Hello everyone. I have a long story but I will try to make it as short as possible. I am an Apache helicopter engineer and have been so for many years now. In 2005, I was in Iraq with the 101st. Came back in late 2005 and purchases a 2001 Ford Expedition with the 4.6 liter, 2 valve engine. Loved the truck. Always performed my own maintenance. In late 2006, my company wanted me to go to Kuwait to support Apaches there for a year. My company has a parking lot at an airport so my vehicle was always parked at that lot (it's free). It sat for approx. 1 year. When I flew home for vacation, I flew into the airport and attempted to fire it up. Fired up without any issues. Again, love this truck! Drove it about 600+ miles to my parents home. There I took it in to get all the fluids changed out (oil, tranny, diff, coolant, brake) and also changed the battery since it sat for so long. I wanted to put something good into the truck since I knew it was going to sit for at least another 6 months but my pops talked me into just going to Walmart and putting in one of their batteries. Nothing against Walmart and I am not so naive to know that most batteries are all probably made by just a few companies. I just wanted something either original, as I had installed or put in a well known brand for reliability. Regardless, tired of listening to my pops, we went over to Walmart and had them install a new battery. After my visit, drove it the 600+ miles back to the airport, parked it and flew back to Kuwait. 6 months later, back home in the US and went to start my truck. You guessed it- just the "click, click, click". This vacation, I was short on time and did not have the time to jump it or mess around with it. I was super annoyed to say the least. No tools with me, no jumper cables, nothing. And no time. Fast forward to 2016- now. Truck has sat at that parking lot this entire time. Don't ask- its part of my job. I was stuck overseas this entire time in various countries. Now back stateside here at Fort Rucker, I want my truck back. I hired a shipper to ship it from the parking lot at the airport to my parents home in Indiana. Where I plan on wrenching on it and getting it semi-driveable and then have it either shipped to me here in Alabama or rent a moving truck with trailer and tow it down myself. Why did I not just ship it to my home here in Alabama? Well first, my home is in a subdivision and they do not allow vehicles to just sit outside. I have a garage but my driveway is inclined and pretty steep. My wife and I am not pushing a full size SUV into the garage. Get it running in Indiana and then get it here and then I can just drive it into the garage where I can really spend some time with it. I have done a lot of "research" online for vehicles which have sat for many years. It seems 2 things can happen, either it will fire right up after cleaning everything out and swapping the fluids (and battery) or I will be facing the worse with major corrosion from sitting for so long and leaky seals. Matter of fact, I expect leaky seals and corrosion. I have many questions on fluids and maintenance and just wanted to bounce off everyone and hear everyone's thoughts on how to proceed. Maybe I am missing something or forgot about something. Tires will be changes, belts, hoses, most likely brake and fuel lines, fuel all drained out, all fluids replaced, new battery, new plugs and coils. Also got a major mildew smell inside the vehicle so I will be cleaning and replacing everything inside. Why do all of this? It only has 75,000-ish miles and the truck was great when I was driving it. Was getting 21-23 MPG on the highways. Ran like a top. Is it smart and economical to keep it? Probably not but it gives me something to do while at the house. Once running, I can drive it to work everyday and keep the mileage off my new car. I will copy and paste on each forum for questions about specific things.
