After Storage Cold Start Question - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

49North1LE · 03-23-2023, 10:59 AM

So after 8 months of storage with no start-up (I needed to move her for the winter as we were finishing our home build) can someone please confirm if my recollection is correct. I'm thinking (this would help push some oil back up after a long sit of gravity drain) so why NOT if it does work. That by depressing both my clutch & accelerator pedal fully in and turning the key that the engine will spin but not fire and momentarily boast the oil pressure. I want to say that I read that this shuts down maybe the fuel injectors or something like that. I did find a similar question asked from 2014 but it was never answered rather the replies defaulted to the obvious (which is totally cool) but thought fast forward 9 years and maybe an reply with some explanation addressing my specific question exists today. Thanks much!

0stones0 · 03-23-2023, 11:27 AM

I read that same thread and tend to agree just to fire it up. Warming it up before driving is sensible, as well. If you were/are starting it multiple times during quite cold weather, I would have the concern of trying to get the oil to the rest of the engine too but, once a year after storage, I don’t think is anymore detrimental than all the other starts you do all riding season long. Interested, as well to other opinions.

MSgt O · 03-23-2023, 11:52 AM

Mine sits for months as well, and as soon as the engine starts to spin, the oil pump is turning, and in therory, even leaving your car sit 48 hours, the oil would have drained back into the pan just the same as sitting for months. So, start it and let it warm up for the first go as you get it out of storage. I cant imagine your "going without oil on the cylinder walls" for much time at all.

ariZona28 · 03-23-2023, 01:19 PM

I think this is what you're looking for. Flood mode cranking. Page 9-21,22 of the owners man.

1JEWLDSSRS · 03-24-2023, 11:41 AM

My suggestion is to just start it up, it's not like you aren't going to have oil pressure. You will have oil pressure as soon as the engine rotates. And also if you think about, yea the bulk of the oil will be drained back into the pan, but there is always a thin film coating all the parts in the engine that get oiled. Oil is designed to do that. Especially these new synthetics. Warm it up for a few minutes then take it for a drive to get all the engine components and trans up to temps. Enjoy. Oh and forgot to mention, what arizona posted will work if you feel the need. Throttle to the floor, held and clutch in will prevent any fuel from entering the engine via the injectors, they get momentarily shut down in that mode. My tech showed me that some time ago.

Moto-Mojo · 03-24-2023, 12:15 PM

Glad I'm here is 'sunny' northern CA (not) where the daytime highs have been in the 40's, it's snowed three times this never-ending winter and has been raining since December 9th. I feel like mine's been in storage because it's a fair-weather only machine too.

0stones0 · 03-24-2023, 03:58 PM

Just fired mine up after 4 1/2 months of storage, today. Everything in the car working as expected, no issues. Was 44 today. Tomorrow there could be up to 8 inches of snow. Spring in WI.

Aqua Blue RS/SS · 03-24-2023, 04:05 PM

I agree just start it up and be done with it. No need to overcomplicate things. Don’t get on it hard till everything is up to temp.

Rock-It Man · 03-24-2023, 04:33 PM

Just start the car, man.

My Camaro has sat for 6 month every winter and I just start it up.

Oil consumption was imperceptible when it was new and still is 12 years later.

Badbubba · 03-24-2023, 05:32 PM

Yes, flood mode. I did that after installing my cam. I primed the new oil pump by removing a plug on the driver's side of the engine. Did a few 5-10 second cranks to get the oil moving throughout the engine. But I also had the spark plugs removed. Doing it that way, there's no combustion, lower rpm and less stress. Of course, your oil pump will already be primed. Just got my '49 Farmall running after years or a decade. Removed the spark plugs, squirted some Kroil, oil, spun by hand and then with the starter.
No need to go that far with the Camaro. But most of the oil will have ran off the cylinder walls, push rods, rockers, etc. So, imo, not a bad thing to do.

chevy pilot · 03-25-2023, 02:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0stones0

Just fired mine up after 4 1/2 months of storage, today.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rock-It Man

My Camaro has sat for 6 month every winter and I just start it up.

Battery disconnect or on the battery charger all the time ?

0stones0 · 03-25-2023, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chevy pilot

Battery disconnect or on the battery charger all the time ?

On a tender in storage and whenever I’m not driving it.

Rock-It Man · 03-25-2023, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chevy pilot

Battery disconnect or on the battery charger all the time ?

Always on a battery tender during storage.

Silveradoss573 · 03-25-2023, 01:07 PM

I could understand this if the engine has sat for years untouched. Otherwise just start it and almost instantly get the oil moving.

03-23-2023, 10:59 AM	#1
49North1LE Drives: 2015 2SS/RS 1LE G7C, Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Western Canada Posts: 143	After Storage Cold Start Question So after 8 months of storage with no start-up (I needed to move her for the winter as we were finishing our home build) can someone please confirm if my recollection is correct. I'm thinking (this would help push some oil back up after a long sit of gravity drain) so why NOT if it does work. That by depressing both my clutch & accelerator pedal fully in and turning the key that the engine will spin but not fire and momentarily boast the oil pressure. I want to say that I read that this shuts down maybe the fuel injectors or something like that. I did find a similar question asked from 2014 but it was never answered rather the replies defaulted to the obvious (which is totally cool) but thought fast forward 9 years and maybe an reply with some explanation addressing my specific question exists today. Thanks much!

