappet covers and oil inside there around your valve seats if you like. Typically lying around your valve stem seals will perish and get hard, so lubricate these as much as you can.

Blake

[CrUZida]

also turn it so all the valves are shut.

Is this even possible?

[TooF]

not quite. but you can come close, turn the cams the same as if you were aligning them for a new belt and the valves are all at their most closed.

just helps to minimise crud getting in.

but obviously tape over all the ports as well.

[Ben Wilson]

Realistically, it takes 5 minutes to pop the cams out, (which I'll do before I wash it).

Then, I think I'll just tape it up and stick it in a corner...

[ed]

LANOGUARD - empty a can into/onto/around the old donk

dont use inox, it's too light. lanoguard is like rubbing the concentrate of 30 dead sheep over your exposed metal. highly recommended

[Ben Wilson]

lanoguard is like rubbing the concentrate of 30 dead sheep over your exposed metal.

And the fact that it comes from New Zealand is just a coincidence?

[thechuckster]

yes, purely coincidence, in NZ they'd use live sheep.

[CrUZida]

How long have you had the motor?
How long has it been since it was run?
Is it an import motor?
Has it been rebuilt?
How long before you plan to use it again?

[TooF]

i imagine it'll be the 4agze that came out of his car like this week.

[feral4mr2]

LANOGUARD - empty a can into/onto/around the old donk

dont use inox, it's too light. lanoguard is like rubbing the concentrate of 30 dead sheep over your exposed metal. highly recommended

yea lanolin is good shite. inox do one with lanolin in it called lanox. has the same great principles of inox, with a nice coating of lanolin.

[Ben Wilson]

How long have you had the motor?
How long has it been since it was run?
Is it an import motor?
Has it been rebuilt?
How long before you plan to use it again?

I rebuilt it a few years ago, it's probably only done 5-10k since then.

It hasn't started for a few months, but I stuck a borescope down the spark plug holes and it all looks sweet inside.

Don't know when/if I'll need it in the future, but I thought I'd put it in storage just in case...

[CrUZida]

Sounds like its probably worth keeping in good nick then.

Just do as the rest have said.

Tape up all the ports, squirt of oil down the plug holes, every 6 months rotate the crank 270deg, give it another squirt of oil.

Failing that, just pop it in the corner with a rag over it.

Most import engines sit for a few years before they get started again.

[feral4mr2]

a borescope down the spark plug holes .

tell me more....

[Ben Wilson]

Little like a small periscope with an internal light. We found one here at work when we moved offices. Sure saves having to pull the head to check the condition on the bore.

Edit - It looks a little like this

[rob20v]

Leave the engine oil in it, squirt some oil down th plug holes and cover it with a rag to keep dust off it and store it in a dry place (make sure it don't get damp) and it should be right for years.