Oil Pump zero pressure

[DF961]

Wonder if anyone can shed any light on my little problem. Just serviced mycar which included whipping the oil pump off for a check. Refilled it with oil and can't get any oil pressure to register on the guage when turning the engine over. Needlesto say I'm not trying to start it, thisis with the plugs out!

Although I don't see any mention of it in the manuals, am I supposed to prime it first by filling it with oil or grease? I'm sure I've read this somewhere but can't find a reference to it now.

Problem I've got is that the only way I could get the pump off was to dismantle it in situ because as a wholeunit it wouldn't come past the exhaust down pipe. Priming with oil therefore might be a tad tricky..

Any suggestions? Dick.

[GDPR]

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DF961 wrote:

Wonder if anyone can shed any light on my little problem. Just serviced mycar which included whipping the oil pump off for a check. Refilled it with oil and can't get any oil pressure to register on the guage when turning the engine over. Needlesto say I'm not trying to start it, thisis with the plugs out!

Although I don't see any mention of it in the manuals, am I supposed to prime it first by filling it with oil or grease? I'm sure I've read this somewhere but can't find a reference to it now.

Problem I've got is that the only way I could get the pump off was to dismantle it in situ because as a wholeunit it wouldn't come past the exhaust down pipe. Priming with oil therefore might be a tad tricky..

Any suggestions? Dick.

Dick

Take out the oil pressure switch and pump oil down there, or my favourite is to remove the bottom cover and fill the gaps between the lobes of the pump with vaseline (was nervous of saying this with your name - sorry that's my rotten sense of humour) - that'll make it pump.

However if the oil fliter isn't full, then it'll take a while to put the light out.

I would put the plugs back in and run it - if pressure's not back up in less than 10 seconds then panic and switch off.

Russ:dude:

[richardthestag]

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You don't say if it is RV8 or not. But guessing you have a stagv8 because of the restricted access past the exhaust. (RV8's definately need priming with vaseline)

I never had a problem with the Triumph V8 oil pump except when the oil pump pressure valve stuck open which afforded me 10psi at idle . The pump was about due for replacement anyway and the plunger was stuck open in the old pump which was binned.

Do yourself a favour and get the exhust downpipe off - remove the pump properly and check it out. Mine was all score up and knackered.

If in doubt chuck it out *

* they don't last forever and can cause a very very expensive headache if they fail.

Richard

[jbuckl]

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Vaseline is the correct stuff to prime a pump with.(as above)
You can achieve a prime via the distributor drive (dizzy removed) & electric drill.

Notoriously long time to prime on starter esp. w/o vaseline.

Do remove the downpipe (as above)

Do inspect new pumps as quality is low on some .....especially The licorice 'o' rings

[DF961]

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Many thanks for that, I knew I hadn't imagined the vaseline thing but it doesn't mention it on the label, I've checked so it wasn't there I read it...good idea re the oil in through the pressure switch hole as well.I'll try again tomorrow. I contacted the previous owner of the car as who has suggested releasing the oil filter slightlywhilst cranking which makes sense, I have a dry sumped motorbike which requiresa similar method of bleeding before oil will circulate. Thanks for your help. Dick (PS some web sites won't even publish my name they put asterisks in between the d and k!)

[DF961]

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Don't worry the pump's been off, stripped and thoroughly checked! It's one of those pattern jobbies but I was lucky enough to get a genuine Hobourne Eaton Valve assembly so put this on with a new standard spring and new O rings. I can get vaseline in but oil would have been tricky...cheers.

[DF961]

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I have oil pressure! I thought I would try the oil down the pressure switch hole first as that seemed the easiest. It didn't work.... next I tried releasing the oil filter as having had the pump off to check it this was going to be a last resort.I strapped a wire across from the live battery terminalto thesatrter solenoid so I could be under the car watching for oil spraying out and this worked a treat. I had filled the filter before I fitted it and after only a few seconds of cranking oil spilled from the joint face.

I now have an oil pressure light which extinguishes when cranking and 22 psi on the guage, neither of which happened before I fitted a genuinerelief valve. It's looking good for a live firing execise!

Many thanks for all your suggestions. Dick.