Recommendations/Procedure for starting an engine after 3 or 4 months idle.

[andyboyd]

Does anybody have recommendations for starting/maintaining an engine that hasn't been run for 4 months?

[vaflier]

Pull the plugs and roll it over until the oil pressure comes up. Mixture and throttle closed of course. Reinstall plugs and start as normal. Allow to warm up well before doing a mag check and then a full power runup to be sure she makes full listed static rpm. Make sure the runup area is free of FOD first. If all checks good go fly. After at least a 1 hour flight change the oil and filter.

[martymayes]

I would charge the battery and start it.

[gbrasch]

I would charge the battery and start it.
Agreed. This past summer I left for 3 months. I left the plane with a fresh oil change. Upon return it started right up, just warmed it up slowly at low idle. I have since done a conditional inspection and everything is good.

[Tralika]

You can just crank it up and it will start. However, after sitting that long you should expect it will cause damage to the internal parts like the cam. The damage will be pretty insignificant but each time you start the engine that way it will cause more damage and eventually it adds up. It's a much better idea to pre-oil the engine the way Vaflier suggested. You do not need to remove all the spark plugs, one plug per cylinder will do. I had a cam failure in flight so I may be a little more sensitive about this than other pilots.