Getting oil pressure up on a newly built 850

[woodypup59]

As above, can't get the oil light to go out. Or the engine revs to drop as the oil circulates.

Its a 1961 car so no oil pressure gauge.

We've tried putting oil into the banjo at the front, and the oil gallery plug on the back but still no joy.

Am tempted to start the engine and hope that some revs will do the job.

Any other hints ?

Thanks

[MiNiKiN]

You may try to fit and run an electric pump between oil filter and banjo. I.e. instead of the metal pipe that runs across. Will require some old pipe and hoses for the pump patch something together.

A pump like this, though low pressure, should fill the system sufficiently prior to starting the engine.

[gs.davies]

Is oil coming through to the filter? Have you got an oil pressure gauge you could temporarily fit instead of the switch? Or another switch in case that one isn't working?

[Fanfaniracing]

It's important to fill the new oil pump with torco engine lube when assembling. http://minispares.com/product/Classic/A ... o%20search

Or at least 20w50

This way you will have Oil pressure right away.

Don't forget to take out the spark plug's out to not making the engine working against compression during engine reving...

Ps. You can also undo the banjo and fill torco un the block, and push the car backwards with 4 gear engaged. This way the oil pump will turn backwards...

[Exminiman]

First, I would attach an oil pressure gauge in case the light is faulty, as others have said... then start again, fill oil filter, wind it over etc,,,

[woodypup59]

Thanks all.

The oil filter is the old paper one in the original bolt-in bowl so rather messy to pre-fill - so that wasn't done.

But I guess we need to take it off to see if it has filled. Of course the pump blows oil through the filter, so if the filter has oil in it, the pump must be working.

It could also be the relief valve which has stuck open.

I didn't build it, can't be sure whats been done, but I'm assured the O ring 'twist gearbox and block is fitted.

[swifty]

The product from Minispares is a engine building lube. It will run out of the oil pump . I’ve always filled the oil pump with clean grease to create a suction when first starting a new engine . I have never encountered a lack of oil pressure this way . Your symptoms could of course be something else … Shirley

[agricola]

As I am working with cars with oil coolers what I am about to describe is easier.
but I have plenty of old BSP hydraulic oil pipes kicking about so i made up a length of pipe with correct fitting and joined it into a old 45 gallon barrel pump. Popped it into 5 litres of Minispares best pumped it until it became hard to pump. Reconnected the pipes alright a bit of mess. Plugs out full oil pressure 10 seconds cranking. No oil in mini pump just graphogen in the bearings oil on the rings etc during assembly. Now used on all engines

[andy1071]

When you put oil in the banjo, did you put lots in..?
Also, it's a good idea to rotate the engine backwards a bit (by putting it in gear and rolling backwards).
-This ensures the oil will be drawn into the pump. -Then it should prime OK...

[Herbert]

easiest way to build up oil pressure is to take the plugs out, block the fuel pipe and then get towed around the block. put it in 2nd gear and after 100 yards the oil pressure should be up. If you still havn't got pressure, take out the bullet that controls the max oil pressure and squirt a lot of oil in so that it enters the oil pump. Normally during a rebuild I put in some thick oil like stp in the pump to prime it. Good luck. R

[mab01uk]

Regaining Oil Pressure After Long-Term "Mini" Storage:-
https://www.7ent.com/pages/article-rega ... orage.html