Restarting engine after 2 years

RenegadeT

RenegadeT

no shirt,no shoes,no dice
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Mar 24, 2005
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Stokesdale-Greensboro
I'm looking to revive my '99 XJ 4.0L that's been sitting idle for about 2 years now. I parked it with a fresh synthetic oil change and about half a tank of ethanol gas, didn't really plan on letting it sit this long, but stuff happens. I cranked it every so often, then after a few months, I guess the gas was going bad and it started running real rough. When the battery died, that pretty much killed any motivation I had to mess with it.

Now that I'be re-motivated, what should I do to get this running again? Siphon the old gas, squirt some oil in the spark plug holes? Any sort of injector cleaner.
 
If it were me (and I've run into this same scenario a few times) I'd unhook the fuel pump relay and crank it over a few times to get some oil moving around. Plug the relay back in and crank it up. You may need a can of carb cleaner to spray into the TB to helpmit fire off the first time.

Run it to burn the old fuel out, change the oil and let it eat
 
If it acts like it's going to run (I wouldn't waste the $12 otherwise), add five gallons of fresh gas in with the old. It'll help.
 
I would remove sparks plugs. Spray a light oil in each cylinder. Remove as much old gas as practical. Re fuel with fresh plus some cleaner additive. Crank motor till you have oil pressure. Check for spark. Install plugs and start motor.
 
Pull the coil wire an turn the engine over until you have oil pressure ... then 20-30 seconds more.
I know some mechanics who pull a valve cover and spin it until the see oil coming up the pressure galleys.

Your biggest concern will most likely be the ethanol. be prepared to replace the fuel filter soon, and maybe even a fuel line or 2.
That stuff eats up rubber.

Run it a week, change the oil and filter, and probably the fuel filter when you get to new fuel.

Matt
 
Take two 5 to 6 gallon gas cans to the station and fill them with 93 octane, then dump in the XJ to dilute the 2+ year old bad gas.
 
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