Is it important for oil to be present while engine is off?
I have some leaks and usually top up as it goes low. The car always has endless repairs so I'm just can't get round to the leaks yet am starting to think if I should sell the car.
Anyway at times the car has been sitting for months with no engine oil in it. Is this a problem for the engine or is it ok so long as I top up before driving?
oil long-term-storage
edited Jan 22 at 12:56
GdD
5,5581126
asked Jan 22 at 8:40
James WilsonJames Wilson
9241123
add a comment |
I have some leaks and usually top up as it goes low. The car always has endless repairs so I'm just can't get round to the leaks yet am starting to think if I should sell the car.
Anyway at times the car has been sitting for months with no engine oil in it. Is this a problem for the engine or is it ok so long as I top up before driving?
oil long-term-storage
edited Jan 22 at 12:56
GdD
5,5581126
asked Jan 22 at 8:40
James WilsonJames Wilson
9241123
3
Yes, sell the car...
– Solar Mike
Jan 22 at 9:02
add a comment |
I have some leaks and usually top up as it goes low. The car always has endless repairs so I'm just can't get round to the leaks yet am starting to think if I should sell the car.
Anyway at times the car has been sitting for months with no engine oil in it. Is this a problem for the engine or is it ok so long as I top up before driving?
oil long-term-storage
edited Jan 22 at 12:56
GdD
5,5581126
asked Jan 22 at 8:40
James WilsonJames Wilson
9241123
I have some leaks and usually top up as it goes low. The car always has endless repairs so I'm just can't get round to the leaks yet am starting to think if I should sell the car.
Anyway at times the car has been sitting for months with no engine oil in it. Is this a problem for the engine or is it ok so long as I top up before driving?
oil long-term-storage
oil long-term-storage
edited Jan 22 at 12:56
GdD
5,5581126
asked Jan 22 at 8:40
James WilsonJames Wilson
9241123
edited Jan 22 at 12:56
GdD
5,5581126
asked Jan 22 at 8:40
James WilsonJames Wilson
9241123
edited Jan 22 at 12:56
GdD
5,5581126
edited Jan 22 at 12:56
GdD
5,5581126
edited Jan 22 at 12:56
GdD
5,5581126
5,5581126
asked Jan 22 at 8:40
James WilsonJames Wilson
9241123
asked Jan 22 at 8:40
James WilsonJames Wilson
9241123
asked Jan 22 at 8:40
James WilsonJames Wilson
9241123
9241123
3
Yes, sell the car...
– Solar Mike
Jan 22 at 9:02
add a comment |
3
Yes, sell the car...
– Solar Mike
Jan 22 at 9:02
3
3
Yes, sell the car...
– Solar Mike
Jan 22 at 9:02
Yes, sell the car...
– Solar Mike
Jan 22 at 9:02
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
There is no problem with an engine sitting with an empty sump - after standing for a few days the oil will all have run back down to the sump and so won't be doing anything anyway.
I'm afraid I'm going to have to agree with Solar Mike too - one of the first things you learn (usually the hard way!) with car restoration is the need to balance the difficulty of the project with the amount of time, skill and resources available to you. I think you're getting to the point of realising that this car is more than you can handle (I know the feeling, I've been there too...), and it's time to 'cut your losses' and get something that needs less work.
answered Jan 22 at 9:22
Nick C♦Nick C
25.7k44292
I have to agree.. it's always hard and we've all pushed past the point of sensible with cars over the years but sometimes you just have to say enough is enough
– motosubatsu
Jan 22 at 9:57
I had an Astro van that hadn't lost a drop of oil in its entire 25+ year life. But it was about to do a Blues Brothers and disintegrate on the spot, so it was time. <sad face>
– Mazura
Jan 22 at 12:55
add a comment |
If the pan is totally empty of oil, the pump can possibly lose it's prime and might not get oil moving in time to avoid engine damage if at all. Best to change oil before storing it for a long time and the rules say change it again when you put it back in service.....
answered Jan 24 at 6:11
Michael DiGregorioMichael DiGregorio
594
Depending on the engines, the good old FIat / Lancia twincam does not drain down. I've encountered engine which have been dormant for 10+ years which still have oil in the cam boxes due to the design of the engine. Strangely, on the later engines (FWD era) extra drilling seems to have been added which do allow the cam boxes to drain. No idea why as it seems counter intuitive.
