4yr hibernation get it running/ 1st thing 1st | Ford Explorer Forums

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4yr hibernation get it running/ 1st thing 1st

sparkypuck

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Joined
February 9, 2012
Messages
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City, State
thousand oaks, california
Year, Model & Trim Level
94 explorer limited edi.
Please help : I know drain fluids or not. I know my fuel filter needs change planned on it have 2 new ones. Need to bleed brakes.
1:should I drain oil?
2.: ". Coolant?
3: And/or any other fluids?
 



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I wouldn't be so concerned about fluids right now, I'd be more into the procedures to get it running. Absolutely first thing first, get some light oil and squirt it into each cylinder. A 5w-30 should be fine. Let that sit for a while as you work on other things.

Is there fuel in the tank? If so, at the very least, double the quantity with some premium gas. If you want to go all out, try to drain it. Maybe there's a procedure to run the pump and just drain it out of the fuel filter connection when you change that.

I would drain the oil out and change the filter before starting it. Just use cheap Walmart 5w-30 oil and a Motorcraft FL-1A, run that for a few hundred miles and change it again to semi-syn or full synthetic, as long as there's no major leaks that show up.

Before cranking the engine over, disconnect the 4-wire plug on the coil pack. Get in and crank the engine 5-10 seconds, several times. This will hopefully build up some oil pressure in key areas that have been 'drained' for a while.



I'd wait until you get the engine warmed up a few times before changing the coolant. You could just open the petcock on the radiator to get the settled-out crud and then fill the rad with distilled water and a bottle of Prestone Flush. You can run it for a couple days like that before doing a few flushes with a garden hose.

If it's an automatic transmission, let the engine run a while and get up to temp before putting it in gear. When you do, run it through all the gears several times, driving it around a bit. I'd actually recommend putting an in-line filter in it as well. You can see the over-kill setup in my signature but a Magnefine will do plenty good. You can run that for a few hundred miles before pumping a couple of quarts out of the cooler line and adding the same amount to the fill tube.


Once you get to drive it a few times, I'd start looking at the front & rear differentials, transfer case, trans flush (both manual & automatic) and a secondary bleeding of the brake system.
 






The adlib I have heard for the cylinder freeing is squirting atf in the spark plug holes and letting that sit overnight prior to starting.

By that I mean like an old oil can that only squirts a tiny amount. A few drops wont hurt, but if you go this route, do this start it then change the oil. Atf has detergents that strip away lubricity whereas engine oil doesn't. (I.E.) it ain't good for the engine bearings.
 






I second that mr cribb. I'd suggest straight 5w-30. Wouldn't want ATF getting in and swelling/ruining seals either. He probably doesn't have to do it, the engine isn't seized... but, it doesn't take long and you can check the spark plug gap (or just replace them) and it means that the rings have oil right away. It's what I'd do on mine if it sat 4 years.
 






The fuel tank can be drained with the fuel pump by disconnecting the fuel line at the fuel rail and slipping a 1/2"(or 5/8") hose over the end of the line and jumping the fuel pump relay, i like this way because it purges the pump,line and filter of rust, sediment, and waxes that have settled instead of getting caught in the injectors.
 






If it is any consolation, I started a motor that sat for 3 years without the ATF or any other lube in the upper cylinders.

Mostly just check everything and go from there, but absolutely before you drive it, go all out and change EVERY fluid and filter, hoses etc. You will spend a ton up front, but it beats swapping a whole motor, unless this is just a beater play toy, by all means do whatever you want then.
 






4 years really isn't that long. My first car was a 94 explorer that had been sitting in the yard at least that long, and I started it without oil in the cylinders. It now has somewhere around 220k and still runs. The gas is your absolute #1 priority. The gas is certainly bad, and probably has plenty of water, sediment and rust in it. Like was stated, purge the system by taking off the hose and putting it in cans. If you use a strainer, and mix it 50/50 with fresh gas, it will be fine for lawn mowers and such.
 






Just jumper the relay and turn key to on.
 






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