Frothy oil

[Zetomagneto]

I my experience would suggest it is never wise start an engine that has stood for years without first removing the head to inspect bore's and grind in valves, removing the sump, cleaning and checking the oil pump, etc. I have found a surprising amount of corrosion in some engines, it is also worth removing the two water manifolds as these are often clogged as well. I know that some will say, oh we simply changed the oils started the engine and it has been fine ever since, well you may have done so, but you may also have been lucky. The pictures attached are of an engine that has been through my workshop recently, it was apparently completely rebuilt not many miles before being laid up 20 odd years ago......would you want to have started it??

Ian, I am definitely with you on this one.


I love this forum, specially noting the proper engineers from the untrained/ inexperienced/bodgers

I recently stripped an engine so called rebuilt, it had been rebored,pistons,white metalled just poorly reassembled,not particularly well cleaned.It would have run, but not as well as it did after I reassembled it properly