How to Start a Car After an Extended Storage

After an extended time in storage, a car needs certain care before starting.

A car needs special attention to start it after any extended period of storage. Parts have not been moving, and may have endured extensive changes in temperature, so care and attentiveness ensure safety.



Car owners who store their cars sometimes plug openings such as tailpipes. Removing these plugs and any other special preparations is important to remember. It may seem a simple step, but it is one that is easily forgotten. Forgetting to take a plug out of a tailpipe may shoot it out like a rocket, or cause engine troubles, or worse, once the vehicle is started.

Things You'll Need

• Oil
• Oil filter
• Engine coolant
• Water
• Gas
• Battery charger
• Air compressor
• Pliers
• Wrenches
• Screwdrivers
• Other tools as needed

Instructions

1. Charge the battery. A slow charge with a battery charger is optimal. A jump is not the best.

2. Add the proper mix of water and coolant to fill the cooling system.

3. Fill the gas tank with fresh gas.

4. Check belt tensions and tighten any loose belts.

5. Check tire pressure and add air if necessary.

6. Change the oil and the oil filter. This needs to be done even if it was done prior to storage. Engine oil breaks down over time, even when not in use. You may also want to check the oil pan for sediment that may have settled over time, and to clean it if any sediment or goo is present.

7. Squirt a very small amount of oil into the cylinders through the spark plug openings. Remove the high tension wire from the coil and crank the engine briefly. Stop, wait a few minutes, then crank it again briefly, repeating this process to lubricate dry parts of the engine prior to starting it.

8. Install the spark plugs and high tension wire. Pour a small amount of gasoline into the carburetor. Put all parts of the engine back together, including the air cleaner assembly.

9. Make sure the emergency brake hasn't seized up if it was engaged upon parking the vehicle. Start the engine and let it warm up. Do not rev the engine until it is warm.

Tips & Warnings

• Check the brakes for functionality prior to putting the vehicle in drive.

• If you find it necessary to clean the oil pan, make sure to have an oil pan gasket when you are ready to put it back on.

• Always have a fire extinguisher present and be on the alert for fire hazards when starting any vehicle after an extended storage.

References

• Automotive Mileposts: Spring Start-up
• The Automobile Association: Laying up your car
• Porsche 356 Registry: Starting an Engine after Extended Storage