De-Pickling the Model A Engine

[34Pietenpol]

I recently picked up a Woody with the engine "pickled" by the owner by removing the spark plugs and pouring oil on top of the pistons until it filled the bore.

I now need to wash the gummy oil residue out of the upper cylinders so I can run the engine. It was reportedly overhauled and run around 5 years ago, pickled 3 years ago. I want to run it first to se if it's a good engine, so am trying to avoid tearing into the engine just now.

Any advice on how best to wash the upper cylinders? I will try to suck out the oil I can first, then thought to pour gas into the plug holes, washing it past the rings, into the oil pan and out the oil drain hole. Then re-oiling the crankcase and giving it a try.

Any one been thru this before with help? Many thanks!

[RonC]

There should be no gummy residue from engine oil after only 3 years. Are you sure there is a level of oil sitting in cylinders? it must have leaked down into the oil pan. Do not put any gas in there. Change the oil. Make sure at least one quart goes in through the distributor hole in the head. Check the water level and start the engine. It will smoke a lot at first but that's ok. Let warm up good and take it from there.

[mrtexas]

Don't use gas. Too explosive.

[Ray64]

NO GAS I blew the tops off of 2 pistons by doing that.

[Mitch//pa]

suck the oil out with a fluid evacuation pump.

[Tom Wesenberg]

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After 3 years, if you still have oil in the cylinders, you have the world's best rings. I would try hand cranking the engine over a couple revolutions, to make sure it doesn't hydrolock, and to make sure each cylinder has compression, then I'd try starting it.

Hopefully you don't have any stuck valves.

[Mitch//pa]

maybe they used 600w

[wsaric]

I would do the following
1. get as much of the oil out as possible
2 add sea foam to the top of the cylinders and turn the engine over by hand (plugs out) this will help remove any oil left over and get into the rings.
3. put wd40 in the cylinders and turn the engine again. this will help lube the rings.
4. drop the oil pan and clean it out
5. replace oil pan refill oil do not forget to add about 1 qt in the distributor
6. try to start engine when running the engine use sea foam in the fuel.

now I would also add sea foam to the oil for the engine run. This will help clean out the crap in the engine, then drop the oil pan and replace the oil.
the reason the old oil will separate and glaze between the metal parts. the sea foam will help remove the oil oil in the areas you can not get to.
Good luck

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

After 3 years, if you still have oil in the cylinders, you have the world's best rings. I would try hand cranking the engine over a couple revolutions, to make sure it doesn't hydrolock, and to make sure each cylinder has compression, then I'd try starting it.

Hopefully you don't have any stuck valves.

Try cranking it over with the plugs out. If any oil comes out of the holes, your rings are better than any I've ever seen. If no oil appears, you are safe to crank it on the starter for a few turns, then turn on the fuel and go for fire in them holes.

[marc hildebrant]

Group,

Just what does "pickling" the engine mean ?

Marc

[MikeK]

Originally Posted by marc hildebrant

Group,

Just what does "pickling" the engine mean ?

Marc

One definition for PICKLE, other than the tasty baby cucumber treat, is
"A solution or bath for preserving or cleaning" Webster.

[glenn in camino]

Please post a picture of the whole woodie.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by marc hildebrant

Group,

Just what does "pickling" the engine mean ?

Marc

When I know an engine won't be started for over a year I pour oil down the carb until heavy smoke comes out the tail pipe for several seconds. I then pour enough oil in to kill the engine. Now the valves, pistons, and cylinders whould be well oiled and ready to set without rusting. On the Model A you can suck oil up the vacuum port if the intake has one. Otherwise you can pour oil down the cylinders and spin the engine over with the starter, then screw the plugs back in.

I don't do this on a cold engine, but with one thoroughly warmed up. As mentioned many times, you don't want to start an engine unless it's run long enough to get the oil up to full operating temperature and cook off the condensation.

[marc hildebrant]

Thanks for the info Tom.

Marc

[chopo]

run from the sea foam

[holdover]

Seafoam is a very expensive additive, if you Google the contents you will see that you can make gallons of it for what a can costs. just a thought , your mileage may vary.
pickling was done years ago with the thought that the engine would sustain long term storage with good results. I have seen in some instances that the residue of the oils used caused more of a mess than the "good" results they were suppose to cause.

[34Pietenpol]

Many thanks, Gents, for the advice. Will post photos when I get her up and running.