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To Prime or Not To Prime

VFilms said:
UPDATE on the A318 Poly: So I began priming the system and just as the drill met some resistance indicating, I'm guessing, that the pump was starting to pick up the oil, I heard a sound like air escaping and then a steady stream of oil started coming out at the corner of the oil pan gasket just above the filter. I tightened down the pans bolts slightly, ran the drill again, same oil stream.
I removed the bellhousing inspection cover, the flex plate/converter is dry and there is no oil in the bottom of the bellhousing. It's just coming from the corner of the pan.
What baffles me is I don't understand how there is pressure in the pan that will cause oil to be pushed out the gasket. I'm going to investigate further but the pan may have to come down. Something I'm not looking forward to doing.
Click to expand...

What’s your oil pressure when priming
 
VFilms said:
UPDATE on the A318 Poly: So I began priming the system and just as the drill met some resistance indicating, I'm guessing, that the pump was starting to pick up the oil, I heard a sound like air escaping and then a steady stream of oil started coming out at the corner of the oil pan gasket just above the filter. I tightened down the pans bolts slightly, ran the drill again, same oil stream.
I removed the bellhousing inspection cover, the flex plate/converter is dry and there is no oil in the bottom of the bellhousing. It's just coming from the corner of the pan.
What baffles me is I don't understand how there is pressure in the pan that will cause oil to be pushed out the gasket. I'm going to investigate further but the pan may have to come down. Something I'm not looking forward to doing.
Click to expand...
Is this an older Poly with a cannister? Converted to spin on filter? 90 degree adapter perhaps? I'm guessing that your issue is in this area because as you have noted, the oil in the pan should not be under pressure.
 
ACME A12 said:
Is this an older Poly with a cannister? Converted to spin on filter? 90 degree adapter perhaps? I'm guessing that your issue is in this area because as you have noted, the oil in the pan should not be under pressure.
Click to expand...
There is an O ring seal between the oil filter housing and the block. The housing is original to the engine not a spin on adaptor. I’m look in this direction as the seal was not replace during the rebuild. Thanks for your thoughts.
 
VFilms said:
I'm getting ready to start my POLY for the first time after a complete rebuild. While looking online for an oil priming shaft I came across a post that said 'priming the engine is not a good idea as it washes away the assembly lube.'
It's an interesting thought and I'm wondering what you engine builders think about this.

Also, is it really necessary to slowly rotate the engine while priming the pump? Seems to me the oil would find its way through the galleys and passages regardless.
Click to expand...
....for the love of god, prime that sucker. Build lube will stay on until she heats up....and it gets washed off and replaced by oil ect.....
 
66 Sat said:
You've spent presumably a few thousand dollars building this engine. Do the final stages properly - prime the engine. You don't necessarily have to rotate the engine slowly while you're priming (if you're doing it alone for instance), but I would definitely rotate it a quarter turn at a time and then re-prime, to ensure the oil is getting everywhere.
Click to expand...
The oil won’t get everywhere dong this. Bad advice. The rocker shaft gets oil in one different position for each shaft. So the 1/4 turn method is a fail.

Would you like oil on the rocker arms before startup? Or just run them dry on the shaft?
 
Its a moot point now but for next time, do this while its on the stand. Good luck my friend.
 
You have all been so helpful. Thank you. got the leak solved and primed the engine.
Not everyone here is a master mechanic. I’m remembering a lot of what I forgot over the years with the help of others
Thanks again to all.
 
ACME A12 said:
Is this an older Poly with a cannister? Converted to spin on filter? 90 degree adapter perhaps? I'm guessing that your issue is in this area because as you have noted, the oil in the pan should not be under pressure.
Click to expand...
Yes, the problem turned out to be in that area. It was a bad oil filter housing gasket between the plate and block...the OEM style are very thin and the Fel Pro fibre gasket replacement #70522 is "thick" and durable and will not crush or leak.
 
VFilms said:
I'm getting ready to start my POLY for the first time after a complete rebuild. While looking online for an oil priming shaft I came across a post that said 'priming the engine is not a good idea as it washes away the assembly lube.'
It's an interesting thought and I'm wondering what you engine builders think about this.

Also, is it really necessary to slowly rotate the engine while priming the pump? Seems to me the oil would find its way through the galleys and passages regardless.
Click to expand...
Break in oil would be a good start
 
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