Should you hand crank an engine if its been sitting around for 7 months as all the oil has run into the sump? Any ideas? I've a 1996 v6 4Runner, Gas.

 

don't think you have much of a choice, change your oil, so it runs through the engine on the refill, check the rest of the fuilds, start it and let it idle for 20 to 30minutes to fully lubricate engine, tranny before reving past idle.
good luck

 

I agree - once you start it, let it run for quite a while.

Starting an engine and turning it right off is one of the worst things you can do. Hard on the lubrication, battery, everything.

 

Disconnect the coil and turn it over for 10-20 seconds, you should have suffiecnt oil after that to start it. I would just let it run till warm and drive away.

We have a boat and a truck in alaska that usually sit for 9 months a year. The boat is a 3406 cat diesel, we shut of the injection pump and run the starter till we see oil pressure, then she fires on the first bump of the starter. The truck is a old ford 400, we just crank her till she starts....

 

Just start her up and let it idle for a good bit like the guys above me have said. I did that after I stored my truck for 6 months outside in SoCal summer and I was fine when I came back.

 

Thanks for the advice. Do I need to worry about condensation in the oil or oil filter? I put new oil and replaced the oil filter just before leaving the vehicle for 7 months. Its storred in a dry but very cold climate.

 

no worries, once its hot it will evap any out, but probally not an issue.