The 'E' Type Forum

Hi all...something i should know...but either dont or cant remember.... does the oil pump drain of oil when the engine is switched off....and if so i assume the galleries and cam feed piped also drain....so the pump self primes on each start up....or is it angled to remain full...seams like the older i get the less i know ...all the best....Steve

No, the system including the pump remains primed at all times unless the oil and most particularly the filter is drained, when it will take perhaps 10 seconds for the pump to refill the filter. This is unlike e.g. the MGB where because the filter is upside down it tends to drain down whenever the engine is unused for a period

Thanks Christopher....much appreciated...Steve

I might slightly disagree with Christopher. The oil is almost certain to drain out of the cam oil feed pipes when you switch off a hot engine...although I'd imagine oil will remain in the cam shafts.

The E type filter is On its side...again I'd imagine over a few hours the majority will seep back to the sump. So On start up the oil filter needs to be refilled and so do the cams. The oil pressure gauge is not reliable and takes an age to register. I fitted an oil pressure warning switch and bulb to mine. It is a 15lb switch and takes between 2 and 4 seconds or so to extinguish on start up.

As Christopher says. The MGB filter hangs down and most certainly cannot empty of oil. Makes an oil change messy! The MG has a hydraulic pressure gauge. Mine registers in 1 or 2 seconds unless the car has sat for a week when it might then take 4 seconds.

Just my observation as I have both cars

With regards to oil in the camshafts on start up, the design of the head is such that there is sufficient oil held in the cam area to bathe the followers and cam lobes so they have oil on start up.