starting a 944 after a 2 year sit.

What is the best way to start a 85.5 porsche 944 after a 2 year sit. I want to cause as little damage as possible, it was not put up at all. The car was driven in and parked for two years. Thank you for your help. chris

Always check you timing belt first. Open the distributor cover and you will be able to see the condition of the two belts by slowly cranking the engine with a ratchet at the crank. If not 100%, don't run it, you'll break the belt. If good, change plugs, roceed to crank.

Good luck.

If you have the means to do so, I would drain out the old gas and replace with fresh gas. Not a bad idea to change the oil and filter as well.

If you get it started only let it run for a couple of seconds. After you make sure that it starts fine I would replace oil/filter, maybe drain or check coolant, look over everything...etc
But deffinetly look at the timing belt first.

you may also want to take out the spark plugs and pour a little oil into each cylinder.

I agree with all the reccommendations. A little oil in the cylinders and crank it over with the sparks removed. This will remove extra oil and at the same time will help "pre oil" the engine. I'm not a porsche anything (owner, driver, mechanic) but am gaining an understanding of the beast and hope to soon be all of the above.

With aircraft engines that have not been run in some time I will remove the sparks and crank with the starter until I show any rise in the oil pressure gauge. Limit cranking to less then a minute max with at least 5 minutes cool down for the starter motor between cranking.

Fresh gas, change the oil, definatly inspect the condition of the timing belts. All good advice......

good luck

Hey if it doesnt start...... I got some porsche dollars waiting to be spent!