priming the oil system prior to 1st restart

[bloodysalmon]

After a complete rebuild of the engine, what are your top-tips in ensuring oil is circulated properly prior to start up?
Yes, we can fill the oil filter with oil; perhaps put lithium grease into the pump erifices too.
The latest I heard was to jack the rear up, put in gear and then turn the rear wheels backwards! I'm trying to figure out why this may/could work ... so your thoughts would be great ta

[Tom Lange, MGT Repair]

There is much in the various archives on the subject. This is my procedure:

I fill the oil pump gr\ears with Vaseline, which helps create enough suction to bring oil up from the sump. I also leave out 2qts of oil when filling the sump, connect the hose of an inexpensive garden sprayer to the oil pressure fitting on the block, and pump the last 2 quarts of oil into the systrem to fully charge it. When I see oil coming out the rockers I can be confident the oil syetem is full and ready to go.

With the plugs removed I buzz the engine over until the gauge shows oil pressure. THEN I start the car!

Tom Lange
MGT Repair

[JohnW]

Just take the plugs out and spin on the starter until you have oil pressure. Once pressure is up another 30 seconds of spinning. This should be done with the rocker cover removed to check oil is getting to the rockers. When you are happy oil is getting all round the engine, refit plugs and rocker cover then start it up. If the camshaft is new do NOT let it idle, instead run it at about 3,000 rpm for 30 minutes to bed in the new cam.

[frenchblatter]

Agree with John W. I've never had a problem.... yet!

[Duncan M]

That is what assembly lubes are for.

[bloodysalmon]

what 'assembly lubes' Duncan! ...your reference to what?

ok, got the methods ... seen the ref to priming on ftfu too

[Duncan M]

Chris, you say a fresh rebuild. You should use a smear of engine oil on the valve guides and around tappets. Pressurizing the system with oil from a pressure tank is fine, but some areas of the XPAG rely on splash lubrication that will only occur from the engine actually running for a while. It takes a bit of time for the splashes to initially get to where they need to saturate, so those critical areas should be manually pre-splashed.

Assembly lubes vary by brand, and for purpose, from thick paste to thin oil. It can be used on areas for final assembly where pressure feeds will be washing it out once the engine is running. This done to ensure lube is there for initial startup if not using a pressure tank to "prime" the system. It also done to prevent rust on bearings, etc of engines that may sit around before their first startup.

[bloodysalmon]

you know what Duncan, I'm still not really sure what an 'assembly lube' is!
Is it a pipe, a brand, a system, a method ?

[Steve Simmons]

It's a lubricating compound applied to cams, bearings and other moving surfaces to aid them during initial start-up, before the oil system is fully filled and pressurized. HERE is an example.

[frenchblatter]

Notice the "yet" on my post. Well the YT has no pressure and I've primed it. Seeing as I never removed the pump it should be ok but isn't.