diesiel engine (3126 Cat) in truck parked for 2 years

ronboy · Apr 15, 2009

Hello all, I'm looking for tips or direction before I try to start my freightliner truck after parked for 2 years w/o being started. I have just repared my rusted fuel tanks and going to add new fuel. this is a 1999 truck w/about 200,000 miles on engine - I don't want to start it up aand ruin it! Any advice or direction would be great - thanks.

trucker40 · Apr 15, 2009

The best thing to do would be drain some fuel out of the bottom of each tank.There will be some water on the bottom and rather than change your filters 4 or 5 times drain most of it first before you start it.You also will want to break the drain plug loose on the oil pan and see if any water runs out.You might as well check all the gear boxes while under the truck.Chances are there could be some water settled out and before you move it would be better to get it out.Then I would start it.You might still have to change the fuel filters but if you drain the water off the bottom of the tanks maybe only have to change them once.Then I would change the motor oil after I got it running if it looked good.If it looked milky or something I would change it first before I started it.

RayP(MI) · Apr 15, 2009

Can you get a wrench on the crankshaft and turn it over a few revolutions by hand before you try the starter? Might be good to see if anything is stuck.

Anonymous-0 · Apr 15, 2009

All the stuff about the fuel is fine but what you really need is oil preasure BEFORE the engine starts. Simple enoughjust leave the fuel stop out or no power to the fuel valve untill you crank it over and see oil preasure. Also NO either in a dry engine wait till all the oit and fuel gets to the engine. See some smoke before you put the go juice to it.

RodinNS · Apr 15, 2009

Check the oil and fluids... and make sure there isn't water in the oil as mentioned.
If it's lost it's prime on the fuel system I'd probably use the time to change the filter and fill it with clean fuel before you install it.
I'd also expect that you will need to remove all thje cable connections at the starter and battery and clean them all, bright and tight.
Might not hurt to rock the crank with a bar... but I'd probably just bump it easy on the starter first and if it turned, fire it off.
Then... just let it idle easy and let it warm up some, clear the smoke off, make sure the turbo starts to spool up when you push some fuel to it, etc. before you load it up.
Beyond that I wouldn't get too excited about it.

Rod

Anonymous-0 · Apr 15, 2009

trucker40 gives wise counsel. Wish he had been around when I was starting up a 3406 that was given to me.

504-2 · Apr 16, 2009

That engine has an intake heater(at least my 2002 does) no either at all!

diesiel engine (3126 Cat) in truck parked for 2 years

ronboy

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trucker40

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RayP(MI)

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Anonymous-0

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RodinNS

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Anonymous-0

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504-2

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