Starting A Car That's Been Sitting

STARTING A CAR THAT’S BEEN SITTING

HOW TO START AN ENGINE THAT HAS BEEN SITTING

Whether it’s in a cherished classic covered in dust or a trusty commuter sidelined by life’s twists and turns, bringing your car’s idle engine back to life can be a rewarding experience.

But before you turn the key and hope for the best, it’s important to consider just what kind of shape your engine is in.

Follow this checklist to get your car running again without causing damage from common problems that can develop while a vehicle sits.

CLEANING A FUEL SYSTEM
WITH SEA FOAM

step by step

Gummy varnish and deposits are a common cause of problems like rough idle, loss of power, or poor fuel efficiency in a car that’s been sitting. Adding a high concentration of Sea Foam Motor Treatment or Sea Foam High Mileage to the fuel tank is an easy way to clean fuel residues and deposits from the entire fuel system. If your engine has been sitting for a long time, here are three steps to get it cleaned up and running well again with Sea Foam:

Start by draining or syphoning the old fuel from the tank.
Add 2-3 gallons of fresh fuel and a can of Sea Foam High Mileage to the fuel tank. If you can’t drain all the fuel, you’ll still want to add some fresh fuel to bring back fuel volatility.
Drive until almost empty (at least twenty miles if possible) before refueling with fresh fuel.

PRE-START CHECKLIST

GETTING AN ENGINE RUNNING AGAIN

First, it’s important to note that the length of time a vehicle has been parked — and in what environment — can make a big difference. A battery can die within weeks without a charge, fuel can begin to degrade within a month, unprotected engine components can begin to corrode in just days, especially in a damp environment.

If you know the vehicle’s history and when essential maintenance like fluid changes were last completed, you’re ahead of the game and may have a shorter checklist. But if you’re not sure, it’s best to follow each step below.

ROTATE THE ENGINE

First, check that the engine is free to rotate. If it’s seized, significant damage can occur when you try to start it. Try rotating the engine manually — using a long ratchet connected to the bolt of the harmonic balancer and turning it clockwise — to make sure everything moves freely.

If the engine is stuck, don’t try to force it to turn over. First, try removing each of the spark plugs and spraying a shot of Sea Foam Spray (three to five seconds) into each chamber. Put the plugs back in, let it sit for 48 hours and try rotating the engine again. (Full instructions can be found here). If it still won’t budge, you may need to have a professional assist with getting it free.

CHANGE THE OIL

Checking the oil is a good step, but it’s really best to change it, especially if you’re not sure how long a vehicle has been sitting. Oil breaks down over time, making it less effective at lubricating engine parts. After your oil change, add Sea Foam High Mileage directly to the crankase to help break down deposits and sludge, improving performance and extending the life of your vehicle.

CHECK AND CLEAN THE FUEL SYSTEM

Fuel does have a shelf life. And the longer it’s been sitting, the more likely it is to have lost its volatility and broken down into gummy varnish deposits that can clog fuel passageways. It’s best to drain the existing fuel and add fresh gas with a mix of Sea Foam High Mileage, which will dissolve harmful deposits and get your fuel system flowing freely.

INSPECT THE AIR INTAKE

Even if your car’s air intake system was clean and clear before it was stored, it’s a good idea to make sure it still is. Pests often make homes out of air intake snorkels and filter chambers. Make sure those areas are clear of debris so your vehicle can draw fresh air.

CHANGE YOUR COOLANT

You’ll want to ensure the coolant is at the right level to avoid overheating and that it’s not contaminated or discolored. It’s best to flush the system and replace it with fresh coolant.

FINAL CHECKS

Before firing up the engine, inspect the belts for any cracks or signs of wear, and replace them if necessary. Changing spark plugs is also a simple step to ensure your engine fires and runs smooth. Also, make sure all fluid and vacuum lines are intact and secure. And of course, connect a fresh battery.

Keep in mind that many other components, such as tires, brakes and suspension parts, will need to be checked after your car is running to make sure it’s safe. But getting your engine back up and running reliably is a big first step to getting back on the road.

HOW SEA FOAM HELPS clean fuel systems

Sea Foam Motor Treatment can help overcome common engine problems by cleaning your vehicle’s entire fuel system, including fuel passageways and injectors, and adding lubricity to upper cylinders.

For regular fuel system maintenance, add one ounce of Sea Foam Motor treatment to each gallon of gas. Use the same ratio to stabilize fuel if your vehicle isn’t used regularly.

MORE about SEA FOAM

WHERE TO BUY SEA FOAM

HOW TO USE SEA FOAM

#seafoamworks

WATCH customer stories

EFFECTIVENESS

AWESOME STUFF

“I use Sea foam in all my motors. My riding mower was running rough and one treatment smoothed it right out. Then I put it in a used off road SXS I bought. It had been sitting for a long time. I drained the gas out put in fresh with sea foam. It quit sputtering and dying and is running reliably now.”

★★★★★

FISHINGFEVER / SXS / OUTDOOR ENTHUSIAST IN MINNESOTA

QUALITY OF PRODUCT

A MONEY SAVER

“I bought a 1981 Mercedes diesel a few years ago. I suspect it had been sitting for a long time. While driving it over 70 mph the engine started losing power and eventually stalled out. After some consideration I figured that at that speed debris or algae must be blocking the tank filter. I limped but home doing 64 mph. My mechanic recommended removing, draining and cleaning the tank. For whatever reason I decided to give SeaFoam a try. I used two bottles and then took it out on the highway to see if the car would still have problems driving over 70mph. No problems whatsoever. No problems since then either. I became a customer and believer. Thank you SeaFoam.”

★★★★★

MB220D1972 / 1981 MERCEDES 220D / EVERYDAY ENGINE OWNER IN ILLINOIS

EFFECTIVENESS

Awesome stuff

“After our uncle passed away, we got his 2002 Trans Am that had been sitting for more than 10 years with over a half a tank of gas left in it. The car started right up and ran ok, but soon after the that the check engine light came on and it hardly would stay running. I dumped in two cans of Sea Foam and went for a fifty mile ride. By the time the gas gage fell to around a quarter tank, the check engine light shut off and the car runs like new again. I have put on over 1000 mile since and the cars runs great.”

★★★★★

DaveL / 2002 PONTIAC TRANS AM / DO-IT-YOURSELFER IN WISCONSIN

see all reviews

Read Customer ReviewsCollapse Customer Reviews

Our use of cookies

Necessary Cookies

Performance Cookies

Functional Cookies

Targeting Cookies

STARTING A CAR THAT’S BEEN SITTING

HOW TO START AN ENGINE THAT HAS BEEN SITTING

CLEANING A FUEL SYSTEM
WITH SEA FOAM

GETTING AN ENGINE RUNNING AGAIN

HOW SEA FOAM HELPS clean fuel systems

#seafoamworks

related
products

HIGH mileage

power steering fluid

DEEP CREEP

how to fix a rough engine idle

How to pass an emissions test

how to
fix oil burning

STARTING A CAR THAT’S BEEN SITTING

HOW TO START AN ENGINE THAT HAS BEEN SITTING

CLEANING A FUEL SYSTEMWITH SEA FOAM

GETTING AN ENGINE RUNNING AGAIN

HOW SEA FOAM HELPS clean fuel systems

#seafoamworks

related products

HIGH mileage

power steering fluid

DEEP CREEP

how to fix a rough engine idle

How to pass an emissions test

how to fix oil burning

CLEANING A FUEL SYSTEM
WITH SEA FOAM

related
products

how to
fix oil burning