Oil pump priming

[davedew]

I've just filled the engine with oil & thought it would be best to circulate some of it through the system seeing as it hasn't had any in for about 8 months now.

In total I must have cranked the engine for 5 minutes, and still have not got any oil showing at the filter.

When I altered the pickup & sump I cut 25mm from each part. Have about 3-5mm of clearance between the pickup & bottom of the sump.

I've tried squirting oil in through the pressure relief valve, oil filter ports, still nothing.

What have others done? Would you just fill the filter & start the engine and see if oil light goes out?

Pain having to split engine & box again to get to the rearmost sump bolts.

Cheers

Dave

[mark]

Does the oil pressure warning light go out?

All i have done for a first start is disconnect coil pack and fuel and turned over until the light went out then reconnected fuel and spark and fired it up

[davedew]

Haven't got the wiring sorted yet. Just connecting starter straight to battery. Even with oil filter off when cranking no oil comes out, so I wouldn't expect the light to go out.

[DaddyA]

Dave,

not critising your welding but you did make sure there was no leaks from your pick-up before fitting it?

ie - blank it thenfill it with white spirit and see if it seeps through?

Its alot easier to suck air than cold oil!!

Probably doesn't help at this stage.

[alga]

Perhaps the pump is not airtight and cannot suck the oil in? Perhaps it's worth feeding some oil into the pump through the filter hole?

[flyerncle]

If it is towable take the plugs out and tow it,rig up a bulb to the oil pressure switch.
All you need is a live to live feed to bulb and the other to the switch as the rise in oil pressure breaks the earth and puts the light out.

[davedew]

Thanks for all suggestions. I've decided the only way to know for sure is to take the sump off and check everything again. I can then have a proper go at priming the pump directly into the pickup port. Failing all else it will be a new oil pump just to be sure.

[twinturbo]

The pump should be self priming unless very worn.

TT

[snapper]

I take the top off the pump and pack with vasaline.
Then take out the distributor and spin up the pump drive with a battery drill
Pinto
This gives flow and pressure without wrecking the bearings

[davedew]

Going to try taking the plug out above the pressure relief valve tonight, and pump engine oil directly into the pump while turning it over with a ratchet. If it has got 'dry' that should sort that problem. I have also got a adapter made up to put a 1/2" socket into my power drill. That should hopefully spin the engine over quick enough to see if it builds any pressure.

Failing that sump off to see what is going on.

[davedew]

Well took sump off this weekend. What a complete b**ch on your back with the engine & gearbox in the car. Anyway. Measured up 5mm clearance under pickup to sump. Pickup pipe weld holding fluid fine. When I took the pickup pipe off there was oil in it. So I injected oil directly into pump port while turning it over with a spanner.

After speaking to other people, concensus is that the 1600 cvh can be a real pig to get oil pressure to build up. Most just fill filter & start them up. Higher revs soon get the oil flowing around the engine. Looks like this is what I'll be doing when the time comes.

Thanks for all the advice

Dave

[twinturbo]

What a complete b**ch on your back with the engine & gearbox in the car.

Try it with a sierra 4x4 sump, then havign to fit the front diff, and because you can't do either with the subframe on you have to have the engien suspended off the mounts whilst you do it... Oh and the 4x4 does not have a gasket, just sealer.

Wonderful.

TT