Thread: Rope Oil Seals

The rear main oil seal on a Jag V12 engine is a rope seal which are prone to drying out when not used. My engine has not been used for quite a while and I am concerned what when I do start the engine the friction of the crankshaft turning will burn the seal.

For those with knowledge of such things is there anyway I can prepare the seal for use after being idle for a while.

I thought that filling the sump with cheap thin oil and lifting the front of the engine so that the seal would be covered with the oil may allow it to soak up enough oil to protect it. Obviously before start - draining this oil and replacing with the correct grade and amount.

Cheers

Garry

remove the oil pressure sender and using a small pump prime the engine through there.

A facet pump setup to draw the oil out of the dipstick hole with the right fittings to fit the sender will work nicely let it run for about 5 minutes prior to turning the engine by hand then on the starter. If this is going to be a regular requirement consider putting a T piece with both a shut off valve and blanking cap in the oil pressure sender fitting with the oil pressure gauge plumbed in on the other side.

then

hook up and Start the pump let it run for a few minutes.
Crank the engine over on the starter till the oil pressure gauge registers pressure.
remove the pump and blank off its port on the T piece
start the engine.