Priming Oil System
 

So I just finished rebuilding my motor and even though my new cams and old cams have assembly lube I for the life of me cannot find the proper way to prime the oil system. I know there's no pump but I still figure there must be a way to properly get the engine internals coated.

Any advice?

I saw a similar post with people saying hold the pedal down while trying to turn over the engine but I dont think that correct especially when it's a brand new short block, head, cams etc.

If you hold the accelerator and clutch pedal down it will crank the motor without starting. I do it after oil changes because you can't add oil to the filter before installing it.

A newly installed engine is not going to start right away. I had to crank mine over for 30-45 seconds before it fired up. Plenty of time for to op to build up. Assembly lube is there to take care of start up lubrication.

Correct way is with spark plugs out and crank until you have pressure.

Priming isn't really necessary if the engine is properly assembled with lube, but if you want to... Floor it and crank until the oil pressure light turns off. It will usually happen within 15 seconds, and don't crank more than that at a time. If after 3 attempts the oil light is still on, pull the plugs and try again.

Yeah but if you just turn it on, you might have an oil pump that wont prime. Happened to me, had to send it back.

Spun a bearing in my 3000GT VR4 by not packing the oil pump on a rebuilt block with lube. I always prime now, no matter what.

A few minutes extra work vs risk thrashing a multi 1000$ engine is an easy choice im my eyes

I feel the same it's been two years since I was able to drive it because the head blew and I'd rather not take chances after a year of trying to get parts and assembling it.

How long did the engine run without oil pressure?

I've never once heard of that. Startup usually pushes the oil into the engine fastest as it gets the pump into a much more efficient pumping RPM vs cranking.

This I've seen other have issues with. A dry pump trying to push (purge) air through thick assembly lube does not always work well :/

Adding some assembly lube to the pump should always be done. I wish they shipped them this way. Of course, I wish they shipped them with bypass pistons that never stick and backplate bolts that don't come out too :lol:

Not to get OT but...

The bolded statement is false, I add oil to the filter before installing it every oil change with very little mess.

But the accelerator thing is a cool trick I didn't know. :thumbsup:

doesn't most of the oil drain back down from the filter once the engine turns off?

Haha...


https://i.imgur.com/pyOcMvY.png

Check valve. It still can drain down, but it drains into the oil galleries on the filtered side. Plus, it saturates the filter element.

I think...