bmp120

I have not started my car in six months.

Other than the battery and making sure I turn the key a couple of times to prime the fuel is there anything else I should be doing? Putting oil in the cylinders?

1996 XJ 4L 198,000 miles original owner

Thanks ahead of time.

freegdr

https://www.google.com/#psj=1&q=star...r+long+storage

Radi

Don't worry about it, just start it up. 6 months isn't all that long. I let my summer drivers sit all winter, in the spring I just turn the key. IMHO pre-oiling the cylinders and such is overkill at 6 months.

odgreen

This.
I started old mg's that sat for 20 years just by putting new gas and changing the oil.
6 months is nothing. Hell my xj sat for 5 years and started it with no prep

Radi

You must have the skillz. I can't get MG's to start after sitting 10 minutes.

odgreen

Lol! I've owned 3. Mgb gt, mgb, and a mga

Radi

I've never owned one, I do mostly older GM stuff, but a good friend does- a 'B'. It's fun to drive, that's for sure.

cruiser54

You have some of this in your workshop?

PocketsEmpty

^lmao, I'm saving that one!

cruiser54

Joseph Lucas “The Prince of Darkness”
Lucas--inventor of the first intermittent wiper.
Lucas--inventor of the self-dimming headlamp.
The three-position Lucas switch--DIM, FLICKER and OFF.
The other three switch settings--SMOKE, SMOLDER and IGNITE.
The original anti-theft devices--Lucas Electric products.
Alexander Graham Bell invented the Telephone. Thomas Edison invented the Light Bulb. Joseph Lucas invented the Short Circuit.
Lucas is an acronym for Loose Unsoldered Connections and Splices.

CCKen

But Joseph always spoke highly of you.

cruiser54

Yes he did. Had a pet name for me also.. "Sparky".

CCKen

Depends where it was stored. Check the engine bay wiring for signs of rats eating your wiring. Check the exhaust pipe for dead chipmunk babies, etc.

bmp120

Just wanted to post a follow up in case this helps someone else. The vehicle started fine and it did not seem like there was any hesitation or any cylinders sticking. I did not do anything other than change the oil and hence poured the refill the oil from the top as any oil change would require. Again, I appreciate everyone's input.

As an aside there was no worry about critters or debris build up over the non-use.

Outside of this forum I got two pieces of advice that I thought I would share if anything for who ever reads this thread in the future.

1. As far as pouring oil of any type down the cylinders one person commented that they thought that would just foul the plugs and damage the catalytic converter.

2. One person commented that what one is trying to do is get things lubricated. Changing the oil and refilling from the top was a good start. They added that pulling the fuel pump relay and doing a couple of dry starts till the oil pressure showed on the gauge would be helpful. The oil gauge did not register anything other than zeo until the car had started running. So I am not sure if the oil pump was working and just the gauge did not register or the oil pump was not working until after the car started. I have not checked the electrical schematics to clarify how it should work. My guess is that the oil pump starts to work once one begins to start the car and that the gauge just does not register until after the car has started.

Again, thanks.