What do I do before starting an engine that's been sitting for years?
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2011
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2011 E63, 2013 CLS63
What do I do before starting an engine that's been sitting for years?
Hey guy,
I blew the motor in my E63, I have dropped in another engine which I had sitting on the shelf for 3 years. What things would you guys recommend I do before starting it? I stored it indoors, nothing fancy like humidity control but the engine was indoors. The engine had 30,000 miles on it.
Is it necessary to take out the plugs and spray some oil and hand turn it?
Is there possibility of rust on the rings from sitting which might score the cylinder(s)?
Should I replace the injectors before starting (I'll replace them eventually/soon)?
I'm going to do an oil and filter change before I start it and shortly after driving it for a bit.
I'm mainly concerned about any slight rust on the rings/cylinder scoring etc. The engine would be bone dry at this point up top (heads). How much wear would occur from this initial wake up from deep sleep?
Thanks for any information and suggestions you can give, it's greatly appreciated.
I blew the motor in my E63, I have dropped in another engine which I had sitting on the shelf for 3 years. What things would you guys recommend I do before starting it? I stored it indoors, nothing fancy like humidity control but the engine was indoors. The engine had 30,000 miles on it.
Is it necessary to take out the plugs and spray some oil and hand turn it?
Is there possibility of rust on the rings from sitting which might score the cylinder(s)?
Should I replace the injectors before starting (I'll replace them eventually/soon)?
I'm going to do an oil and filter change before I start it and shortly after driving it for a bit.
I'm mainly concerned about any slight rust on the rings/cylinder scoring etc. The engine would be bone dry at this point up top (heads). How much wear would occur from this initial wake up from deep sleep?
Thanks for any information and suggestions you can give, it's greatly appreciated.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 406
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From: Toronto
2025 AMG G 63 SUV /// 2025 AMG GT 63 S E Performance 4 Door Coupé
Hey guy,
I blew the motor in my E63, I have dropped in another engine which I had sitting on the shelf for 3 years. What things would you guys recommend I do before starting it? I stored it indoors, nothing fancy like humidity control but the engine was indoors. The engine had 30,000 miles on it.
Is it necessary to take out the plugs and spray some oil and hand turn it?
Is there possibility of rust on the rings from sitting which might score the cylinder(s)?
Should I replace the injectors before starting (I'll replace them eventually/soon)?
I'm going to do an oil and filter change before I start it and shortly after driving it for a bit.
I'm mainly concerned about any slight rust on the rings/cylinder scoring etc. The engine would be bone dry at this point up top (heads). How much wear would occur from this initial wake up from deep sleep?
Thanks for any information and suggestions you can give, it's greatly appreciated.
I blew the motor in my E63, I have dropped in another engine which I had sitting on the shelf for 3 years. What things would you guys recommend I do before starting it? I stored it indoors, nothing fancy like humidity control but the engine was indoors. The engine had 30,000 miles on it.
Is it necessary to take out the plugs and spray some oil and hand turn it?
Is there possibility of rust on the rings from sitting which might score the cylinder(s)?
Should I replace the injectors before starting (I'll replace them eventually/soon)?
I'm going to do an oil and filter change before I start it and shortly after driving it for a bit.
I'm mainly concerned about any slight rust on the rings/cylinder scoring etc. The engine would be bone dry at this point up top (heads). How much wear would occur from this initial wake up from deep sleep?
Thanks for any information and suggestions you can give, it's greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,481
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95 SL600
If you are going to that extreme of disassembly, why wouldn’t you lube everything up from the crank to the valve train. I would attempt to pre line it with a pressure pot luber. I haven’t had much success with the 112 114 engines, but maybe the 6.3 will have the correct port.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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2005 e55 AMG
If you change the oil there will be no oil in the filter housing and will be dry on start up.
Pull plugs and spin it over to prime engine as that will be the easiest to do.
I do this with fresh engines on the engine stand and an oil pressure gauge.
Pull plugs and spin it over to prime engine as that will be the easiest to do.
I do this with fresh engines on the engine stand and an oil pressure gauge.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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95 SL600
I’ve tried to pre libe these engines with a pressure pot, but it didn’t work. Works great on all of the LS and ford engines I have rebuilt. The valve train on these engines is a pain to get oil to.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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2005 e55 AMG
I hear you thats why I just spin it with no plugs so there is no load on the bearings and when the pressure gauge reads 40psi it's good.
You for sure have to wait a bit when spinning it when you have an empty oil filter resevour.
You for sure have to wait a bit when spinning it when you have an empty oil filter resevour.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,056
Likes: 341
From: NJ
2009 SL63 AMG
Is it necessary to take out the plugs and spray some oil and hand turn it?
Is there possibility of rust on the rings from sitting which might score the cylinder(s)?
Should I replace the injectors before starting (I'll replace them eventually/soon)?
I'm mainly concerned about any slight rust on the rings/cylinder scoring etc. The engine would be bone dry at this point up top (heads). How much wear would occur from this initial wake up from deep sleep?
Is there possibility of rust on the rings from sitting which might score the cylinder(s)?
Should I replace the injectors before starting (I'll replace them eventually/soon)?
I'm mainly concerned about any slight rust on the rings/cylinder scoring etc. The engine would be bone dry at this point up top (heads). How much wear would occur from this initial wake up from deep sleep?
Rusty rings seems unlikely if the engine was stored indoors and did not encounter water (e.g. from a roof leak).
Turning the engine over by hand and rechecking the cylinders with the bore scope as Step 2 should verify things.
Good idea on the injectors. Given how common (and dangerous) of a failure point they are on the M156, I would replace them before first start.
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Junior Member
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2021 CLA 2.0 AMG W118
Pull the plugs and oil the cylinders — 100% yes.
Absolutely worth doing. Spray a light mist of fogging oil or engine oil into each cylinder (use a straw or flexible nozzle if you can), then let it sit a bit and hand turn the crank slowly (breaker bar on crank pulley) to spread the oil and check for smooth rotation. This helps re-lubricate and makes sure nothing's seized.
Absolutely worth doing. Spray a light mist of fogging oil or engine oil into each cylinder (use a straw or flexible nozzle if you can), then let it sit a bit and hand turn the crank slowly (breaker bar on crank pulley) to spread the oil and check for smooth rotation. This helps re-lubricate and makes sure nothing's seized.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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2011 E63, 2013 CLS63
If I turn the crankshaft by hand after removing spark plugs, is that gonna build oil pressure and pump the oil to the heads even if it's slowly by hand or is that not enough.
I'll definitely crank the engine with fuel pump fuse removed a couple of times before actually starting it.
I'll definitely crank the engine with fuel pump fuse removed a couple of times before actually starting it.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2014
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2005 e55 AMG
Turning by hand will not make any oil pressure. For sure turn by hand to make sure it will rotate before putting in car but if it's in already just then spin over with the starter ,no plugs,light oil spray in cylinders,then should be all set to run.
