In this case, it was Kerosene instead of engine oil.
Back @ 1983, had a neighbor (was living in Tampa Bay area at the time) with an old Pontiac with a 455 engine. The car had set up for 5-6 years before he towed it back to his house. We had good batteries, and extra starting power available. When we drained the oil, it ran like honey, and no light could penetrate the drain stream.
While it drained, we hit the local hardware store and bought 5 gallons of kerosene. We filled the crankcase up with 5 qts of straight kerosene. It took about an hour for the engine to turn enough to finally start. We'd let it idle for about 20 minutes or so, then drain the crankcase. First two cycles were black as paint. Third one was a bit clearer. And by now the car would easily turn over and with one more cycle of kerosene, we drained the crankcase, changed the oil filter, filled it up with 10W30 ( don't remember which brand off hand ). Car fired right up and ran. He went on to change the plugs, ignition points/cap/rotor, plug wires, rebuilt the quadrajet and do a transmission fluid and filter exchange. Given the condition of the old plugs, points, and wires, I was amazed it started in the first place.
He drove it until it eventually rusted out from towing a boat to and from launch ramps on the Gulf of Mexico all the time. Body fell apart, but the engine still ran.