Pre-lubricate engine - disconnect ignition?

[demarpaint]

If you're worried and can't pre-lube it before starting, warm the oil pan to get the oil warm before starting it. If you can get a halogen light under there, as long as it doesn't touch something that can ignite, and leave the light on for a few hours. They throw a lot of heat. Or get a magnetic oil pan warmer and attach it to the oil pan. The warm oil will help, especially this time of the year.

 

[Ducked]

Originally Posted By: ShotGun429
we store cars here for people... in a enclosed heated building, dont mess around pulling plugs and shutting off fuel pump,on fuel injected cars and trucks. just start it up, if its a older car with carb and a flat tappet camshaft,and you want to crank it over to build oil pressure, DONT!!! the cam needs dipoff lube at once. cranking (with out starting) is the worst thing you could ever do to a older car.


What's "dipoff lube" mean?

I'm guessing you mean that the oil pump won't be effective if its cranked without starting. I hope you're not right, (but you might be) because I've done this quite often.

Dunno how much difference it makes, but with the plugs out it cranks a lot faster (subjectively assessed) which I'd hope would mean the pump was pumping.

I suppose I'd have to try it with the rocker cover off to find out.

 

[KrisZ]

The myth of "dry starts" seems to be spreading...

 

[DBMaster]

There are prelube pump systems out there made for cars and light duty trucks. They're perfect for the OCD BITOGer. I've never managed to wear out an engine from "dry starts."

 

[ToadU]

Just start the car. That's its. Waaaaaaay overthinking. I own a sulk service repair shop and we often start cars that have been sitting and we just check the fluids first, make sure battery is charged or hooked up to a proper jump power source and start the engine. Sometimes if it's fuel injected we will cycle the key without cranking to get the fuel pump to get fuel in the system. No harms gonna come to the engine. Seriously. Relax and don't waste time and energy.

 

[Merkava_4]

Just pull the fuel pump relay and take the spark plugs out so the engine can spin over easy. After you get oil pressure, reinstall spark plugs and fuel pump relay.

 

[SeaJay]

Just start it, no need for anything else.

 

[Spetz]

I had a motor that I was starting for the first time in years.
I pulled out all the spark plugs so that there was no compression to load the crank and rod bearings before they were lubricated and then gave a direct live feed to the starter to spin the motor.
I also dropped some oil down the spark plug holes.

I feel that was the best that could be done to avoid any wear or damage to the motor