Do you think I need to prime the oil pump and if yes, how do I do that?

I did a oil pan gasket replacement, front & rear seal replacement, and timing chain and water pump replacement. with regular work schedule this project took me about 3 weeks to get thru during which time obviously there was no oil in the crank case. I did NOT remove the existing oil pump (the screen was clean).

I know when installing a new oil pump you need to prime it, something about using a drill in the distributer.....but I did not remove the existing oil pump. Do you think I need to prime the oil pump after sitting for 3 weeks? If yes, then how do I do that? all timing, belts, etc is all back together.

thanks in advance for your help and advice!

 

If you do decide to prime it, the dist will need to come out, mark where the rotor is pointing, so you can put it back in the same place. Don't turn the engine after removing the dist. Find a socket that will fit the oil pump drive shaft, run the drill in the direction of normal dist travel. But I've seen engines sit for years, change the oil and filter, and fire it up. If its a carb engine, it will be dry, and cranking till it fills and fires will prime the oil pump.

 

So it sounds like your confident that priming is not needed and that it is either still primed or will self prime.

I also had to replace the lines to the power steering pump and so had to refill that. so initially I will go thru the steps of bleeding that which from the tips/tricks section is a process of turning the wheel and turning over the engine with the ignition disconnected so it doesn't fire, so during this process, if I understand your response above should be adequate to self prime the pump.

I am learning my way here and don't want to make s dumb mistake and burn up the engine...

Thanks!!!

 

Thank you f5fordgirl, looks like the cranking to get fuel up the line got the oil pump running fine.....assuming so since nothing has seized in the 30 min it's been idling in my driveway...LOL! Thanks for your help!