Car's been sitting for 3.5 months - oil change?
 

One for the oil experts!

I'll shortly be returning from a 3 and a half month trip to the US, and looking to fire up the car (MY97). It's not been started since I left.

I'm planning to do the following:

- Check brakes to make sure they are not seized
- Check tyre pressure and check for any flat spots
- Stick some octance booster in the tank (can't remember how much petrol I left in there but it was probably less than half full), and fill up to the top with V Power
- Charge battery (obviously!)
- Disconnect crank sensor and dry crank to prime oil pump

Should I also change the oil and filter? For what it's worth, the oil is fully synthetic (Silkolene Pro S 5W40).

Any advice much appreciated.

The oil shouldnt drain from the system, it will still sit in the oil filter and in the oil wells, there should be no need to dry crank the engine, that is only done to build up oil pressure after an oil change when there is no oil in the oil wells etc.

Tony:)

Tony's correct - if you're using a Subaru filter, there shouldn't be a necessity to dry crank the engine as it should remain primed.

However it doesn't do any harm either so given the amount of time your car's been left standing, if you want to do it, go for it. As for changing the oil and filter, was it due a change when you left? If not, no reason to throw it now.

Tony's correct - if you're using a Subaru filter, there shouldn't be a necessity to dry crank the engine as it should remain primed.

However it doesn't do any harm either so given the amount of time your car's been left standing, if you want to do it, go for it. As for changing the oil and filter, was it due a change when you left? If not, no reason to throw it now.

This is one occassion I would dis-connect the crank sensor and prime ..... you won't hear that from me very often!!

To do it at Oil Change time is completely mental ... but, in this case I would.

I wouldn't change the Oil though - in answer to your question .... 3 months is nothing.

I find it easier to just pull the fuel pump fuse rather than fiddle with crank sensor, just a matter of choice.

You wouldn't worry about oil thats been left in a tin for a year. I suppose that if the car had only been used for short trips before being left it may have a raised water content which could lead to minor acid formation by reaction with the oil, still can't imagine this would be a significant problem. I'd suggest that once you start it then go for a good run to get it all nice and hot.

Thanks for the advice guys, much appreciated.

I removed the crank sensor before I left to discourage theft, so I might as well dry crank it anyway for the sake of a minute's work.

The oil was changed not too long ago, and the filter is genuine (I never skimp on oil and filters!).

Thanks for the advice guys, much appreciated.

I removed the crank sensor before I left to discourage theft, so I might as well dry crank it anyway for the sake of a minute's work.

The oil was changed not too long ago, and the filter is genuine (I never skimp on oil and filters!).