Running oil pump / oil through before starting new engine.
Running oil pump / oil through before starting new engine.
Hey just wondering, I did few search before, regarding running oil through the system before starting a new motor. Someone said they used a drill to run the pump first? Where is the location to do this on the engine? Can it be done with the motor already in the car?
When you are first starting a new motor, the conservative method of making sure that you have the necessary oil film on the bearings is to spin the oil pump shaft with a drill until you see oil come through the lifters/rockers in the valvetrain (the last part of the oiling system to be served with pressurized oil). This is done just before you are ready to complete the motor, and requires that the timing belt be put on AFTER the prime, since you cannot spin the oil pump sprocket with a drill if the timing belt is installed.
There are several other methods that can be used with the timing belt installed. A preluber (an external electric pump) or an Accusump can be connected to the filter housing and pressurize the system that way. These are relatively failsafe, and provide full pressure with no rotation of the bearings.
You can also spin the motor over with the starter, but to build oil pressure that way takes some time, and better judgment suggests that the pump be internally filled with white assembly lube or the like to make sure that the oil pump primes, and you don't have your motor start without the oil film in the bearings provided by adequate oil pressure or damage your bearings by spinning the motor excessively without oil pressure. The thrust bearing is particularly vulnerable. If you are going to use this method, which has some risk of damaging the bearings, you should (1) disconnect the clutch switch, so you can engage the starter WITHOUT pushing in the clutch; (2) disable the fuel injectors (pull the fuse that controls the injectors) so they don't spray gas into the cylinder and wash the oil film off the sides while the car is not starting, and (3) pull the plugs so that the motor spins more freely while you're trying to get oil pressure. Use short bursts of cranking until you see the oil pressure warning light go out, then install the plugs, replace the fuel injector control fuse, and start the car.
There are several other methods that can be used with the timing belt installed. A preluber (an external electric pump) or an Accusump can be connected to the filter housing and pressurize the system that way. These are relatively failsafe, and provide full pressure with no rotation of the bearings.
You can also spin the motor over with the starter, but to build oil pressure that way takes some time, and better judgment suggests that the pump be internally filled with white assembly lube or the like to make sure that the oil pump primes, and you don't have your motor start without the oil film in the bearings provided by adequate oil pressure or damage your bearings by spinning the motor excessively without oil pressure. The thrust bearing is particularly vulnerable. If you are going to use this method, which has some risk of damaging the bearings, you should (1) disconnect the clutch switch, so you can engage the starter WITHOUT pushing in the clutch; (2) disable the fuel injectors (pull the fuse that controls the injectors) so they don't spray gas into the cylinder and wash the oil film off the sides while the car is not starting, and (3) pull the plugs so that the motor spins more freely while you're trying to get oil pressure. Use short bursts of cranking until you see the oil pressure warning light go out, then install the plugs, replace the fuel injector control fuse, and start the car.
