Priming engine with oil
 

I had my flathead rebuilt about five years ago, and finally am getting close to starting it. I want to prime the engine with oil before starting. Everything was well coated with assembly lube, The engine is in the truck, and the pan is on so I can't pre prime the oil pump. Ideas like adding oil through the pressure gauge location have been discussed. Ideas?

Re: Priming engine with oil
 

Yep, that's what I've ever done. Just stick a funnel in there and let a quart or two slowly percolate down in there. Others have use a small drill pump. Jack E/NJ

Re: Priming engine with oil
 

Napa sells an inexpensive oil pump that is used with a drill motor.

Re: Priming engine with oil
 

I use a unit that is very similar to a brake bleeding unit. I attach where the oil sending unit is mounted. This will push oil though all of the bearings, etc.

I started doing this to every engine I've rebuilt since the 1970's. Some with hydraulic lifters... this will push oil through them, the push rods, etc. Not a concern with a flatty but just an example of how well it works.
I am confident you could buy one of these quite reasonably these days at Harbor Freight, etc.

Re: Priming engine with oil
 

I took a short length of plastic pipe 2" x 10" put cap on one end drilled for a fitting that matched the oil pressure fitting in the block, put a screw in plug on the other end with a air hose hole--attach hose to block, fill pipe with oil, screw in plug, blow low pressure air thru the hole 30lbs and that pushes the oil into the engine

Re: Priming engine with oil
 

Posted this over on the HAMB in response to a similar question:
Years ago the machinist at the local parts store used an old pressure bleeder tank for a pre-oiler. Dumped 5 qts. of oil in the bleeder tank which was connected to the engine with an oil fitting on the block and a shut off valve, pressurized the tank to 40 psi, opened the valve and instant oil pressure at start up. I made one for my 8ba start up from an old paint pot. For some reason didn't work as well as the brake bleeder set up but it got the job done. I've also heard of using a hand pump garden sprayer to achieve the same results.
Here is the link to the thread on the HAMB: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...#post-13148028

Re: Priming engine with oil
 

The only thing I can add is to tunn the engine Slowly while pressuring the system . Always did it on fresh rebuilds . Helps to have someone to do the turning. Run 3 or 4 quarts this way. Kerk

Re: Priming engine with oil
 

I bougth one of those plastic pump bug sprayer for garden store , added oil to the pump and threaded to the block where the oil sending unit would go. I pumped one Qt of oil into the block just before I fire her up. Primed the whole system and had oil pressure right away.

Re: Priming engine with oil
 

Adding oil allows it to flow down and through the valve chamber. Cranking a short time before turning on the ignition usually provides enough priming. The positive displacement oil pump does a good job. That is one reason old Fords have lasted so long.

Re: Priming engine with oil
 

If you're running a stock filter then put a hose over the center tube with the filter out and fill the canister with oil. The oil will slowly drain back through the pump and it will be primed ready to go. The rest I just poured in the fill hole.

Re: Priming engine with oil
 

Thanks for your reply's, sense we are on the subject of oil, what is everyone using as a break-in oil these days?

Re: Priming engine with oil
 

Now you've done it! :)

Re: Priming engine with oil
 

How about anything you want to drain out in A hundred or so miles?

Re: Priming engine with oil
 

Clean oil

Re: Priming engine with oil
 

If it has been five years since the rebuild, it is likely that the cam assembly lube has run off of the lobes. To minimize the possibility of cam wear during break-in, I would recommend VR1 racing oil, which has a lot of zinc in it. After the 500 mile break-in and the subsequent oil change, you can switch to any good oil to get the detergent additives, which VR-1 does not have.