Priming new engine?
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Priming new engine?
So I finally got the rebuilt 4.6 in my 1997 F150 and its ready to go. I am ready to prime the engine. I have left off the plugs, wires, fuel rail/injectors and the drivers side valve cover. I also pulled the fuel pump fuse. From what I have read and been told, to prime the engine you crank it via the ignition and the starter until the oil light goes off and the gauge registers a pressure or until you see oil coming up into the top of the drivers side head. My question is how long do you crank the engine? Do you crank it intermittently for a bunch of short times or continuously for longer periods of time? I don't want to burn up the starter.
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I cranked it for 15 to 30 seconds at a time then would let it cool for a few minutes. I did this for about 45 minutes. I never got any oil into the top of the passenger head nor did the the gauge budge. I did manage to fry the starter though. Could anybody that has done this before tell me how long it took them to get oil. Seems to me that the oil should have been flowing. Anybody have another method for priming a rebuilt engine, or any advise? Guess I'll pick up a new starter tomorrow.
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I got the engine primed so I thought I would follow up on how I did it. Pulled the oil filter and filled it with oil, reinstalled the filter and cranked the engine. Still nothing. Pulled the oil filter and left it off. Poured oil into the passage in the center of the oil filter housing using some tubing and a funnel. Had a buddy hold his finger over the hole while I cranked the engine to see if he felt any pressure building. Still nothing! Pulled the oil filter housing off the block. Poured oil into the passages that lead to and from the filter housing (two passages). Had buddy hold fingers over passages while I cranked engine to see if pressure builds up. BINGO! Oil is pumping. Repeated procedure just to make sure. Put oil filter housing back on. Installed oil filter and cranked engine. Oil pump is primed and pumping oil.
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I had several people tell me to "just fire it up, it'll be fine". It's hard to say whether the oil pump would have caught its prime or not. I suspect that it wouldn't have because of how much I had to do to get it pumping. I guess it is one of those things that 9 times out 10 its fine, but theres always that "one time". Seems like that "one time" usually happens to me.
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Heres some interesting info: When I was doing research on how to prime the oil pump I came across an article (I think it was on the Amsoil website) that was about oil pumps losing their prime after a normal oil change. It said that it has been known to happen that during a normal oil change the pump can lose its prime or become air locked. Resulting in major engine damage. It recomended always watching your oil pressure gauge after the initial start up. I know I have done hundreds of oil changes and never seen this. I usually watch the gauge but from now on I will make sure I watch the gauge a little closer.
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I always watch the gauge/light and immediately check for leaks. I had a filter one time years ago that the gasket stick to the engine and it was in a spot that I couldn't see very well and I just turned the filter upside down in the drainpan to empty it, and when I started the car, It blew oil everywhere from the double gasket. I now always watch the gauge and when I see pressure, I look underneith to make sure it is sealed.
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