One heck of a clatter from the V8

[Carslil Jim]

Since I got this machine, I have occassionally started it and run it in and out of the shed. Of the many things wrong with te LR, the one thing that was good was the motor was as smooth as.

Day before yesterday I started it and it came up with what sounded like one tappet maddly out. I let it rest and started again yesterday and today with the same result, near deafening tapping sound.

I had changed the oil and filter, but the oil level is right on F. I noticed at idle the oil light was on. ( I dont have a guage).

I read a little of the manual and it says a worn pump can loose its prime. As I let it drain for a couple of days when I changed the oil do you think that could be the problem? Any other ideas?

[Scouse]

I read a little of the manual and it says a worn pump can loose its prime. As I let it drain for a couple of days when I changed the oil do you think that could be the problem? Any other ideas?

Does the warning light go out at all?
They can need repriming after as little as an hour if both the sump & filter are empty.

[nice1guv]

As I let it drain for a couple of days when I changed the oil do you think that could be the problem?

If it was fine before the oil change and since the oil light isn't going out, I would think that would be your problem.

Extended draining time may have left the oil pump dry, poor engine is getting no oil.

Search for "priming oil pump" there are quite a few posts on it.

But I'm not a mechanic - so it could be something else!

[Tombie]

Couple of days un-oiled...

I'd say out of prime and/or stuck relief valve.

[Carslil Jim]

Thanks guys. I will haul the pump out and take a look at it.

[Scouse]

Just take the bottom plate off & pack it with Vaseline. That usually does the trick.

Make sure the drive gear doesn't fall out as this needs to line up with the distributor.

[Blknight.aus]

I'll back lost prime over a stuck open relief valve.

depending how comfy you are with doing spark timing pulling the dizzy out and using a drill to spin up the pump drive boss is the easy way.

[Carslil Jim]

Black Knight I usually stuff the timing up, but I am always ready to have a go. That sounds like a good idea because we eill get oil back up into the tappet area without turning the motor. I will already be primed before I start again.

Thanks for the tip.

[Carslil Jim]

I had another look at problem. I think I should pull the oil pump and check it out while I have it out. One question: If I pull the oil pump out, there is valve behind it. I assume it will stay in place, and all I need do is fill the area around the oil pump teeth with vaseline and re-assemble. Is that correct?

[Carslil Jim]

The end of the story...I finally have oil pressure (well the light is out). In the end the vaseline did the trick as per the manual. A friend loaned me a pressurised oil container which we hooked in where the pressure sensor screws in. While it got oil to the tappets it did not appear to prime the pump, as we could not get pressure with his oil pressure guage that screwed into the same place....and the light was on when we took that out and hooked the sensor up again. (we are still wondering why that did not work as it is a common cure for Holden V8s.)

So off the pump came, a new gasket courtesy of Davis Performance LR (Bruce actually donated it to the project!!), 50grams of vaseline, a new 5/16 spanner and I have an operational vehicle again.

Next is a new clutch slave cylinder and an attack on the radiator to make sure it is in tip top condition (which it wont be).

Thanks to all who commented.