[ashley07]

the car i've just bought has been sitting for 5 years. im not sure whether they started it at all or not. will the engine have locked by now? or how long does a car have to be sitting before the engine will just lock up?

[ScottHalliday]

How long it would take an engine to seize depends alot on where and how it is stored. If you can crank the engine over by either by using the ignition or turning it over manually, then you know its not seized up.

[Flower09pwr]

Unless it's been stored outside or in a field or something, it shouldnt be seized. I'd replace ALL the fluids and replace the plugs and what not, when you first start it just give it a quick crank to see if it turns over or not

[snake 42]

If it were me and I had bought a car that had been sitting for 5 years I'd replace the fluids, as suggested already, but then I would pull the distributor and spin the oil pump with a drill motor until the oil pressure came up. After re-installing and timing the distributor and priming the carb ( if so equipped) then I would try to start the engine.

Good Luck!

[Ian1994 3.8L V6]

like people have said it depends on where it has been sitting and what it has been exposed too. but it should be fine after 5 years just do the maintainance to it.