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It's time to start her up.
It's been 3 years on stands in the garage. Last used in November 2019 at a Sandown sprint. 2004 SE with 113 k on the clock. Stock bottom end, Mambo GTX2680, Kraken and all the best bits that money can buy. 170kw track and street setup.

CoVid layup and injuries to back and shoulders have meant, no use in all that time.

I need to start her up and go for a drive.

Any advice on what to do before turning the key?

Did you do anything to prep it for its holiday? Oil in the combustion chambers, drain fuel, etc? Run it every so often?

From memory this was answered in a recent post. FWIW I'd refresh ALL fluids, prime oil pump, then do a plugs out spin on the starter to get OP. Gearbox and diff oil may be optional, but for completeness of a full reset on the fluids I'd do the m anyway.

Like all naughty boys, I thought I'll just take it for a spin, next weekend. Next weekend just never came. One day turned into a week, turned into a month, turned into years. No prep for its holiday.

So now, I just need to give it a complete service. Thanks for the advice GM.

I'd do everything GM said, and try to completely empty the fuel system. Maybe pull the injectors out and get them cleaned - old fuel can gunk them up.

geesz mine started on E85 after 15 months in the tank

StanTheMan wrote:geesz mine started on E85 after 15 months in the tank

That can’t be true STM. Everyone knows E85 completely blocks fuel lines, rails, filters and dissolves all rubber it contacts within 18 seconds of sitting….

My rotrex’d NB sat with half a tank for 5 months, then fired up without issue and ran perfectly fine.
I ‘did’ use up that tank and half the next running gently on the road before I hit the track with fresh fuel though, just to be safe.

rascal wrote:

StanTheMan wrote:geesz mine started on E85 after 15 months in the tank

That can’t be true STM. Everyone knows E85 completely blocks fuel lines, rails, filters and dissolves all rubber it contacts within 18 seconds of sitting….

My rotrex’d NB sat with half a tank for 5 months, then fired up without issue and ran perfectly fine.
I ‘did’ use up that tank and half the next running gently on the road before I hit the track with fresh fuel though, just to be safe.

and then after 2 weeks at the pannel beater getting the foot pan replaced....it doesn't start..... with a tank full of 98.

go figure.


must have been all that corrosion came loose from all those yeas ago from sitting there with E85.

Sure, it might start and run just fine on the old fuel - but for the effort and cost involved to put fresh fuel in and clean the injectors, it's good peace of mind.

I'd do it regardless of what type of fuel was in it.