should i store my engine with oil? Options

[i love porsche]

right now my engine is jsut sitting, and it will be....hopefully untill summer latest, i was wondering if i should store it with or without oil?

[Sean_S]

I bought a water cooled engine from a wreaker 20 years ago. It had a tag on it that said "pickled". Turned out that they replaced the oil in their pulled engines with diesel fuel before storing. Was that an old way of storing engines and is it still common? Is there an advantage to it, or can it cause more problems?

-Jeff

Jeff, that is interesting.
Diesel is hydroscopic so it absorbs water. As a film, I find it to be a good temporary protectant...which is why it makes for a good cleaner, just leave it until you apply something more substancial.

As a long term replacement for oil as protection I would think it would absorb enough water to create a biological presence (read bacteria). I am not sure if the diesel itself becomes a rust problem once it has absorbed the maximum amount though. Like I said, I use it in "film" strength where it's good for a few days.

Sean