No oil pressure and lots of lifter noise

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Stupuff, Oct 7, 2019.

Car Parts
  1. Aussie Viper Truck

    Aussie Viper Truck Active Member

    Messages:
    87
    Likes Received:
    118
    Joined:
    Feb 10, 2019
    Location:
    Australia
    you can also try this; unscrew the oil filter until the seal just come away from the sealing surface, then get someone to start the engine as you watch for oil to come between the filter and block. this works on Kawasaki motorcycles that loose oil pump prime. unscrewing the filter makes the oil system have no restriction and the pump has its best chance of moving oil. once you get oil at filter stop engine and do up the filter and then start engine, or do the filter up while engine is running. both ways will be a bit messy. hope this helps
     
    Psycho1122 likes this.
  2. rottenronnie

    rottenronnie Well-Known Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    4,178
    Likes Received:
    2,153
    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2006
    Location:
    Calgary, Alberta
    Honestly guys, I've pre-lubed many performance engines to make sure they have oil pressure on fire up, but I have NEVER had an issue with a vehicle engines' oiling system "not priming".
    It would appear something else is going on here, or not.
     
    TrailMix likes this.
  3. Psycho1122

    Psycho1122 Full Access Member

    Messages:
    1,061
    Likes Received:
    123
    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2010
    Location:
    The "Crazy" Far East part of Mesa, AZ
    With a gear / rotor type oil pump, cavitation is a VERY common issue. Even though you applied the red engine assembly lube, there was not enough "suction" to draw from the oil pan pick up tube at the low starting RPM. When we would rebuild high performance motorcycle engines that have the same type of gear / rotor pump, we would apply white lithium grease to the pump rotor lobes. This would stay attached to the lobes while the rest of the engine assembly was completed through to initial priming. PRIMING the engine prior to firing was also crucial.

    Even during periods of sitting for two weeks or more, or even after and oil and filter change, I would pull the fuel pump relay and turn over the engine to "prime" the system prior to firing. You may not have had an issue if you would have primed the engine after the two year sitting period. What is the oil choice in your engine? Modern, quality synthetic oils have a substantial and critical oil film strength/load carrying capability/shear resistance. This comes in handy when most of your oil has seeped out of oil galleys, bearings, camshaft and lifters. The left over film will protect until oil flow has resumed. However, a gear / rotor pump that has cavitated will not flow until primed.
     
  4. rottenronnie

    rottenronnie Well-Known Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    4,178
    Likes Received:
    2,153
    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2006
    Location:
    Calgary, Alberta
    Yup, the ticking and clattering can be a bit unnerving until an engines' oil pump produces oil pressure.

    My bike in particular (having waited out the winter season), makes quite a racket when it's first fired up.
     
  5. Longshot

    Longshot New Member

    Messages:
    26
    Likes Received:
    19
    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2019
    VIPR PWR likes this.
  6. VIPR PWR

    VIPR PWR Well-Known Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    7,608
    Likes Received:
    2,958
    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2007
    Location:
    FL
    So , did you figure anything out with the oil pressure?
     
  7. rottenronnie

    rottenronnie Well-Known Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    4,178
    Likes Received:
    2,153
    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2006
    Location:
    Calgary, Alberta
    False alarm?
     
  8. VIPR PWR

    VIPR PWR Well-Known Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    7,608
    Likes Received:
    2,958
    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2007
    Location:
    FL
    Let’s hope so .. :)