OK so I'm starting to redo of my garage after looking at the garage forums...

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=7

I have a 90' corolla that's been sitting in the garage for about 3 years that I was using for commuting. Great car but its been sitting inside for that many years collecting dust. I'm about to put it on CL to sell it off but what should I do since its been sitting for so long and I want to start it up and get it going.

 

I personally would take out each spark plug and put a little bit of marvel mystery oil in each cylinder and let sit for a little bit before cranking it over. Would also put some in the gas tank with some fresh gas to help lube the valves. There may be other things that I dont know about doing to an engine before start up after sitting that others may chime in with aswell.

 

heres my checklist. mostly un neccasary, but its just what i do.

drain fuel. blow out fuel lines with compressed air. replace with fresh fuel.

drain oil and replace with fresh

flush coolant, and replace

take out plugs and inspect them (throw some gas in the sparkplug holes to aid in starting)

file down distributor points with a high grit file

throw a battery in there and hope she'll start.

the go easy and check for leaks the first few thousand miles, gaskets always tend to dry up.

 

i've been doing this a lot lately with chainsaws and other yard equiptment i've found in my old barn

this is what i follow:

-go to the parts store and pick up some starting fluid, carb cleaner and WD-40

-pull all the plugs and wire brush or run sand paper across them to get to a clean shiny electrode

-if possible i do a compression test (i recently found out my chevy block warped from sitting on a running stand for 13 years)

-clean the battery terminals and make sure you have a good connection and FULLY charged battery

-shoot some WD-40 into the cylinders and hit the key to turn the motor over WITHOUT the plugs in, this will free up the rings and run some lube past them

-pull the air cleaner off and run carb cleaner through the carb or injection

-a little more WD and turn the motor a second time

-gap the plugs right and put them in

-shoot a small amount of starting fluid and she should fire

 

Fresh gas

If I pull the plugs new ones go back in that is me

Trouble shoot as needed to get running