has it stood for a long time?

[Guest]

Starting a Mini that has been stood for a long time
Drain the fuel tank (if there’s anything in it) and use fresh petrol. Petrol deteriorates with age and the existing petrol may be contaminated with water.
Clean plugs & points. It’s a good idea to fit a new dizzy cap and rotor arm as the dizzy cap contacts tend to oxidise and go fluffy!
Check oil and coolant level
Check condition of all hoses (including/especially fuel hoses).
Check that you can get all gears.
Check that the clutch offers some kind of pressure against the pedal.
Take a big battery with you (or have the ability to jump start from something)
Remove the spark plugs and push the car along in gear to make sure that the crank will turn OK.
If you can, plumb in a known working oil pressure gauge. If not, just hope that the pressure switch doesn’t tell you lies.
Crank the engine over (with the plugs out) until you get decent oil pressure (either the light goes off on the dash or you see 20+PSI on the gauge).
You may find that you need to undo the oil feed pipe that runs from the front left hand side of the engine and pour oil down it to help prime the system.
Once you know the engine has oil pressure, you can refit the plugs and try to start it.
If/when it does start, remove the radiator cap and make sure that the water is flowing through the radiator. You’ll overheat the engine pretty quick if the water pump is goosed.

[halfpint]

Starting a Mini that has been stood for a long time
Drain the fuel tank (if there’s anything in it) and use fresh petrol. Petrol deteriorates with age and the existing petrol may be contaminated with water.
Clean plugs & points. It’s a good idea to fit a new dizzy cap and rotor arm as the dizzy cap contacts tend to oxidise and go fluffy!
Check oil and coolant level
Check condition of all hoses (including/especially fuel hoses).
Check that you can get all gears.
Check that the clutch offers some kind of pressure against the pedal.
Take a big battery with you (or have the ability to jump start from something)
Remove the spark plugs and push the car along in gear to make sure that the crank will turn OK.
If you can, plumb in a known working oil pressure gauge. If not, just hope that the pressure switch doesn’t tell you lies.
Crank the engine over (with the plugs out) until you get decent oil pressure (either the light goes off on the dash or you see 20+PSI on the gauge).
You may find that you need to undo the oil feed pipe that runs from the front left hand side of the engine and pour oil down it to help prime the system.
Once you know the engine has oil pressure, you can refit the plugs and try to start it.
If/when it does start, remove the radiator cap and make sure that the water is flowing through the radiator. You’ll overheat the engine pretty quick if the water pump is goosed.