– Steve Matthews
Jan 24 at 8:07
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "224"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmechanics.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f63004%2fis-it-important-for-oil-to-be-present-while-engine-is-off%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
There is no problem with an engine sitting with an empty sump - after standing for a few days the oil will all have run back down to the sump and so won't be doing anything anyway.
I'm afraid I'm going to have to agree with Solar Mike too - one of the first things you learn (usually the hard way!) with car restoration is the need to balance the difficulty of the project with the amount of time, skill and resources available to you. I think you're getting to the point of realising that this car is more than you can handle (I know the feeling, I've been there too...), and it's time to 'cut your losses' and get something that needs less work.
answered Jan 22 at 9:22
Nick C♦Nick C
25.7k44292
I have to agree.. it's always hard and we've all pushed past the point of sensible with cars over the years but sometimes you just have to say enough is enough
– motosubatsu
Jan 22 at 9:57
I had an Astro van that hadn't lost a drop of oil in its entire 25+ year life. But it was about to do a Blues Brothers and disintegrate on the spot, so it was time. <sad face>
– Mazura
Jan 22 at 12:55
add a comment |
There is no problem with an engine sitting with an empty sump - after standing for a few days the oil will all have run back down to the sump and so won't be doing anything anyway.
I'm afraid I'm going to have to agree with Solar Mike too - one of the first things you learn (usually the hard way!) with car restoration is the need to balance the difficulty of the project with the amount of time, skill and resources available to you. I think you're getting to the point of realising that this car is more than you can handle (I know the feeling, I've been there too...), and it's time to 'cut your losses' and get something that needs less work.
answered Jan 22 at 9:22
Nick C♦Nick C
25.7k44292
I have to agree.. it's always hard and we've all pushed past the point of sensible with cars over the years but sometimes you just have to say enough is enough
– motosubatsu
Jan 22 at 9:57
I had an Astro van that hadn't lost a drop of oil in its entire 25+ year life. But it was about to do a Blues Brothers and disintegrate on the spot, so it was time. <sad face>
– Mazura
Jan 22 at 12:55
add a comment |
There is no problem with an engine sitting with an empty sump - after standing for a few days the oil will all have run back down to the sump and so won't be doing anything anyway.
I'm afraid I'm going to have to agree with Solar Mike too - one of the first things you learn (usually the hard way!) with car restoration is the need to balance the difficulty of the project with the amount of time, skill and resources available to you. I think you're getting to the point of realising that this car is more than you can handle (I know the feeling, I've been there too...), and it's time to 'cut your losses' and get something that needs less work.
answered Jan 22 at 9:22
Nick C♦Nick C
25.7k44292
There is no problem with an engine sitting with an empty sump - after standing for a few days the oil will all have run back down to the sump and so won't be doing anything anyway.
I'm afraid I'm going to have to agree with Solar Mike too - one of the first things you learn (usually the hard way!) with car restoration is the need to balance the difficulty of the project with the amount of time, skill and resources available to you. I think you're getting to the point of realising that this car is more than you can handle (I know the feeling, I've been there too...), and it's time to 'cut your losses' and get something that needs less work.
answered Jan 22 at 9:22
Nick C♦Nick C
25.7k44292
answered Jan 22 at 9:22
Nick C♦Nick C
25.7k44292
answered Jan 22 at 9:22
Nick C♦Nick C
25.7k44292
answered Jan 22 at 9:22
Nick C♦Nick C
25.7k44292
25.7k44292
I have to agree.. it's always hard and we've all pushed past the point of sensible with cars over the years but sometimes you just have to say enough is enough
– motosubatsu
Jan 22 at 9:57
I had an Astro van that hadn't lost a drop of oil in its entire 25+ year life. But it was about to do a Blues Brothers and disintegrate on the spot, so it was time. <sad face>
– Mazura
Jan 22 at 12:55
add a comment |
I have to agree.. it's always hard and we've all pushed past the point of sensible with cars over the years but sometimes you just have to say enough is enough
– motosubatsu
Jan 22 at 9:57
I had an Astro van that hadn't lost a drop of oil in its entire 25+ year life. But it was about to do a Blues Brothers and disintegrate on the spot, so it was time. <sad face>
– Mazura
Jan 22 at 12:55
I have to agree.. it's always hard and we've all pushed past the point of sensible with cars over the years but sometimes you just have to say enough is enough
– motosubatsu
Jan 22 at 9:57
I have to agree.. it's always hard and we've all pushed past the point of sensible with cars over the years but sometimes you just have to say enough is enough
– motosubatsu
Jan 22 at 9:57
I had an Astro van that hadn't lost a drop of oil in its entire 25+ year life. But it was about to do a Blues Brothers and disintegrate on the spot, so it was time. <sad face>
– Mazura
Jan 22 at 12:55
I had an Astro van that hadn't lost a drop of oil in its entire 25+ year life. But it was about to do a Blues Brothers and disintegrate on the spot, so it was time. <sad face>
– Mazura
Jan 22 at 12:55
add a comment |
If the pan is totally empty of oil, the pump can possibly lose it's prime and might not get oil moving in time to avoid engine damage if at all. Best to change oil before storing it for a long time and the rules say change it again when you put it back in service.....
