Oil pump priming

Advokat · Post by **Advokat** » Tue Jul 30, 2002 5:29 pm

Today's question deals with the oil pump. A few days ago,I asked about the rubber seal that came with the Berg pump.

The same pump had directions that mentioned lightly greasing the pump's gears as this would make priming and building pressure easier.

Question is whether a LIGHT coat of wheel bearing grease is okay for this application. I understand that it may not be the ideal stuff to use, but will it get the job done without any serious side effects. If not, how about that Torco? stuff that Web Cams sends with their cams/lifters? I have gotten mixed answers so far and wanted more opinions.

Thanks again

[This message has been edited by Advokat (edited 07-30-2002).]

turbowd57rag · Post by **turbowd57rag** » Tue Jul 30, 2002 5:41 pm

you can use vaseline and pack the gears, not lightly coat them

Advokat · Post by **Advokat** » Tue Jul 30, 2002 6:14 pm

Vaseline? Okay, but what about wheel bearing grease. I mentioned the light coat because the Berg instructions said that-just didn't say what type of grease to use.

Thanks

rajay · Post by **rajay** » Tue Jul 30, 2002 8:41 pm

If you have a new cam and lifters the concern is to get the rpm's up to break in level, so what ever it takes to obtain oil pressure takes precedent, I don't like continually cranking cam into lifters creating wear as lube is cleaned off of lobes/lifters so I remove rocker arms and also pull plugs to allow for a free turning engine, I pack oil pump very well with white grease and also pump oil into full flow case opening to enhance priming process, you can use bearing grease with no ill effects, you should be changing your oil fairly soon.

RT · Post by RT » Tue Jul 30, 2002 10:20 pm

I wouldn't use wheel bearing grease. Its formulated to withstand higher heat. You want the opposite - something that will melt and blend in with the oil. Lubriplate is a good choice and we sell a monster tube for 5 bucks! It can't be that expensive where you are. Littles strands and globs of wheel bearing grease might be carried through the galleries and inhibit flow somewhere.

Torco should be used sparingly and and only on the cam lobes and lifter faces. I also used a wee bit of Torco assembly lube on the bearings and valve train components that I preassembled. While these products are great for protection when you first fire it up, they are not good for seating your rings. All these "extras" will blend with the oil so flush it after the initial run-in.

Muffler Mike · Post by **Muffler Mike** » Wed Jul 31, 2002 5:25 am

I think the red torco lube will be just fine. When i do my stuff, i only use white grease and don't pack it in. just a light to medium coat on the pump gears.
Just last night, i got my motor in the car again, left the plugs and rockers off. pumped for oil pressure and took 30-40 seconds to suck up oil, fill up a system 1 oil filter (i didnt pre fill it. do as i say, not as i do) and got 35 lbs on the starter.
And as soon as i get one heat cycle through it, this oil is drained out and filter cleaned and the high dollar oil goes in.

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Muffler Mike
www.MufflerMike.com

rich2481 · Post by **rich2481** » Wed Jul 31, 2002 5:56 am

You can use a pesticide sprayer screwed into the oil pressure sending unit port. that will build oil pressure and prime your oil pump too, you can fill it with 3 quarts of oil too, they are about 15 bucks

good luck

Pillow · Post by **Pillow** » Wed Jul 31, 2002 8:51 am

Stick with the white assembly grease or Vaseline. Not the bearing grease.

I have done all above in the past and the first two work much better. The bearing grease has too high of a melting point and gunks up your strainer when you drain the oil 10-15 minutes later.

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Adrian Pillow
'66 VW Westfalia - "Biscuit"
'67 VW Deluxe Westfakia - "Dino" - FS
'79 Porsche 911 SC - "Cochese" - FS

JK · Post by JK » Wed Jul 31, 2002 10:35 am

As others have mentioned, use assembly lube. I use the lubriplate stuff for the gears and squirt a ring around each gear when putting them in. The assembly lubes are designed to mix with oil, bearing grease is not. With full flow I usually take off the rockers and pump for pressure. If I don't get it pretty soon I start breaking the lines before and after the filter to prime them.
JOhn

Advokat · Post by **Advokat** » Wed Jul 31, 2002 4:26 pm

Thanks guys. I will not be using wheel bearing grease.

rich2481 · Post by **rich2481** » Thu Aug 01, 2002 6:29 am

http://shoptalkforums.com/bbs/NonCGI/Fo ... 01808.html

Someone asked me about this so here it is

Rich

RT · Post by RT » Tue Aug 06, 2002 10:34 pm

I thought of another trick. I have a pretty potent shop vac and my motor is full-flowed. So I'm going to clamp a food-grade clear piece of tubing to the filter outlet and tape up the other end to my shop vac with a crevice wand attached. It sucks pretty hard. Once I see oil in the tubing, I can remove it and install the supply hose to the case. Then carry on with the pre-lubing.