Quote:
Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON
On an engine rebuild, I ALWAYS spin it over quite a bit, with the plugs OUT, to fill all the internals with oil. On a modern engine, I crank it enough for the oil light to go out, or the gauge to register pressure.
Bill W.
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Sounds like a good way to wipe out a cam lobe or two! The cam and lifters only get oil from what is thrown off the crankshaft. At cranking speeds no oil reaches the cam so the lifters are being forced against the lobes by the valve springs without any lubrication once the lube you smeared on the cam gets wiped off. Cam manufacturers state you need to tune the engine so it will start immediately and then immediately go to 2,000 RPM for 20 minutes. This procedure is critical to the life of the cam, especially in an engine with high pressure valve springs (we're talking flat tappet cams here). If you've prefilled the oil filter and put it together right, no need to grind away on the starter!
Plus, if it's an older engine with a distributor, you can turn the oil pump with a speed handle before installing the distributor.