Thread: Tips for 1st start after rebuild?

I have only done this on Holden and Japanese motor's, don't see why the rover motor would be any different. When I worked at Holden's in the 90's every new car that came off the assembly line was given a foot load of throttle, there were some nice black tracks leading out the door

Before you start it up make sure you have oil pressure, like you said "take the plugs" out so it doesn't fire up, you could squirt a couple of drops of oil into the bores and let it soak down over night to give the rings and bore a bit more lube on start up, as far as revving it out goes I'm lead to believe it has it benefits as the new rings need to bed in, also depends what type of rings were used, plain cast rings will bed in fairly quick and easy where chrome moly rings will need a bit more punch on the throttle then slow back down and hit it again, I have found driving around in hilly country can be a good way to bed in the rings, need more revs going up hill and less coming down, also running in oil and filter should be change at 500 klm's . hope this helps

Cheers Chris

Top the oil filter up with clean oil, I get a clean oil can and squirt the engine oil in a oil galley port until I have made a mess and that way the pump would have a gut full of oil before the parts start to turn over.

Plugs out with a squirt of oil down the cylinders and spin the starter motor over to spread the oil around.

While doing that, it is a good chance to check the timing of the spark is at the compression stroke of number one cylinder.
.

I have an oil primer, that consists of a new 4.5kg gas bottle with tap removed & plug fitted with an oil pick up tube & air inlet, oil pressure gauge to check air pressure in bottle. Just a cheap gauge kit to get hose & oil pressure switch adapters. Screw in fitting & prime.

Thanks fellas.

Wrinklearthur: By oil galley port do you mean where the oil filter housing attaches to the block?

dmrftg: I'm presuming your set up attaches to where the oil sender usually lives, and its used to prime the filter. Does it prime anything else? How do you know when you've got enough oil in there? Do you have a car valve to pressurise the container?

Forgive me if I'm being dense but I'm unsure of how the oil circulates around the block does it go from the filter to the pump or just to the sump?

Originally Posted by Ozdunc

By oil galley port do you mean where the oil filter housing attaches to the block?

Too complicated ! try unscrewing the sender for the oil light / gauge and squirt plenty of clean engine oil in there.