Engine oil priming???

Brwndrvr05

Brwndrvr05

Member
I just completed a stock rebuild on the 93TY 4.3 V6 and im not getting the results im use to seeing during the engine oil priming stage. I have got the both driver, passenger side valve covers off. The motor is pretty much completely assembled minus the upper intake manifold. I have a chevy priming tool which consists of a shaft and two collars. Im using a straight 30 weight non detergent oil during this process and for the break in period. I have been priming the engine for a few hours at 10-15 minuets at a time and im not getting the results that im use to seeing with other engine builds that i have done in the past (Ford engines). During the priming i have oil coming up the more on the driver side and very lil to near nothing on the passenger side. My problem and question is that it take a really long while for the oil to come and it seems that the volume of the oil is just really not there. Is this normal or am i doing something wrong? I have primed several Ford engines and oil comes up instantly and with lots of volume. Note: when im priming the V6 im turning the crank slightly to rotate the rockers to see if oil will come up better or faster. I have the oil lines hooked up going from the block and instead of going to the remote filter i have them dumping back into the head, and the volume and pressure coming from these lines are outstanding, lots of pressure and volume. I would like to know from you guys that have experience if this is normal or am i missing something here? Once again i have very lil volume just seeping out the driver side pushrods and near nothing on passenger side. Let me know what you guys think, Thanks
 
Don W.

Don W.

Stab it and steer it
Re: Engine oil priming???

A) Do you have the kind of oil pump primer that seals off where the dist normally sits down in the block? If you don't you won't get anywhere. B) the rockers will take forever to get oil.

Do you have oil pressure? With a real gauge? If so put the motor together minus spark plugs. When assembled and before starting spin the motor with the starter, make sure you are still getting oil pressure, install the plugs and fire away.
 
Brwndrvr05

Brwndrvr05

Member
Re: Engine oil priming???

Yes the oil pump primer has a collar at the bottom and a collar at the top and i have matched it up to the distributer and it duplicates it pretty well.

I have not put a oil pressure gauge on it yet but oil is shooting out of the lines that go to the filter like crazy, so i would say yes i got good oil pressure, but will put a gauge to verify the PSI.

If i put a gauge a find im getting a steady 50psi, is this normal to get very lil volume with the priming tool and for the passenger side to not get very much oil? I mean i was spinning this thing for like 15 min at a time and there was nothing coming up on the passenger side till a few sessions later.

Maybe my primer tool is not blocking the oil passage for the passenger side correctly?
 
jeepruby04

jeepruby04

New member
Re: Engine oil priming???

So you are priming with the remote filter lines open? I would think it's losing pressure and volume like that. I always prime on the engine stand with oiling system complete, filter on block, oil pressure sender installed, turbo feed plugged, etc. Mine have always primed within 10 min.
 
S

Snoman002

New member
Re: Engine oil priming???

What do you mean your getting good oil out of the filter lines and they are dumping back into the head? When priming these are sealed right? You can't get any pressure if the lines are just dumping, they have to be a complete circuit to get oil flow to the rest of the motor. Try hooking them to the remote filter. I don't know how you could get any pressure if the oil filter lines are just dumping back into the motor.
 
Brwndrvr05

Brwndrvr05

Member
Re: Engine oil priming???

Well the problem is i have the motor on the engine stand and i have the stock oil filter lines coming out the block, and instead of them going to the remote oil filter (because that is still mounted on truck) i have the lines going up into the heads and dumping into there.

Lots of pressure coming through and out those lines, but like Snoman002 is saying is im not completing the circuit so that may be why im not getting much oil coming up through the push rods.

Do i have to put a bend on the bottom of the block to screw the oil filter onto, If so where can i get one for cheap?
 
Don W.

Don W.

Stab it and steer it
Re: Engine oil priming???

Please don't take this wrong. Forget all this and put the motor back in the truck -then- prime. You already know the pump's working. For one thing that way the entire system is primed. No chance of a partial dry start because the lines are dry.
 
Brwndrvr05

Brwndrvr05

Member
Re: Engine oil priming???

Don W. said:
Please don't take this wrong. Forget all this and put the motor back in the truck -then- prime. You already know the pump's working. For one thing that way the entire system is primed. No chance of a partial dry start because the lines are dry.
Click to expand...


Sounds like a very good idea and i was thinking the same. That was my next step!
 
Don W.

Don W.

Stab it and steer it
Re: Engine oil priming???

Brwndrvr05 said:
Sounds like a very good idea and i was thinking the same. That was my next step!
Click to expand...

Don't forget the final step. Cranking the motor without plugs. Assures a complete prime. Example: the crank is never in the correct place to oil all the rods at once. This will guarantee everything gets oil immediately.
 
S

Snoman002

New member
Re: Engine oil priming???

Brwndrvr05 said:
Well the problem is i have the motor on the engine stand and i have the stock oil filter lines coming out the block, and instead of them going to the remote oil filter (because that is still mounted on truck) i have the lines going up into the heads and dumping into there.

Lots of pressure coming through and out those lines, but like Snoman002 is saying is im not completing the circuit so that may be why im not getting much oil coming up through the push rods.

Do i have to put a bend on the bottom of the block to screw the oil filter onto, If so where can i get one for cheap?
Click to expand...

If you have a junk yard near you? Get an oil filter adapter from nearly any other 4.3 S-series. Just make sure it doesn't have an oil cooler line attachment. Specifically look for a TBI truck from the early 90's as they were the same fender mount without the cooler lines. Practically all the s-series with a remote filter did NOT have cooler lines, and as such the filter block could be used without it being attached to the truck.

This is you problem. You can get any oil pressure going if your not feeding the engine with the return line from the filter, that's your main oil supply!
 
tbauer03

tbauer03

TRBOBOX
Re: Engine oil priming???

Should the oil flow onto the rocker or squirt out. Sometimes I get a squirt but mostly just light flow. I am guessing it depends on where the cam shaft is on the lift sequence but I just want to know what I am looking for.
The squirts tend to happen when i first pump the drill. Here is what I was looking at after about a 30 second run on the drill.

2016_07_23_14_01_42.jpg
 
Don W.

Don W.

Stab it and steer it
Re: Engine oil priming???

I wouldn't worry here. Oil is relatively thick and it's metered. If everything else looks good, IE you have oil pressure, then put on the valve covers and fire the thing. If you're still worried wait for the oil to warm-up, take the covers off and start it. Just be ready for a mess...
 
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