Priming the oil galleries on a new engine.

[mick88]

I have just fitted a Holden motor that I rebuilt a while back for my series 3 shorty.
As I don't like starting a motor up with all the oil galleys dry this is what I use to prime the system.
A one litre hand weed sprayer with a length of 10mm rubber fuel line attached to it.
On the other end I just fitted a 1/4 NPT hose tail and screwed it into the port where the oil pressure gauge
normally fits. I had only put enough oil in the motor to bring the level up to the bottom mark
on the dipstick to allow for the extra oil I was going to add when I primed the system. I pumped just over
1.5 litres through the system to allow enough for the capacity of the oil filter, the oil pump, and all the galleys
and hydraulic lifters. Once the system is primed I remove the hose barb from the block, refit the oil pressure
sender, then turned the key, and barely two seconds later the oil light went out.
Once the engine has had a run for a few minutes I then turn it off, let it sit for a bit, dip the oil, then add more
if necessary, to bring it up to the top mark on the dipstick.
Hopefully this might be helpful to others fitting a new engine.

Cheers, Mick.

[donh54]

Our old trick was to disconnect the coil lead, and wind the motor over until you get oil pressure, plug in the lead, and away you go

[PhilipA]

AND in an RV8, before no dizzy models, you make up a tool to turn the dizzy and oil pump drive and run with an electric drill. The tool is just a long rod with the appropriate end ground onto it to fit the slot on later engines.
When I did this first I thought what the hell was I doing with the Vaseline all these years.LOL
Regards Philip A

[whitey56]

Our old trick was to disconnect the coil lead, and wind the motor over until you get oil pressure, plug in the lead, and away you go

I would pull the spark plugs to save the starter getting hot, make sure the plug leads can't create a spark incase she floods.

[mick88]

I would pull the spark plugs to save the starter getting hot, make sure the plug leads can't create a spark incase she floods.


Hence one of the reasons I use the pump.

Cheers, Mick.