Oil pressure take off

[phoenix]

S1 4.2. I have just turned the rebuilt engine over to get oil pressure. Could not get any. The take off is from the top of the filter take off as in photo. It is fitted with electric and capillary type gauge .When I removed an oil gallery bolt oil run out so the bearings should be getting oil . Is the take off wrong ?

[mgcjag]

Hi Bryan....i could take 30 sec or more of cranking to get oil pressure........top of the filter houseing is correct for an electric or wet guage......providing the correct gasket has been used between houseing and engine.....Some remove a bolt in the gallery and pump oil in useing a garden type spray pump........if your just cranking then remove the spark plugs and disconnect the fuel pump.....Steve

[phoenix]

Hi. yes plugs out even put oil in the top of the filter housing but no joy. I thought it may take a while because the engine has only just had oil put in until then it was completely dry after full rebuild (not me). I have put a little oil in the plug holes. I will try again tomorrow.

[abowie]

In my experience you're unlikely to get oil pressure at all when cranking a new engine using the starter. The battery will probably go flat first.

Consider that on a normal start it may take 5 or more seconds for the gauge to show pressure after the engine has fired, and that's on choke at around 1200 to 1500 rpm. The starter by comparison turns the motor much more slowly.

Your new engine will have all of the critical components smeared with assembly lube which is there to protect them on first start. So they will be fine. If you were still really concerned you could make an adapter up and pressurise the oil galleries by removing a gallery plug and pumping oil in to ensure you have lubricant to the top of the engine.

We have rebuilt a lot of engines over the years and we just start them, relying on the assembly lube to do it's job.

[christopher storey]

The first thing the pump has to do is to fill the filter canister, and that takes time . Until that happens , you will get no pressure registered . After a filter change, even with the engine started and running at say 800 rpm it can take 10 seconds or so for pressure to be developed and so at perhaps 150 rpm on a new stiff engine on the starter, you are looking at perhaps 50 seconds of cranking

[Tbob]

I pre-oiled my engine using a garden sprayer fitted to the filter housing. Took a few minutes but I actually pumped oil completely through the system. Afterwards it only took a few seconds of starter cranking to see movement on the oil pressure gauge. YMMV.

[paulsco]

You say you have a capillary gauge.

I had a problem getting oil pressure with mine and it turned out to be that the connecting capillary tube had sprung a leak behind the dash.

Very messy.

Just something to check.

Paul

[phoenix]

Now got pressure . Filled the filter with an old washing liquid bottle and now have about 40psi with an old battery. Super

[tinworm]

Just reading down this thread and I was going to comment that the XK engine will make some oil pressure on the gauge while cranking before you start it for real - I see you have achieved that now - good news!

Barrie

[mgman]

I got caught out after a rebuild. I turned the car over briskly with plugs out and saw no pressure on the gauge. I was alarmed until I noticed the with the ignition on there was briefly a reading. Then I realised that with the starter engaged the electrically fed instruments appear disconnected.

I use a capillary gauge now as all sorts of irregular readings were reported dependant on the engine temperature.

Stuart