Starting diesel after 6 years

bryanb

Back in 2004 family circumstances forced us to leave our small boat in a marina in Eastern France. The location is important because the canal freezes almost every winter.
The engine is a Mercedes OM636. As fitted in Merc 170/180 in late 60s to early 70s.
Before leaving we removed the glow plugs and gave each pot a good slug of inhibiting oil, we then disconnected the raw water lift pump and spun the engine to suck antifreeze through the oil cooler, water jacket, and wet exhaust system. This was needed as it is cooled by drawing up canal water instead of a radiator. We then gave each pot another slug of inhib oil and refitted the glow plugs.

This weekend we have removed alternator and water lift pump to replace the impeller. Whilst at it we cleaned up corrosion on the aluminium pulleys.
My plan is to remove the glow plugs again, squirt WD40 into the pots and spin the motor to bleed the fuel system, Then refit the plugs and try to fire up.
Has anyone got any suggestions for anything we could do to improve the chances of starting it? I am considering removing the rocker cover and WD40ing the valve stems / guides?
Thanks for reading this far, and for any advice. BB

Sandoval

Haven't got any advice but it sounds like an interesting project!

Six years is a long time!

Hope it doesn't give you too much trouble starting!

johnnyroper

Don't bother with wd in rocker cover,change oil and filter and fuel filter also good idea to drain fuel tank a fill back with fresh.you could try easy start but if it were me I would give it a go normally first and see what happens.

Almost forgot make sure it turns by hand first

bryanb

johnnyroper wrote: »

Don't bother with wd in rocker cover,change oil and filter and fuel filter also good idea to drain fuel tank a fill back with fresh.you could try easy start but if it were me I would give it a go normally first and see what happens.

Almost forgot make sure it turns by hand first

Thanks, forgot to say oil & filters were changed when we left. No chance of draining the fuel, 300 litres in bottom of boat, although could rig temporary system with jerry can and plastic tube. could be useful as the lift is 1m plus.
It turned by hand ok when fitting alternator belt about 1/4 rev but will rotate further.

colino

I would still turn it over by hand a couple of times, making sure there are no tight spots, then spin it over with the injector(s) cracked open to get the oil circulating. Then, hold your breath, spin it over make sure your getting fuel up, than tighten up the connections again and, fingers crossed, it will belch into life.

mikey72

I've just started a petrol after 15 plus years.
Removed the plugs, filled the bores with oil and turned by hand, removed the oil filter (which was remote on two hoses), primed both tubes to charge the pump and bearings, oil change and new filter, new plugs and turned over by hand a few times, then run on the starter with no fuel until the oil pressure light went out, new fuel in a small tank, then it started.
Smoke from the oil in the bores at first, then it was fine.
I suspect your diesel will have gone off by now, so check for sludge build up/growth, or better, start from a small tank first.

Quinny_2

My old man last year, started a Perkins P6 diesel that hadn't been ran for 30 years, (It had been in a boat.) and after changing the oil/filters, turning it by hand, oiling the bores and giving it fresh diesel, it fired into life almost straight away.

cyclonebri1

My moneys on it starting easily, you seem to have done all the shutdown/start up procedures.

I would rig a fresh supply of fuel tho' as you yourself have suggested. ;)

epninety

I started a diesel truck that sat in a field for 10+ years, with not problems at all.

Spin the engine a couple of times by hand, in the normal running direction.

I don't know anything about the OM636, but some fresh engine oil poured over the camshaft, or down the pushrods (depending on design) would be a kindness. There won't be any oil up there until the engine has run for a few seconds otherwise. If there's any way to prime the oil system before starting, it's worth doing. Sometime you can drive the oil pump with a cordless drill, but it depends on the design.

Spinning the engine over on the starter to get oil pressure up is no kindness IMHO, as the slow speed allows the oil film to break down over bearing surfaces, better to get to running speed as quickly as possible.

Diesels have a minimum cranking speed at which they will start. If it cranks over at all slowly it may never start. I would start it the first time with a generous squirt of EasiStart up the air intake to make sure it starts as quickly as possible. Then hold it above idle speed for 30 seconds or so, to get oil flowing, and some heat into the cylinders.

Ebe_Scrooge

Where is Sassy when you need him ? He's the expert at resurrecting things that have been dormant for years.

Gordon_Hose

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

Where is Sassy when you need him ? He's the expert at resurrecting things that have been dormant for years.

He could make the boat do 170mph!!

To the OP, I have no advice, but let us know how it goes