[RESOLVED] No Oil Pressure New Build

[mitsu_matt]

Ok, just finished my 8 month build! thats the good. Here is the bad. I tried priming the motor with the pump method after the timing components were installed. Then I took out the plugs and power to my fuel pump.

When I crank over the motor I get no oil pressure. How much cranking can I do before I should stop?

Pease help!

 

[Splitpi]

Before you put the timing belt on ... did you spin the oil sprocket with a drill till you saw oil in the valve cover?

 

[mitsu_matt]

No I did not as I knew it was going to be a while before I was ready to start the motor. I did pack up the oil pump with lube, I also used assembly lube on the entire motor. Everything was replaced during the build.

 

[4g63Powered]

How are you reading the pressure? If you're going off the gauge cluster; did you remember to put thta little wire back on the sender?

 

[mitsu_matt]

Yes I did connect the stock sensor and I have a Defi gage also.

 

[boosted86]

on a fresh motor ( never started) it will take a while before oil will get through the motor. crank the motor (with mpi fuse pulled) over for about 5 minutes, having 10 second intervals. if your gauge is not showing any pressure( assuming that its installed correctly) then open your oil cap and see if you have any oil getting to your head, if so,then its your gauges that are malfunctioning; if not then unfortunately you may have a suction problem with your oil pump, try dropping your pan and see if the pickup tube is clogged or something, othere then that....

 

[mitsu_matt]

So you are telling me I can crank the motor for 5 minutes to get the psi up? I will not hurt the internals?

 

[mitsu_matt]

How long have others cranked before seeing Oil Pressure on a fresh build?

 

[BlackdOutGST]

I rebuilt my 7-bolt a few weeks ago, primed exactly how you did, but also with valve cover off to make sure oil was squirting. Even after priming I had 0 oil pressure on first crank-up for about 10-20 seconds. Scared me, but it finally jumped to 25 at idle.

Agreeing with boosted86: If you do in fact have oil getting to the head, then crank it up. If it gets to the head, it's all down hill to the crank from there.

 

[interex]

I dont think I'd let my starter spin my engine for 5 minutes. A little excessive if you ask me. Also... On my car the oil pressure gauge does not work when the engine is "cranking" with the key all the way forward. No idea if its just my car or what. I have a manual oil pressure gauge on the block, and another on the a-pillar

 

[HIGHPSI4]

You should have oil to the top of the head with several revolutions of the engine. When you have oil coming from the top oil galleys in the head you are ready to start it up. If you do not get oil, check what is wrong.

 

[anteversion]

priming the pump is an absolutely unnecesary thing for you since you have build your motor in lube like you said, even if it will make several mounths that your pieces are installed. pressure gauge will not show much pressure on start up, only the low pressure light might turn off but anyway. pressure will build instantly after the engine have started up and it will be all ok. It's makes me always think about that when oil pressure at startup is a question. What do you think about winter times. when it could make one week or even much that you have dont started your car.... i rarely saw people priming their oil pump at 7h00 am in the morning before they go to work to preserve their engine. and in fact it will not damage the engine to not do so cause it will always remains enough oil to start up the engine and make it stand a few seconds ( if not less ) to build oil pressure.

 

[blcknspo0ln]

priming the pump is an absolutely unnecesary thing for you since you have build your motor in lube like you said, even if it will make several mounths that your pieces are installed. pressure gauge will not show much pressure on start up, only the low pressure light might turn off but anyway. pressure will build instantly after the engine have started up and it will be all ok. It's makes me always think about that when oil pressure at startup is a question. What do you think about winter times. when it could make one week or even much that you have dont started your car.... i rarely saw people priming their oil pump at 7h00 am in the morning before they go to work to preserve their engine. and in fact it will not damage the engine to not do so cause it will always remains enough oil to start up the engine and make it stand a few seconds ( if not less ) to build oil pressure.

Well you're right and all, but I don't think I'd go suggest that to a total stranger with a motor you've never seen nor built. OP, do as the other guys say, although I personally would remove the timing belt and spin the oil pump instead of cranking the car like that for 5 minutes. On my latest rebuild (2 weeks ago), I forgot to pack the oil pump and it took FOREVER to see oil come out of the ports on the head. It literally took about 5 minutes of solid spinning of the oil pump with a impact wrench to get it to build oil pressure. It's scary, but I would NOT risk firing the motor without knowing that oil is getting through to the entire engine.

 

[boosted86]

I dont think I'd let my starter spin my engine for 5 minutes. A little excessive if you ask me. Also... On my car the oil pressure gauge does not work when the engine is "cranking" with the key all the way forward. No idea if its just my car or what. I have a manual oil pressure gauge on the block, and another on the a-pillar

I think i was misunderstood , i meant the entire oil priming process should take no more than 5 minutes. if you going to prime a fresh motor with your starter than do it in 10 second bursts ( checking after each couple of "sets") it most likely wont take 5 minutes, but if the whole process takes longer than 5 minutes i would look into blockage of the pick up tube of or suction blockage of some sort, if that checks out, remove the t-belt and spin that oil sprocket manually... and take it from there.