Is idling bad for older engines?

[BarryD89]

Picked this up from another forum I’m a member of, but it got me wondering.   During COVID I either idled my cars or trickle charged them, but they are all relatively modern. Now the 1.8 Manta engine could not be called a modern engine, but I’ve been idling it for half an hour a week to keep the battery up etc.  Oil pressure seems good on idle, eve. When the temp comes up, I know a drive will be better for it but am I increasing engine wear? 

The thread goes on to talk about splash oil systems for when the engine is at idle, so the top end doesn’t get much lubrication.   Thoughts?

[Mike.]

There is an oil level raiser that can be purchased and if you lift off your rocker cover it fits into the oil return hole at the back right hand side of the head just under the cam.

sold by Alymac_altopel on ebay.

Edited December 18, 2022 by Mike.

[®evo03]

Any links to oil pressure raisers? Ta. 

[Jessopia74]

The cam is not splash fed, the cam and lobes have oil galleries. If you get low oil pressure on the 1.8 Family2 engine, first thing you will hear us tapping as the hydraulic follower posts fail to pressurise properly. 
 

On other manufacturers older generation OHC engineS, such as Ford pinto, they have a spray bar and those are what that discussion is probably referencing 

[H-400]

4 hours ago, ®evo03 said:

Any links to oil pressure raisers?

Oil Level raisers are available on CIH engines, not sure about those 1.8 engines. Those raisers were first used on the CIH head "Schwedenkopf", (google it, nice info) at end of the 60'ers. Later Opel copied this oil leveler with a thin sheet of metal bended as a pipe and fitted in the oil return on the back of the head:

Edelschmiede has got them for sale: https://www.edelschmiede.com/shop/navi.php?a=884&lang=eng

 

[cam.in.head]

idling the engine shouldnt be an issue as such but i wouldnt see the need to run them so often when not used. once a month if you keep the battery connected should be more than enough and and shouldnt need charging then either.

a good battery on a basic car like ours should be able to sit easily 2 months without any issues if needs be. my viva can sit untouched and connected for 6 months with battery being still ok.

BUT the important issue if you run the engine is to make sure it gets fully up to temp throughout. a good half hour at the very least.this is to make sure any condensation is dried thoroughly. 

[Sutty2006]

The race cars I used to work on years ago (healey 3000s) we weren’t allowed to warm the engines up by letting them idle. I was told it caused “bore wash” so we had to rev them constantly for 5/10 minutes. But those in-line 6 engines were highly tuned, so probably affected those engine more than standard ones. 

[Jessopia74]

1 hour ago, Sutty2006 said:

The race cars I used to work on years ago (healey 3000s) we weren’t allowed to warm the engines up by letting them idle. I was told it caused “bore wash” so we had to rev them constantly for 5/10 minutes. But those in-line 6 engines were highly tuned, so probably affected those engine more than standard ones. 

Correct mate. They would be over fuelling at idle with the tuned camshaft. 

[IanG]

On 19/12/2022 at 18:21, cam.in.head said:

idling the engine shouldnt be an issue as such but i wouldnt see the need to run them so often when not used. once a month if you keep the battery connected should be more than enough and and shouldnt need charging then either.

a good battery on a basic car like ours should be able to sit easily 2 months without any issues if needs be. my viva can sit untouched and connected for 6 months with battery being still ok.

BUT the important issue if you run the engine is to make sure it gets fully up to temp throughout. a good half hour at the very least.this is to make sure any condensation is dried thoroughly. 

Cor a Viva, sold this wish I hadn’t Would love a HB GT……

Edited December 22, 2022 by IanG