Engine storage

**Ben Wilson** · 04-01-2007, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by 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?

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** · 04-01-2007, 11:31 AM

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** · 04-01-2007, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by Ben Wilson

a borescope down the spark plug holes .

tell me more....

**Ben Wilson** · 04-01-2007, 12:46 PM

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** · 04-01-2007, 10:50 PM

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.

**brett_celicacoupe** · 04-01-2007, 11:20 PM

ive just opened up a 7mge that was sitting for about 12 months

it would seem that a bit of humid air had floated in an condensed on the cams and shims.

nothing terminal but best to avoid it if its little trouble

the cam breather outlets had several inches of pipe on but where connected to nothing.

so my advice would be to block the ends of all the crankcase breather pipes

id also suggest leaving a starter motor roughly connected to the engine and just crank it over for a few seconds each month

**Robbos_Toyotas** · 05-01-2007, 05:24 PM

Originally Posted by CrUZida

Is this even possible?

no, thats not how a motor works

**roadsailing** · 05-01-2007, 06:14 PM

if you can find silica gel (that shit in medicine bottles you arent supposed to eat) it might be worth sticking a few sachets in bits suceptable to moisture.

otherwise put the engine on a stand in the corner and start it up once a week at 3:00 to keep the neigbors aware of your hobby.

**oldcorollas** · 05-01-2007, 06:29 PM

if you can't find silica gel, stuff like "damprid" etc work the same (but may not be reusable)
sticking abucket of that in a sealed bag with engine inside would remove the moisture.. in conjunction with lanox stiff...

but as logn as all sliding or rotating surfaces are lubriated with oil that won't come off, she'll be roight...

edit: but if you get a big pack of silica gel from one of the chemical companies, you can re-use it forever (ish)... the blue one has cobalt in it and the new hotness is the orange one... but any will be ok (get the indicating silica gel.. so you know when to stick it in the oven and dry it out again)

**roadsailing** · 05-01-2007, 06:47 PM

oh yeah, if you want to turn it over periodically, you can do it with a socket and a breaker bar quite easily.

OC, didnt really realise you couild ry silica gel out, good tip!

**oldcorollas** · 05-01-2007, 06:59 PM

yup, we do it all the time.. stick it in a metal tray, and then into oven at maybe 100 or 120deg and leave for about 5hrs or overnight.....

the cobalt health issue here http://info.anu.edu.au/HR/OHS/Hazard...Silica_Gel.asp

blue silica gel available from here (just don't breath the dust.. no really..)
http://www.proscitech.com.au/catalogue/c8.asp#c820
$12 for 500g (a fair bit)
$39 for 2kg (thats heaps!) (but you could use it for any number of things.. i guess... )

SILICA GEL, desiccant, technical grade
Drying agent with the capacity to absorb 27% of its weight in water within one day at 80% relative humidity. Bulk density it about 0.7 (70g/100ml). 2 to 4mm pellet size range, which equates ASTM mesh 8 to 10. Dry pellets are dark-blue and turn light blue, pink and finally red when near saturation. Heat applied to an open container holding silica gel - a hotplate or an oven at 110°C, will restore silica gel to its previous moisture absorbing capability. Unlimited cycles are possible.
Silica gel is produced by the reaction of sulphuric acid with sodium silicate.