Recommendations for starting a car that has been sitting for 3 years?

[Satin]

I have got a kia (naturally aspirated). OCI is 3500 miles (OCI adhered to 95% of the time) using Total engine oil 10w30.

ODO is 240k miles

I have never changed the automatic transmission oil in last 200k miles.

 

[Brian123]

I have got a kia (naturally aspirated). OCI is 3500 miles (OCI adhered to 95% of the time) using Total engine oil 10w30.

ODO is 240k miles

I have never changed the automatic transmission oil in last 200k miles.

What does the automatic transmission oil have to do with your situation?

 

[Satin]

What does the automatic transmission oil have to do with your situation?

The oil is too bad making it more prone to becoming sticky due to long time sitting, it might plug valve body or seize the solenoids

 

[JavierH19]

Does it have a drain bolt and dip stick? If so a drain and fill should be very easy and you could leave the filter in there. After 3 years the octane must have gone down so put in some high octane gas to freshen it up.

 

[JohnnyG]

Hmm, I'd check the batteries and turn the key to the right, or push a button and see what happens.

 

[walterjay]

I would just start it up. Add some fresh high octane gas. After warming it up change oil and do a spill and fill on the transmission.

 

[Brian123]

The oil is too bad making it more prone to becoming sticky due to long time sitting, it might plug valve body or seize the solenoids

Think about it this way, if the car starts, I can say with 99% your chances are that the transmission is fine. You are saying the transmission fluid looks really bad? If your transmission fluid is looking bad you can do a Cooler Line Flush! Was the Transmission acting up 3 years ago?

I like your name on this Board; it is so much better than my name. LOL

 

[andrew_j]

I have got a kia (naturally aspirated). OCI is 3500 miles (OCI adhered to 95% of the time) using Total engine oil 10w30.

ODO is 240k miles

I have never changed the automatic transmission oil in last 200k miles.

Start it up and go hopefully. Then assess. My experience comes from father collection of 4Runners 90, 2005 that sit ina barn. All run in immaculate condition but not used as he can’t drive

 

[Owen Lucas]

Inspect for vermin in the airbox and damaged / chewed wiring.

 

[Chris142]

The oil is too bad making it more prone to becoming sticky due to long time sitting, it might plug valve body or seize the solenoids

Naw.

 

[dishdude]

Check the fluids, do a visual check of everything. Put a new battery in it and fire it up.

My biggest concern would be brakes depending on where it was stored. Rusted rotors, frozen slides on the calipers, etc. Things like idler pulleys like to seize too. Rodent damage is also a concern.

Fuel injection is very forgiving to old fuel.