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New engine being built, should I prelube it, and if so, how?

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Old 08-11-2003, 02:20 PM
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Default New engine being built, should I prelube it, and if so, how?

I've never really heard of anyone doing this, but I would like to do it, just for peace of mind. So, has anyone here ever done it, and of so, how was it done?
Old 08-11-2003, 03:00 PM
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Default Re: New engine being built, should I prelube it, and if so, how?

Someone here mentioned this method:

1. Fill the motor with oil and a fresh filter that has been filled with oil.
2. Pull the two electronic clips on each bank for the coil packs so no spark goes to the plugs
3. turn the engine over until oil pump builds some pressure
4. plug the wires back
5 Start the motor.
Old 08-11-2003, 03:06 PM
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Default Re: New engine being built, should I prelube it, and if so, how?

to me, pre-lube = use of moly-lube (black bottle) w/ graphite, throughout the assembly. basically anywhere metal touches metal, and then some. this gives you a bit of peace of mind with that first crank.
Old 08-11-2003, 03:26 PM
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Default Re: New engine being built, should I prelube it, and if so, how?

to me, pre-lube = use of moly-lube (black bottle) w/ graphite, throughout the assembly. basically anywhere metal touches metal, and then some. this gives you a bit of peace of mind with that first crank.
Everything is being pre-lubed in that sense, but I was talking about the oiling system.

Thanks for the tips Robert.
Old 08-12-2003, 02:32 PM
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Default Re: New engine being built, should I prelube it, and if so, how?

...with the Gen 3 engines you cant pre-lube the oiling system with an electric drill without turning the motor like the previous generation small blocks....

...the best you can do is disconnect the spark system and turn the motor over until you get some oil presuure....
Old 08-12-2003, 03:49 PM
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Default Re: New engine being built, should I prelube it, and if so, how?

What about packing the oil pump rotors with petrolium jelly. As for the shells etc then a decent oil will help during build up. You can buy sticky oils for this purpose as far as I know or use a little graphite on the shells. As for the bores, I don't use a lot of oil on the rings as I want them to break in quick. I oil the skirts though.
Old 08-12-2003, 04:21 PM
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Default Re: New engine being built, should I prelube it, and if so, how?

I used to use petroleum jelly for re-building auto transmissions and it worked great - disolves quickly in oil/fluid.

I never heard about packing the oil gears with it but I assume it would work great...
Old 08-12-2003, 04:28 PM
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Default Re: New engine being built, should I prelube it, and if so, how?

In the shop manual, it states that you can prelube by removing the oil gallery plug on the outside front of the block, screw in a gm adaptor that allows you to connect a hose, and pump in a couple quarts of oil, using a hand pump, drill pump, etc until you get some pressure showing on your guage..then start 'er up
Bryan
Old 08-12-2003, 05:20 PM
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Default Re: New engine being built, should I prelube it, and if so, how?

What I did was just before I put the pan on I turned the engine upside down and poured oil into the pickup, and turned the engine over by hand. Then after it was installed I turned it over with the starter and the orange wire to the ECM unplugged, and plugs out until I saw oil pressure . It built up pressure rather quick.
Old 08-12-2003, 07:39 PM
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Default Re: New engine being built, should I prelube it, and if so, how?

In the shop manual, it states that you can prelube by removing the oil gallery plug on the outside front of the block, screw in a gm adaptor that allows you to connect a hose, and pump in a couple quarts of oil, using a hand pump, drill pump, etc until you get some pressure showing on your guage..then start 'er up
Bryan
This is what my engine installer is doing to mine Thurdsay.

Friday
Old 08-12-2003, 09:39 PM
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Default Re: New engine being built, should I prelube it, and if so, how?

I just started a new LS1 motor. Fill the filter and spin the motor over with the spark plugs out. You will have 30 lbs. oil pressure in 30 seconds or less. Dan
Old 08-13-2003, 02:36 AM
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Default Re: New engine being built, should I prelube it, and if so, how?

Got the idea from Rover v8's. You probably do it this way on the buick 215/300's as well. Some people just don't have the tools to prime it the GM way. With the rover's it can take a very worrying amount of time before the oil warning light goes out so I resorted to using a drill with an adaptor to spin the pump as well as the jelly. Quite surprising how hot the drill would become.
Old 08-13-2003, 07:01 AM
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Default Re: New engine being built, should I prelube it, and if so, how?

Why disconnect the coil packs and pump fuel into the cylinders? This makes no sense unless you just want to gas foul the plugs and create excess pressure in the cylinders with unburned gas.

Do this instead, pull the fuse for the fuel pump. Easy and the engine won't start or get flooded with fuel. No need to disconnect the coil packs either. Crank her over until you are satisfied. Then replace the fuel pump fuse and fire it up.



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