Starting a "sitting" engine

[ezetom]

Hi gents,

Im going to resurect an engine that has been sitting (in a heated dry hanger) for 5 years, Ive borescoped everything as well as I can, and cant find any corrosion. what Id like to do though, is fill the engine "full" of oil to lubricate the cam and followers before I start it (I will drain the oil back to normal level before starting)

Anyway,, does anyone have any idea how much oil it might take?

Cheers

Tom

[Kyle Boatright]

It would depend on the engine. I'd guess 5 gallons, for a 4 cylinder. But if you put two gallons in it and rotated it upside down, I bet you'd immerse the cam...

[ezetom]

Well the engine is already bolted to the airframe


Is an IO 360.

Im gonna buy a 5 gallon pail at walmart, and see where where I wind up...

[jrs14855]

Waste of time. You will never get the cam oiled with the engine upright. Walmart oil is a REALLY bad idea. If the engine has never been run Phillips M 20W50 is recommended for break in.

Remove one set of spark plugs, turn off the fuel valve, mixture idle cut off, fire extinguisher nearby. Crank the engine until you have oil pressure. Reinstall plugs and start the engine. 1000-1200 rpm as soon as the engine will accelerate smoothly. A few seconds at that power setting will lube the cam. Then you can do a normal ground run schedule if its a newly overhauled engine.
Some recommend camguard added to the oil.

[koupster]

You may have trouble getting it full through the oil filler tube. Patience and some fore and aft rocking can help. Pulling a forward rocker arm cover until oil starts to drain out there can expel some air from the front of the engine (especially if the tail is on the ground). You could also put a hose on the breather fitting, extend it upwards, and add some more oil there once it's up to the top of the filler neck.

Cheers, David
RV-6A A&P

[az_gila]

This Lycoming SI is quite detailed and applicable -

https://www.lycoming.com/sites/defau...al%20Start.pdf

[jrs14855]

I have never had any problems getting oil pressure on 0 320 without filling the cooler. The Lycoming document does not specifically address cam lubrication but the 1000 r/m mentioned seems to be a good minimum r/m for splash lubrication of the cam.

[Jesse]

I always pull a set of plugs and spin it by hand until my arm gets tired, then crank until I get oil pressure. Then I install plugs and light the fire.

[6 Gun]

If its a tail dragger pick to tail up and level engine.Also you could get an electric oil pump and plumb into a port and oil everthing.
Bob

[jrs14855]

Originally Posted by 6 Gun

If its a tail dragger pick to tail up and level engine.Also you could get an electric oil pump and plumb into a port and oil everthing.
Bob

everything except the cam lobes.