Oil change after long period of non-use

[Syltiz]

I have all the bits I need to bring my K3 GSXR750 back to life and will be starting this project soon. Now the engine has not run for about 3 years and the oil in there is about 5 years old.

My concern is the thick old oil wont drain very easily.

To change the oil.... is it a good idea to start the engine on the old oil so it can warm up and make easier to drain?, or is it better to just drain the old oil cold and then fill with new oil, warm up and then redrain?

[Kwackerz]

I'd drop some oil down the plug holes, gently turn it over by hand once you know it's got free bores, then just run it up on idle/fast idle with what's in it until warm then drain it and change the oil

[paddyz1]

Just drain it cold. I had an old xs250 that was stood for years. I drained the oil and then stripped the engine. It was spotless inside because all the oil had 'fallen' to the sump (only the sump area to clean after that). Leave it to drain for a few days if time is not a factor then do as you suggest, which is "to just drain the old oil cold and then fill with new oil, warm up and then redrain" (make that cheap flushing oil)

[Syltiz]

Thanks for the replies - I will do a mixture of both. I will let it drain cold and then fill up with cheap oil and drop some through the plug holes before manually turning the engine over.