[MagmaJct]

Ugh, dads can make it so difficult to love them. I fail to see how priming an engine can require a tow to the shop. Even if one could argue priming is not necessary, how can they argue it would do any harm?

Pulling plugs is especially important. Not only because when the mixture fires, there's a sudden down-force on potentially dry rod bearings, but because the cylinders and rings are also dry, the force of compression along will force the rings down and out against the dry cylinders.

Even if the engine fires up and runs, how many thousand miles did you take off the service life of the engine anyway? Of course, there is still a chance the engine is already near the end of its service life.

In which case, even under the best priming conditions, the engine fails less than a year later. This will confirm your dad's right in his mind, and you will never live it down. I've learned to ignore my dad over the decades.

Regards,
Mike