answered Jan 24 at 6:11
Michael DiGregorioMichael DiGregorio
594
Depending on the engines, the good old FIat / Lancia twincam does not drain down. I've encountered engine which have been dormant for 10+ years which still have oil in the cam boxes due to the design of the engine. Strangely, on the later engines (FWD era) extra drilling seems to have been added which do allow the cam boxes to drain. No idea why as it seems counter intuitive.
– Steve Matthews
Jan 24 at 8:07
add a comment |
If the pan is totally empty of oil, the pump can possibly lose it's prime and might not get oil moving in time to avoid engine damage if at all. Best to change oil before storing it for a long time and the rules say change it again when you put it back in service.....
answered Jan 24 at 6:11
Michael DiGregorioMichael DiGregorio
594
Depending on the engines, the good old FIat / Lancia twincam does not drain down. I've encountered engine which have been dormant for 10+ years which still have oil in the cam boxes due to the design of the engine. Strangely, on the later engines (FWD era) extra drilling seems to have been added which do allow the cam boxes to drain. No idea why as it seems counter intuitive.
– Steve Matthews
Jan 24 at 8:07
add a comment |
If the pan is totally empty of oil, the pump can possibly lose it's prime and might not get oil moving in time to avoid engine damage if at all. Best to change oil before storing it for a long time and the rules say change it again when you put it back in service.....
answered Jan 24 at 6:11
Michael DiGregorioMichael DiGregorio
594
If the pan is totally empty of oil, the pump can possibly lose it's prime and might not get oil moving in time to avoid engine damage if at all. Best to change oil before storing it for a long time and the rules say change it again when you put it back in service.....
answered Jan 24 at 6:11
Michael DiGregorioMichael DiGregorio
594
answered Jan 24 at 6:11
Michael DiGregorioMichael DiGregorio
594
answered Jan 24 at 6:11
Michael DiGregorioMichael DiGregorio
594
answered Jan 24 at 6:11
Michael DiGregorioMichael DiGregorio
594
594
Depending on the engines, the good old FIat / Lancia twincam does not drain down. I've encountered engine which have been dormant for 10+ years which still have oil in the cam boxes due to the design of the engine. Strangely, on the later engines (FWD era) extra drilling seems to have been added which do allow the cam boxes to drain. No idea why as it seems counter intuitive.
– Steve Matthews
Jan 24 at 8:07
add a comment |
Depending on the engines, the good old FIat / Lancia twincam does not drain down. I've encountered engine which have been dormant for 10+ years which still have oil in the cam boxes due to the design of the engine. Strangely, on the later engines (FWD era) extra drilling seems to have been added which do allow the cam boxes to drain. No idea why as it seems counter intuitive.
– Steve Matthews
Jan 24 at 8:07
Depending on the engines, the good old FIat / Lancia twincam does not drain down. I've encountered engine which have been dormant for 10+ years which still have oil in the cam boxes due to the design of the engine. Strangely, on the later engines (FWD era) extra drilling seems to have been added which do allow the cam boxes to drain. No idea why as it seems counter intuitive.
– Steve Matthews
Jan 24 at 8:07
Depending on the engines, the good old FIat / Lancia twincam does not drain down. I've encountered engine which have been dormant for 10+ years which still have oil in the cam boxes due to the design of the engine. Strangely, on the later engines (FWD era) extra drilling seems to have been added which do allow the cam boxes to drain. No idea why as it seems counter intuitive.
– Steve Matthews
Jan 24 at 8:07
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to Motor Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmechanics.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f63004%2fis-it-important-for-oil-to-be-present-while-engine-is-off%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
3
Yes, sell the car...
– Solar Mike
Jan 22 at 9:02