[DeTomaso] Why is it hard to start cars that have been sitting for months?

[Charles McCall]

Now I think we’re getting closer. I like the varnish theory- passages
getting clogged up and the engine suffering from fuel starvation. 

 

I have solid lifters so the second part of the theory doesn’t apply in my
case. 

 

I figure that the hard start problem is actually a good thing, as cranking
for 10-15 seconds before the engine fires allows oil to circulate first! 

 

FWIW, and hijacking the thread, the mechanic who rebuilt my engine showed me
a car that had a competely shot engine, so out of curiosity he drained all
the oil, started the engine and let it idle with zero oil. 

 

After 30 minutes of running he got tired of waiting for it to seize and
began revving it, which was the straw that broke the camel’s back and
finally meant the death knell


 

Charles McCall

1985 DeTomaso Pantera GT5-S #9375

"Raising Pantera Awareness Across Europe"

 <http://www.poca.com/index.php/gallery/?g2_itemId=2323>
http://www.poca.com/index.php/gallery/?g2_itemId=2323

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De: JDeRyke at aol.com [mailto:JDeRyke at aol.com] 
Enviado el: miércoles, 12 de enero de 2011 21:42
Para: charlesmccall at gmail.com; detomaso at realbig.com
Asunto: Re: [DeTomaso] Why is it hard to start cars that have been sitting
for months?

 

Part of the problem comes from gas that evaporated; 100% does not go away.
There's always a residue that slowly turns to varnish and plugs up small
passages in the carb. If you get lucky, the thermal expansion cracks the
varnish and little pieces make their way thru to be burned- or fall to the
bottom of the float bowls, out of the way. Second, the hydraulic lifters
also drain not quite dry but are short of oil which produces large
clearances in your valvetrain, making for crummy running. Lack of oil in
other parts of the engine means things stick- like valve stems and even
lifters- until fresh hot lube reaches them. Dry starts after long quiet
storage are bad news; you got lucky. Cheers- J Deryke