dealrcn

Trying to prime my engine with the starter. Plenty of assembly lube on everything so I'm not too worried about spinning it with the plugs out and no fuel. I have spun it several times for about 8-10 seconds at a time but have no oil coming up to the top. Has anyone ever put a little air pressure on the dipstick tube to help the oil pump get primed? Anyone have any other suggestions for trying to prime with the starter?

ZONES89RS

iTrader: (25)

What do you mean "up top"? As in out the rockers? The oil pressure will come up and out the back of the block where the oil pressure sending unit goes. The rockers are usually going to spray oil when running.

EastTnZ28

iTrader: (20)

On my 3rd motor, the one im running now, was a bitch to prime. Id say mine has at least 3 to 4 minutes probably more of running with absolutely no oil pressure. I bought a new oil pump with no luck and finally packed the pump full of vaseline and it had oil pressure in probably 5 seconds of running. The only thing I would say check and triple check is make sure the o ring on the pickup tube is in right. Im not convinced that this wasnt my problem to begin with. You may think the vaseline is a crazy idea but its just petroleum that melts as soon as any kind of heat hits it. I wouldnt worry about any kind of engine damage, especially with the roller cam and hydraulic lifters with just spinning the motor with the starter.

Whiskeyboy84

iTrader: (8)

Hey I am just gunna say it but trying to prime the oil system by blowing air down the dip stick tube is like pissing into the wind! You can't pressurize the block enough that way to do anything! You can run an oil cooler setup and buy an adapter to prime the system that way! As far as that goes as long as you used plenty of assembly lube and have good break in oil fire that thing up don't go ripping on it just let it idle for a few have a good mechanical oil pressure gauge plumbed in and as long as you have good steady pressure within a second or 2 bring it up to break in speed and watch her! I alwAys change oil and filter after the 30 min break in period and check for any glitter in the oil that's bad lol! Remember you still can't go ripping on it until you put a good 500-1000 miles on it and change the oil again well at least that's the old school way I was brought up doing it

Whiskeyboy84

iTrader: (8)

Eastnz28 that Vaseline idea is a real old school trick they used to use that trick on the old front pump Oldsmobile motors! Wouldn't be against trying that at all!

EastTnZ28

iTrader: (20)

Ive probably had a dozen motors over the years and have never primed one. I just fire it up and watch the gauge. Never had a problem. Im sure the pros or the guys that know everything would cringe at this but ive also never built a motor that runs on the edge of death. Mostly all good street motors with the exception of one big block for drag racing.

EastTnZ28

iTrader: (20)

It works awesome. Im building another now and im gonna pack that bitch full again. Lol

dealrcn

Yeah I meant at the pressure sending unit or gauge port.

dealrcn

Thanks for all the info. Sounds like I just need to stop worrying and start it up. I'm just paranoid about getting some oil on everything.

homemade87

I just went thru this with mine 6.0. I tried to get oil pressure to the mech gauge and would not show. So I cranked on it for about 60 sec on and off. I felt at least I got some oil to the bottom end. When I started it the pressure showed on the gauge in just a few seconds. All was good .

dogsballs

will struggle to get oil pressure with just the starter. pack the oil pump with vaseline, use a mech guage and crank.

ss performance

iTrader: (17)

There was a thread on here about building a primer from a cheap pump sprayer. It was the type used to spray insecticide. I think it hooked up to a port on the front driver side of the block. A search should fine it.

ss performance

iTrader: (17)

Found it;

https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...l-priming.html

Check it out.

Pop N Wood

iTrader: (1)

Pull the spark plugs so it cranks easier and faster. That is what GM says to do in the instructions they give out with their new crate motors.

ZONES89RS

iTrader: (25)

Just fire it up I say.

EastTnZ28

iTrader: (20)

This^^^^People are to crazy about building pumps, jigs, primers, buying crap when all you got to do is start it up. Especially if it has assembly lube.

Pop N Wood

iTrader: (1)

I agree on the pumps and primers but have read too many threads about crushed O rings to want to fire it before getting a good oil pressure reading first

dealrcn

Well after a few more seconds of turning it over with no plugs I decided to just fire it up. Put the plugs back in it and turned the fuel pump on and it fired right off. The oil pressure cam right up after just a second or so. Seems to have about 40-45 idling so all is good. So glad that critical moment is over. Thank all you guys for the information.

ZONES89RS

iTrader: (25)

No problem, after you have done tons of them like some of us you lose the anxiety of possible breakage and admit that if it is going to break, it will and there isn't anything you could do to stop it. Now, could it have been prevented is different.

TXsilverado

iTrader: (18)

i just cross my fingers and fire it up...hell, my current build had 20 minutes of run time before i ever installed a oil pressure gauge