03-23-2023, 11:27 AM	#2
0stones0 It don’t come easy. Drives: 2010 2SS RS M6 Join Date: May 2014 Location: WI Posts: 2,205 View My Garage	I read that same thread and tend to agree just to fire it up. Warming it up before driving is sensible, as well. If you were/are starting it multiple times during quite cold weather, I would have the concern of trying to get the oil to the rest of the engine too but, once a year after storage, I don’t think is anymore detrimental than all the other starts you do all riding season long. Interested, as well to other opinions. __________________

03-23-2023, 01:19 PM	#4
ariZona28 Give speed a chance Drives: 2015 Camaro 2LS, 2015 Camaro Z/28 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Mesa, Az Posts: 2,227	I think this is what you're looking for. Flood mode cranking. Page 9-21,22 of the owners man. Attached Images __________________ 2LS: a TREMENDOUS machine. Z/28: it's a BIT MORE POWERFUL, of course.

03-24-2023, 11:41 AM	#5
1JEWLDSSRS Drives: 2011 SS-RS Join Date: May 2011 Location: FLORIDA Posts: 11,435	My suggestion is to just start it up, it's not like you aren't going to have oil pressure. You will have oil pressure as soon as the engine rotates. And also if you think about, yea the bulk of the oil will be drained back into the pan, but there is always a thin film coating all the parts in the engine that get oiled. Oil is designed to do that. Especially these new synthetics. Warm it up for a few minutes then take it for a drive to get all the engine components and trans up to temps. Enjoy. Oh and forgot to mention, what arizona posted will work if you feel the need. Throttle to the floor, held and clutch in will prevent any fuel from entering the engine via the injectors, they get momentarily shut down in that mode. My tech showed me that some time ago. __________________ TSP STAGE 3 CAM,231/246 @112 LSA 614/641 LIFT, CIRCLE D 5C-4200-4500 CONVERTER,LOD INTAKE.CORSA EXHAUST. DSS 1 PC DS. PEGASUS SOLID CRADLE MOUNTS. 486RWHP/475RWTQ.LOTS MORE.

03-24-2023, 12:15 PM	#6
Moto-Mojo Fast Cars and Old Guitars Drives: 2015 2SS RS (L99, baby!) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: N. CA Posts: 3,973	Glad I'm here is 'sunny' northern CA (not) where the daytime highs have been in the 40's, it's snowed three times this never-ending winter and has been raining since December 9th. I feel like mine's been in storage because it's a fair-weather only machine too. __________________ “I don’t want to belong to any club that would have me as a member.” - Groucho Marx

03-23-2023, 11:52 AM	#3
MSgt O Drives: 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS Vert LS3/M6 Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: Cheboygan, Michigan Posts: 660	Mine sits for months as well, and as soon as the engine starts to spin, the oil pump is turning, and in therory, even leaving your car sit 48 hours, the oil would have drained back into the pan just the same as sitting for months. So, start it and let it warm up for the first go as you get it out of storage. I cant imagine your "going without oil on the cylinder walls" for much time at all.

03-24-2023, 03:58 PM	#7
0stones0 It don’t come easy. Drives: 2010 2SS RS M6 Join Date: May 2014 Location: WI Posts: 2,205 View My Garage	Just fired mine up after 4 1/2 months of storage, today. Everything in the car working as expected, no issues. Was 44 today. Tomorrow there could be up to 8 inches of snow. Spring in WI. __________________

03-24-2023, 04:05 PM	#8
Aqua Blue RS/SS Drives: ABM #93 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Lotaburger Posts: 2,693	I agree just start it up and be done with it. No need to overcomplicate things. Don’t get on it hard till everything is up to temp. __________________ ABM #2399 2SS/RS:SOLD ABM #93 2SS/RS Black Rally stripes, Titanium Interior 4,000 miles: GM GFX side skirts and diffuser waiting on paint, GM dovetail, GM heritage, RPI ZL1 style splitter. ‘87 IROC-Z Iroc blue. all original unmolested with 50K miles.

03-24-2023, 04:33 PM	#9
Rock-It Man 376 cubic inches of fun Drives: 2023 Camaro ZL1 A10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MA Posts: 4,033 View My Garage	Just start the car, man. My Camaro has sat for 6 month every winter and I just start it up. Oil consumption was imperceptible when it was new and still is 12 years later.

03-24-2023, 05:32 PM	#10
Badbubba GrINned & JUICEd Drives: 15STI, 10Expy, 10 2SS/RS M6, 47KB1 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,247	Yes, flood mode. I did that after installing my cam. I primed the new oil pump by removing a plug on the driver's side of the engine. Did a few 5-10 second cranks to get the oil moving throughout the engine. But I also had the spark plugs removed. Doing it that way, there's no combustion, lower rpm and less stress. Of course, your oil pump will already be primed. Just got my '49 Farmall running after years or a decade. Removed the spark plugs, squirted some Kroil, oil, spun by hand and then with the starter. No need to go that far with the Camaro. But most of the oil will have ran off the cylinder walls, push rods, rockers, etc. So, imo, not a bad thing to do. __________________ GPI SS3 Cam & stuff,N.O. Plate(dedicated fuel tank,progressive,fuel hose upgrade,remote opener,heater,console switches),LNC2000,CTAP,ARH 1 7/8" LTs/gutted cats/X pipe/mufflers,Jet Hot coated LTs,GPI HPT Tune,CAI, Scoop,Rx Catch Can,Gates heater hose relocation, Remote clutch & auto brake res,Metco loop,Momentum Tunnel Brace,TSW Nurb 18",555 & 05,Pfadt trailing arms & toe rods,Autometer WB,Fesler Pillar Pod,LED strips (int),Lloyds floor & trunk mats,LED DRL/front turn & license plate,DRL harness,VLEDs tail lights,Plasticoat Bowties. Ord: Oct 5, 2009 Rec: Nov 19, 2009 13.17@112.6 stock

03-25-2023, 01:07 PM	#14
Silveradoss573 Drives: Camaro 1LE Join Date: May 2018 Location: USA Posts: 1,348	I could understand this if the engine has sat for years untouched. Otherwise just start it and almost instantly get the oil moving.