Thread: Chevy 305 Engine & Water

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I need some advice from those who KNOW....
I have a v8 trike that has a 1980 Chevy 305 engine in it.

I live in Orlando,Fl and we just went through a major hurricane.
During the storm, the tarp blew off the trike and I am not sure if any water got into the engine.

My question is: what is the best way to start this engine so there will be NO damage?

Thanks to all...

Remove the spark plugs and turn the engine over by hand is a good start. This will push any water out of the cylinders. If water did get in there and you don't remove the plugs, you could bend a connecting rod, blow a gasket, or even do valve train damage to it. Also, if it does have water in it you will want to try to clean out the cylinders with the plugs out to get any debris out too. Once you get that done you will want to change the oil. If it had a lot of water in it, drive it 500 miles after the oil change and do it again to be safe.

if you turn it backwards you won't need to remove the spark plugs

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

if you turn it backwards you won't need to remove the spark plugs

At the drag races, did you ever see a Top Fuel or Funny Car crew member put a long handle and socket on the blower pulley and turn the motor over backwards? That was to purge the cylinders of unburned fuel without hydraulically locking the whole mess. Works the same way to purge any liquid from the cylinders without damage.
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Never heard of turning the engine backwards...

And that will not cause any damage?

I heard someone say to change the oil, pull the plugs and put a little bit of "Marvel Mystery Oil" in each cylinder
and then crank the engine over several times by hand.

And that will get any water and junk out of the engine

Is this a good practice?

That's what we called lunging the engine clear the cylinders of liquid that will not compres witch is refered to hydrolicing the engine many times causing instant destruction to an other wise a good engine

For water in the oil system-you can just loosen and slightly remove the drain plug-if any water in oil system it will be on bottom-with drain plug removed and no water coming out -put it back in and ok to go----

Originally Posted by Triker

Never heard of turning the engine backwards...

And that will not cause any damage?

I heard someone say to change the oil, pull the plugs and put a little bit of "Marvel Mystery Oil" in each cylinder
and then crank the engine over several times by hand.

And that will get any water and junk out of the engine

Is this a good practice?

Pull the plugs and use the starter to spin the engine a few turns, then put the plugs back in, use Jerry's drain plug procedure to ensure that you don't have a cup or more of water in the crankcase and start it up. If you then let it warm up fully any small amount of water that was hiding will cook off to steam. Don't make it more work than it needs to be.

Just be prepared if you use the starter to crank it over and there is some water in there, things are going to get a bath.

Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

Just be prepared if you use the starter to crank it over and there is some water in there, things are going to get a bath.

LOL Yes, if you've got a load of water it will shoot out of the plug hole with a vengeance!

I fully agree with "Don't make it more work than it needs to be" thats why you just need to turn the engine over backwards 2 rev to clear the cylinders---------Fuel racers do that every run before firing the engine-------

But if the trike hasn't been UNDER water there shouldn't be any water in it from sitting for a period of time--------