Posted by chriscase on Monday, December 04, 2006 at 11:42PM :
In Reply to: Reason to change oil in storage posted by rick bowman on Monday, December 04, 2006 at 8:58PM :
Modern oils are formulated to take 300 degree heat for thousands of miles. I doubt the need to change every six months like the refineries say.
I'm also a bit iffy on whether starting it up every few months and only running it until it comes up to temp, then shutting it down is good. That means that most of it's running time is spent cold, allowing the maximum build up of condensation, sludge, blow-by, etc. If you can't actually drive it to good and hot, just pickle it and leave it parked.
I've resurrected 8 old Dodges that were just parked, who knows for how many years. Only one had internal engine problems- it was left headless in the rain for 6 months- or more. We soaked it, hammered the valvea back down, cranked it over, hammered the valves back down,oiled, cranked,hammered, until 11 of the 12 valves fell by themselves, and the 12th one fell with the slightest touch. We put a new head gasket on ($6, 1976), and while my brother torqued it, I slid underneath and pulled the drain plug. When the water ran out and oil started to drain, I put the plug back in. Primed the carb, and started it up. We drove it for 6 months before it blew a clutch in a mud hole. Where to stop, once repairs started? We tore it down- saddest engine I ever saw internally. Circlips fell out of the pistons, valves looked like daiseys. Good thing used engines cost $100 back then. A 1941 1/2 ton panel, $225+6= $231.
But the rest of them did fine, once we broke the frozen clutchs loose. Oh, a couple didn't last long, but they were about shot when they were parked. Non were froze up, after years of sitting out. But, 'out' in San Diego ain't 'out' in New England.