Mellings M15 Hi Volume Pump

[svm99]

I have a new USA made (marked 1999) Mellings M15 high volume oil pump which I just acquired in a batch of parts.

I've read & heard pros and cons. What's your opinion, should I keep it? Mostly I will run street engines though may build a big bore stroker someday.

Thanks Paul J.

[flatjack9]

Ditch it.

[Walt Dupont--Me.]

The only thing that pump is good is a worn out engine or a full race engine with extra bearing clearance. Walt

[Pete]

We don't even use them in race engines any more.

[Ken/Alabama]

I'm installing one in my V12. I think it would be overkill in a V 8. And it might be in my V12 also,we shall see.

[chuck stevens]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I have one in an 8ba, everything is tight,less than 1000miles, but it has very low oil pressure at idle. I'm running 20w50 Brad Penn oil, I checked for the restrictor in the oil filter line, I even plugged it no change. Cold at road speed it carries almost 60 lbs, after it warms it drops to 45-50 at speed, but idle is 5lbs or less. Could it be something with the pump? Motor is quiet, I have two gauges on it, one electric, one mechanical, they both tell the same story. The only answer I guess is don't slow down!! Chuck S.

[KiWinUS]

Originally Posted by chuck stevens

I have one in an 8ba, everything is tight,less than 1000miles, but it has very low oil pressure at idle. I'm running 20w50 Brad Penn oil, I checked for the restrictor in the oil filter line, I even plugged it no change. Cold at road speed it carries almost 60 lbs, after it warms it drops to 45-50 at speed, but idle is 5lbs or less. Could it be something with the pump? Motor is quiet, I have two gauges on it, one electric, one mechanical, they both tell the same story. The only answer I guess is don't slow down!! Chuck S.

Chuck , do you still have the "Mechanical Fuel Pump " PUSHROD in your engine ? The stock spring in the front of the block ?
j

[Walt Dupont--Me.]

Originally Posted by chuck stevens

I have one in an 8ba, everything is tight,less than 1000miles, but it has very low oil pressure at idle. I'm running 20w50 Brad Penn oil, I checked for the restrictor in the oil filter line, I even plugged it no change. Cold at road speed it carries almost 60 lbs, after it warms it drops to 45-50 at speed, but idle is 5lbs or less. Could it be something with the pump? Motor is quiet, I have two gauges on it, one electric, one mechanical, they both tell the same story. The only answer I guess is don't slow down!! Chuck S.

In your case the M-15 pump is probably saving the engine, if you had a regular M-9 pump you probably would have pretty low pressure, I think you'll find you have a lot of clearance somewhere in your engine. Walt

[HP Hunter]

Originally Posted by Walt Dupont--Me.

In your case the M-15 pump is probably saving the engine, if you had a regular M-9 pump you probably would have pretty low pressure, I think you'll find you have a lot of clearance somewhere in your engine. Walt

Walt, what is the M9 pump?

I know about the M15, but not the M9.

Harry

[JM 35 Sedan]

I am thinking Walt meant M19.

[Walt Dupont--Me.]

Originally Posted by JM 35 Sedan

I am thinking Walt meant M19.

Yea, M-19, I'm on my first cup of coffee. Walt

[flatrod]

Would the M15 be worth using in a Ardun?

[flatjack9]

No.

[chuck stevens]

Originally Posted by KiWinUS

Chuck , do you still have the "Mechanical Fuel Pump " PUSHROD in your engine ? The stock spring in the front of the block ?
j

Engine is an 8ba so the relief for oil pressure is in the pump. And I do have the fuel pump push rod & the fuel pump, I'm baffeled.

[chuck stevens]

Originally Posted by Walt Dupont--Me.

In your case the M-15 pump is probably saving the engine, if you had a regular M-9 pump you probably would have pretty low pressure, I think you'll find you have a lot of clearance somewhere in your engine. Walt

Thanks Walt, I guess the right way to find out what is going on, is.... Pull the oil pan, and hook up a 4-5qt oil reserve, and see first hand where the hemorrhage is.Gee it's gone over 800 miles can't be too serious, thanks Chuck S

[Ol' Ron]

While on the subject of Mellings pumps. I haven't used them for the past 15 years at least due to the fact that their junk in my opinion. I've had to replace several of them. I now use stock 49/53 ford pumps. Just clean them check the cover and housing for ware and re assemble I have a fixture that tests them. There are several other people here that will check out your pumps as well.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by Ol' Ron

While on the subject of Mellings pumps. I haven't used them for the past 15 years at least due to the fact that their junk in my opinion. I've had to replace several of them. I now use stock 49/53 ford pumps. Just clean them check the cover and housing for ware and re assemble I have a fixture that tests them. There are several other people here that will check out your pumps as well.

