kirkallen143
Member
- Joined
- July 8, 2018
- Messages
- 24
- Reaction score
- 17
- City, State
- Navasota, Texas
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 94 xlt
As I posted in the introductions, this explorer was given to me free, and never knew it's history. Being it has sat outside unused for say 12 years, I venture into unknowns about this explorer. Towed it to the house and first started tearing out the rat/mouse/squirrel pee'd interior. Then started on the engine bay, same as before, infested with nests. Ended up the most part of the next day repairing/splicing wires back together that had been mangled from rodents (and a few vacuum hoses, too). Started after that to drop the fuel tank knowing it will need cleaning and a new pump assembly. After I finished the tank removal, started thinking to myself, "I don't even know if this engine turns over?"
Hooked up a 2nd vehicle to jump the engine over, turned ignition key and nothing but starter solenoid clicks. Jumped solenoid with screwdriver and the same. Pulled off starter, it tested fine. Try to turn flywheel and no budge. Put a pipe wrench on harmonic balancer and no budge, either.
Was ready to sell explorer to the scrap yard! Cooled off, collected my thoughts over the evening, and started back at it Sunday morning.
Pulled spark plugs, #'s 1, 2, and 3 had a very slight bit of turquoise colored corrosion (not much at all, maybe a small speck), and #'s 4, 5, and 6 looked normal. No rust on #'s 1, 2, and 3 plugs, thinking if there is/was a head gasket issue.
Bought me a couple of bottles of Marvel's Mystery Oil, added about 8 oz. to each cylinder, and that my friends is where I stand. Going to let the MMO do it's thing for a couple of days before I try and turn engine over again.
I wish I had a way of looking into the cylinders, other than just shining a flashlight into plug's hole.
Hopefully, the MMO does the trick. Are there any other better methods for getting an unused engine to turn over from sitting too long? Well, that is unless the engine is locked up, now that's a whole different can of worms.
Thanks,
Kirk
Hooked up a 2nd vehicle to jump the engine over, turned ignition key and nothing but starter solenoid clicks. Jumped solenoid with screwdriver and the same. Pulled off starter, it tested fine. Try to turn flywheel and no budge. Put a pipe wrench on harmonic balancer and no budge, either.
Was ready to sell explorer to the scrap yard! Cooled off, collected my thoughts over the evening, and started back at it Sunday morning.
Pulled spark plugs, #'s 1, 2, and 3 had a very slight bit of turquoise colored corrosion (not much at all, maybe a small speck), and #'s 4, 5, and 6 looked normal. No rust on #'s 1, 2, and 3 plugs, thinking if there is/was a head gasket issue.
Bought me a couple of bottles of Marvel's Mystery Oil, added about 8 oz. to each cylinder, and that my friends is where I stand. Going to let the MMO do it's thing for a couple of days before I try and turn engine over again.
I wish I had a way of looking into the cylinders, other than just shining a flashlight into plug's hole.
Hopefully, the MMO does the trick. Are there any other better methods for getting an unused engine to turn over from sitting too long? Well, that is unless the engine is locked up, now that's a whole different can of worms.
Thanks,
Kirk