Initial Fire Up, Oil Priming

[Spraynlog]

OK, I'm just about ready to fire up the 2.5 TBI that I have re-ringed and put a reconditioned head on. In the past, I have just pulled the plugs, and the HEP connectors, opened the throttle and cranked the motor with the starter to prime the oil system.

Is there a better way to do this? I'm wondering about taking the timing belt off and spinning the intermediate shaft, would this prime the oil pump and get oil pumped through the motor? How about any other ways/suggestions?

Post away!

[turbovanman²]

Best way is to turn the aux shaft but removing the plugs and disabling the fuel pump is what I've used too, both work.

[cordes]

I use a spade bit with the tip ground off in a drill to turn the aux shaft. I go until the drill gets bogged down and call it a day. It's a very quick process.

[turbovanman²]

I use a spade bit with the tip ground off in a drill to turn the aux shaft. I go until the drill gets bogged down and call it a day. It's a very quick process.

Why not just drive the 18mm bolt?

[Spraynlog]

Thanks for the replies! I'll just go for spinning the motor with the starter, it would be a bit of a PITA to take off the timing belt now that it is all lined up and tensioned.

[prepared]

I don't like spinning the starter. You are still moving the crank against the bearings before pressurizing with oil. If you used a good assembly lube or STP on all the bearings, then it SHOULD be OK, but I still feel much better priming the pump by only turning the pump (aux shaft).

[cordes]

Why not just drive the 18mm bolt?

I don't have an air ratchet which spins sufficiently fast to really prime the pump the way I like. If it was off the car I would just use the gun, but I like to prime it right before I set the timing and fire it up for the first time.

[Spraynlog]

I don't like spinning the starter. You are still moving the crank against the bearings before pressurizing with oil. If you used a good assembly lube or STP on all the bearings, then it SHOULD be OK, but I still feel much better priming the pump by only turning the pump (aux shaft).

I used Permatex Ultraslick assembly lube on the bearings.

[johnl]

Grinding the tip off of a spade bit - good idea. I made my engine priming tool by welding a piece of strap to the end of a 1/4" rod. With the drill motor cranking the oil pump and the engine on the engine stand with the VC off, I crank until I confirm cam/follower oil and turbo supply and return oil.

IMO, the point is not so much to prime immediately before starting the engine as it is to push all the air out of all the galleries and eliminate air pockets that might starve a plain bearing for a moment on initial start up. After the engine is installed and before you start it, yeah what the heck, give it a crank without plugs or with the coil disconnected.

[OmniLuvr]

turbo supply and return oil

thats a real big one if your using a new turbo, ive seen many turbo failures because of not priming them properly...

[turbovanman²]

I don't have an air ratchet which spins sufficiently fast to really prime the pump the way I like. If it was off the car I would just use the gun, but I like to prime it right before I set the timing and fire it up for the first time.

Drill, use one of those drill bit adapters so you can use a socket, if you have a cordless screwdriver, you most likely have one,

[cordes]

Drill, use one of those drill bit adapters so you can use a socket, if you have a cordless screwdriver, you most likely have one,

That would work if it will fit in the car with the motor in it. I usually just do it in the dist hole for convenience.

[turbovanman²]

That would work if it will fit in the car with the motor in it. I usually just do it in the dist hole for convenience.

Ahhhh, yeah, that would be a bit harder,

[trannybuster]

I use a spade bit with the tip ground off in a drill to turn the aux shaft. I go until the drill gets bogged down and call it a day. It's a very quick process.

Me to, Ive also used a large screw driver, just knock the handle of so itll chuck in a drill and insert the blade into a 18mm, 3/8 drive socket to turn the shaft.

[bakes]

Go get a garden pump chem sprayer , cut the sprayer wand off ,put a valve on the hose and fitting to tap on the oil sending unit hole , fill the bottle with oil pump it up , open the valve and crank the motor over with no spark plugs in it . put the plugs and sender back in and fire it up

[Spraynlog]

It's alive! It started right up after I primed it with the plugs out and HEP unplugged. I put the plugs in and connected the HEP and coil and it took right off, no smoke or leaks!

I rechecked the oil level after shut down, and it looked about a quart low? I added more and it seems ok now. Do the balance shafts hold oil, is that what happened?

Anyway I'll call the insurance tomorrow and start driving it.

[johnl]

Go get a garden pump chem sprayer , cut the sprayer wand off ,put a valve on the hose and fitting to tap on the oil sending unit hole , fill the bottle with oil pump it up , open the valve and crank the motor over with no spark plugs in it . put the plugs and sender back in and fire it up

Ingenious. I'm gonna steal that idea from you.

[Juggy]

I have a spare distributor that is BARE.....i can easily get a 1/2" drill chuck on it and tighten it to the dist shaft and give it snot!!! It takes at least 30 or so seconds b4 the oil gets sucked up and primed into the complete engine......when I get 60-70 psi on the mech oil guage and can hear the oil dumping down the turbo drain, you know shes primed

[shackwrrr]

When I did mine, I actually turned the I-shaft by hand untill oil came out of the head without the cam installed.

[Johnny]

I was looking at priming my oil pump....found this thread.
I usually have the timing belt off and turn the intermediate shaft. I did that this time and can't get the oil to prime...then pump.
I have it all together except plugs and the timing belt.
I DID forget to put oil or stp into the pump before installing it.

Now, I did turn the gear (using the 18mm socket and air ratchet) but won't seem to bring the oil up.
ANY one have any ideas?