Basically the M15 is a good pump. The manufacturing tolerances are the problem. I always took a new pump apart and checked everything. Sometimes, (more often than not) a few things needed tweeking.
I would still use one in a customer engine if the racing rules said, no dry sumps.

[JWL]

I have never seen any big change in oil delivery when switching between a stock, helical gear, pump and the M-15 pump. In the "good old days" I made several "double pumps" for loose clearance engines. These consisted of 2 stock pump gear sets combined in one case. Had to cut a hole in the oil pan and weld a voltage regulator cover to the bottom of the pan to fit those things in there. Again, not a huge change in output. It all has to go through the stock screen, housing, tube, and inlet opening.

There are several places to look for leakage when apparently tight engines show low oil pressure. The fitment of the pump housing to the engine block, the center oil manifold tube, and the bypass valve seat are some of the more difficult to diagnose which I have found to be troublesome areas.

[chuck stevens]

Originally Posted by JWL

I have never seen any big change in oil delivery when switching between a stock, helical gear, pump and the M-15 pump. In the "good old days" I made several "double pumps" for loose clearance engines. These consisted of 2 stock pump gear sets combined in one case. Had to cut a hole in the oil pan and weld a voltage regulator cover to the bottom of the pan to fit those things in there. Again, not a huge change in output. It all has to go through the stock screen, housing, tube, and inlet opening.

There are several places to look for leakage when apparently tight engines show low oil pressure. The fitment of the pump housing to the engine block, the center oil manifold tube, and the bypass valve seat are some of the more difficult to diagnose which I have found to be troublesome areas.

JWL, Thank you for your Ideas on internal oil leaks. I'm real sure the bearings are tight and anything that could be related to a fresh rebuild SHOULD be ok.I didn't check the pump real close, it could be something with the by-pass or fitment inside the pump. I had an 8ba that the oil gallory plug never got put back in, this seems different from that in that it can build almost 60lbs at road speed when cool. This engine is totally quiet when idling with low or no oil pressure. Winter is almost here, we will have lots of time to check it out, thanks again, Chuck S.

[Ronnie]

I would get another gauge and confirm all my findings,and troubleshoot from there.

R.

[svm99]

Thanks for all the info, I'll put in my next swap meet load..................maybe somebody will want it for cheap! Paul J.

[JM 35 Sedan]

Originally Posted by svm99

Thanks for all the info, I'll put in my next swap meet load..................maybe somebody will want it for cheap! Paul J.

That's exactly what I did with one I bought 10 years ago by mistake. Fortunately for me, the motor gurus here and on the old MSN flathead Ford website advised me NOT to use this M15 in a FH street engine I was building at that time. I used an M19 pump that now has logged in ~ 25k trouble free miles. If they are junk, as someone mentioned, apparently I got a good one. I am putting a '36LB engine together now, and plan to use another M19 pump. Hopefully, I have another good one, as I do not think they are all junk.

[40's rule]

Anybody use one of these yet https://www.bobdrake.com/ItemForm.aspx?Item=HR-6600-A what's your thoughts?

[JM 35 Sedan]

Originally Posted by 40's rule

Anybody use one of these yet https://www.bobdrake.com/ItemForm.aspx?Item=HR-6600-A what's your thoughts?

The pump in that picture is what appears to be the same configuration as the Melling M-15. But then they call it a "short body" which I always thought was an M-19. Maybe they got their pictures mixed up.

[41ford1]

That Drake unit is an M15. I have one on the shelf that measures the same.

[Ardun]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by flatrod

Would the M15 be worth using in a Ardun?

Yes for the M15 in an Ardun. It provides increased oil flow for the rocker arms and full flow filter. Do you have an Ardun?