I'm helping a buddy rebuild his motor and would like to know the best way to prime the engine (with oil) for the first startup so that we don't damage the new engine.

Should we use one of those oil pump power drill attachments?

Isn't there a fuse you can pull that will let you turn over but not start the car? Should we pull that fuse and turn the engine over for a minute to get oil pumped throughout the engine, then put the fuse in and fire it up?

 

I just primed mine yesterday with the primer tool. Pretty cool. I hooked up my ohmmeter to the oil pressure sending unit and calculated that I was getting at least 50 psi of pressure just with the rechargeable drill at low speed. Flushed out all the air pockets and ran it numerous times to try to be sure oil would get to all the bearings.

If you have to do it by using the starter, pull the PCM BATT fuse.

 

The I did it was like the manual said and some people here. I pulled the plugs and cranked the engine over until I saw my pressure come up. I then put the plugs in and it started on the touch.

 

I just unhook the coil wire and crank over until it raises

-Shannon

 

make sure you disable the fuel system. You don't want to pumping fuel into the motor and washing the oil off of the cylinder walls.

 

Pulling the PCM fuse should be sufficient...worked for me.

 

The main idea behind priming a fresh engine is that you want to get oil pumped throughout all of the passages and into all of the bearing surfaces before anything starts to move. Using a priming shaft and drill motor is the best solution (by the way Shoebox, do you a have to have the intake off to use the tool on our motors?) Second best will be with plugs removed (minimal load on bearings) and third best is with ignition disabled. All that said, if you prelubed all of the parts as you assembled your engine you will be fine whichever method you choose.

 

Yes you do.

A pressurized cannister would be the best method because of the intake thing.

 

That, or with a pump, connected to oil passage above filter base and oil pan. But otherwise, I agree! PLUS, the priming can be executed, with engine in vehicle, to allow priming immediately prior to starting.

 

doesnt turning the car over with the starter kinda defeat the purpose of priming it......

use a drill and old distributor shaft with the gear taken off

 

That would depend on how long after you prime, you intend to turn the key over. If not an issue, then ya, you can do that prior to dropping in engine.