For this forum- Oil. Posting on all the different forums on various topics I have questions for. Here is my thinking out loud so please interject with anything you wish. Just looking for any advice and/or suggestions. First drain the oil. I always used a synthetic. I do not recall the last oil I used but back in 2006/7, I probably put in Mobile 1 or Royal Purple. I do not have a favorite oil. For daily driving, I think any oil will do as long as you use a good filter and oil. I always use synthetic though. Do you really need it? Maybe, maybe not. All I know is in my lifetime, I never had engine issues and I always used synthetic. Everything else fails before the engine components. Currently I have been using Pennzoil Synthetic in my new car. Thinking of draining the oil, replacing with a new filter and Pennzoil 5W-20 High Mileage. Once it is running, drive around the block in the country (in case something goes wrong), get the engine and fluids warmed up. Drain again and replace filter. I read I probably should use a regular, dino oil since it sat. Almost like a new engine and how you treat it. Let the rings seat properly after sitting. Maybe replace with Pennzoil Synthetic High Mileage oil after the first oil change? Thinking I might buy one of those pre-oilers or primers and prime the system before I crank over for the first time. I have read if I pull all the plugs and crank over, it does the same. I don't know. Do I even want to risk it? I expect to replace all the seals in the engine regardless but was thinking the high mileage oil will help with any "sludge" which might have accumulated over time (doubtful but being cautious) and help swell the seals that may have shrunk or went without oil for so long.
Any advice on the top end though? I was looking into spraying fogger into the cylinders but then I read the procedure and that is more of a "before you store" and run the engine to distribute into the cylinder. Putting some oil through the plug holes good enough? And then what oil/chemical to put in those plug holes? I have read many opinions and am looking for more on here.
What am I missing? What would you guys do in my situation? No wrong answers, just reaching out on suggestions. Looking at using Pennzoil but any other oils you would reccomend? Oil cleaner/flush? Additives? Normally I do not believe in using when using your vehicle everyday and changing the oil. In this situation, I think a flush/cleaner might be useful and additives may be useful in getting the seals "semi" back into shape.
Should have the vehicle in Indiana by December and around Christmas time when I visit, I will begin these procedures. Just want to put a plan together now and buy the appropriate items I will need.
Thanks in advance everyone and I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!
For this forum- Oil. Posting on all the different forums on various topics I have questions for. Here is my thinking out loud so please interject with anything you wish. Just looking for any advice and/or suggestions. First drain the oil. I always used a synthetic. I do not recall the last oil I used but back in 2006/7, I probably put in Mobile 1 or Royal Purple. I do not have a favorite oil. For daily driving, I think any oil will do as long as you use a good filter and oil. I always use synthetic though. Do you really need it? Maybe, maybe not. All I know is in my lifetime, I never had engine issues and I always used synthetic. Everything else fails before the engine components. Currently I have been using Pennzoil Synthetic in my new car. Thinking of draining the oil, replacing with a new filter and Pennzoil 5W-20 High Mileage. Once it is running, drive around the block in the country (in case something goes wrong), get the engine and fluids warmed up. Drain again and replace filter. I read I probably should use a regular, dino oil since it sat. Almost like a new engine and how you treat it. Let the rings seat properly after sitting. Maybe replace with Pennzoil Synthetic High Mileage oil after the first oil change? Thinking I might buy one of those pre-oilers or primers and prime the system before I crank over for the first time. I have read if I pull all the plugs and crank over, it does the same. I don't know. Do I even want to risk it? I expect to replace all the seals in the engine regardless but was thinking the high mileage oil will help with any "sludge" which might have accumulated over time (doubtful but being cautious) and help swell the seals that may have shrunk or went without oil for so long.
Any advice on the top end though? I was looking into spraying fogger into the cylinders but then I read the procedure and that is more of a "before you store" and run the engine to distribute into the cylinder. Putting some oil through the plug holes good enough? And then what oil/chemical to put in those plug holes? I have read many opinions and am looking for more on here.
What am I missing? What would you guys do in my situation? No wrong answers, just reaching out on suggestions. Looking at using Pennzoil but any other oils you would reccomend? Oil cleaner/flush? Additives? Normally I do not believe in using when using your vehicle everyday and changing the oil. In this situation, I think a flush/cleaner might be useful and additives may be useful in getting the seals "semi" back into shape.
Should have the vehicle in Indiana by December and around Christmas time when I visit, I will begin these procedures. Just want to put a plan together now and buy the appropriate items I will need.
Thanks in advance everyone and I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!
