Priming oil system
 

I've an ej205 engine that's been sat a number of years. It's had the oil drained and the crank has not seized, turned it about 10deg. Is there a way to prime the oil system without spining the crank? The old rover v8 engines you could pull the dizzy and spin the oil pump

I've looked at a schematic of the oil flow and it goes from the sump pickup to the pump then to the outer part of the oil filter then through the centre of the oil filter to the rest of the oil galleries.
So as I wont be starting the engine for a month or two I could make a header tank for the engine oil above the engine, then with an adapter in place of the oil filter, back fill the sump relying on the clearances in the oil pump, I could leave it like that for a few weeks. Then if that works, fill the oil filter and spin the engine over without plugs and with some oil (someone suggested diesel) down the bores.
think it might work?
cheers
carl

This is my method of priming after oil changes and initial start up after rebuild.

Fill the oil filter with recommend oil, this oil will be absorbed after a minute or two and will need topping up a couple times.
Follow oil filter fitting and fill engine with oil.
Disconnect crank position sensor (above crank pulley) and crank engine until satisfied oil has circulated or pressure gauge shows oil pressure. Reconnect crank position sensor and with a bit of luck will fire up.


Edit: just re read your post, I'm not aware of anyone priming the pump before start up. Probably because the oil pump is driven off the crank. The pressure relief valve can be taken out and I guess filled with oil to prime the pump but have never heard of anyone needing to do so.

Interesting idea about using the pressure relief valve, ive not take the oil pump apart, is it the sort of diagonal part of the casting? just a piston spring and screw?
This would be the idea place to pump oil into the oil galleries, both priming the pump and getting the shell bearings wet.
My engine has been standing for about 6-7years untouched

Unless the oil is filled under pressure there would be little chance of it getting to the crank. The only way to be sure the bearing surfaces are lubricated would be to remove the oil pan and windage tray and lube with an oil can.

The oil pump has a built in reservoir to hold the oil in the pump ( the 2 chambers at the bottom of the pump ) but after that amount of time being stood
and not turned over, you may have internal corrosion due to moisture on the bores,cam's etc.

yes i'm hoping its all okay. I turned the crank about 10 deg ant it didn't offer resistance. Its in a kit car so access is very limited so i'll make an adapter for where the oil filter goes and inject oil that way

Why would prime after an oil change?

After draining the oil why not? As the filter is fitted vertically under the engine that oil will be circulated before initial start up and oil pressure built up.
Essential, probably not. Good practice, definitely.

That's the same scenario every time you start the engine though - all the oil has drained to the sump.
I can understand after a fresh engine build but no value when changing the oil. Won't do any harm but seems like a waste of time.

ive always primed the oil filter, pain in the ass on my transit van as its side on and you cant see. getting on for a pint of oil in a filter I recon.
back to the original post, as the engine is in a kit car, the timing cover is totally inaccessible so the plan now is to machine a 'filter' that I can pump oil into, this will hopefully push oil around the galleries and the pump, we'll see

Think your making a big deal over this if your worried as said fill oil filter plugs out and push it. Or turn over on starter. I'd be more worried over an old timing belt.

You need to be very care full back priming oil systems, as the pick up pipe to oil pump will be empty, your filling the system from the pressure side, trapping air that normally gets let out through the system, you will end up not letting out the air & it not allowing it to pick oil up from the sump.

not sure I understand what you are saying. If I pressure fill from the oil filter side, resistance should be met by the oil pump one way and the rest of the bearings the other. The oil pump has clearances so oil will pass through slowly filling the pickup strainer and then the sump. as there has been no oil in the engine for a number of years the pickup strainer would be empty at the moment