New rebuilt engine - fill or not fill

Technical advice Q&A

Topic author
lyons
Posts: 115
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:23 pm
Great Britain

#1 New rebuilt engine - fill or not fill

Post by lyons » Mon Oct 31, 2022 12:18 pm

Just completed rebuild of 3.8 engine and as the shell could be a long way off, I had a thought in the back of my mind that it is better to fill the engine with oil to prevent the seals from drying out.

Am I correct and what is the wisdom out there.

Thanks

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links

User avatar

mgcjag
Moderator
Posts: 8070
Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2010 6:15 pm
Location: Ludlow Shropshire
Great Britain

#2 Re: New rebuilt engine - fill or not fill

Post by mgcjag » Mon Oct 31, 2022 12:23 pm

The oil will sit in the sump below the level of any seals...or do you mean fill it to the top ...Steve
Steve
69 S2 2+2 (just sold) ..Realm C type replica, 1960 xk150fhc

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links


phoenix
Posts: 351
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2020 11:49 am
Location: Blackpool
Great Britain

#3 Re: New rebuilt engine - fill or not fill

Post by phoenix » Mon Oct 31, 2022 12:39 pm

Please make sure you put some oil down the plug hole and turn the engine over regularly.
I am building an S1 4.2 for someone. The engine was rebuilt some years ago by someone else and the piston rings on the cylinders rusted a groove in the wall and it had to have three new liners. We only found out with a compression test after we could not get it to run properly. It just would not idle below 1.200 revs and probably cost £1000 plus time taking out stripping etc. What a Bu..er.
S1 4.2 RHD Bryan

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links

User avatar

abowie
Posts: 3879
Joined: Wed Sep 07, 2011 9:15 pm
Location: Australia
Contact:
Australia

#4 Re: New rebuilt engine - fill or not fill

Post by abowie » Mon Oct 31, 2022 7:25 pm

Leave it empty. Turn it over regularly.
Andrew.
881824, 1E21538. 889457. 1961 4.3l Mk2. 1975 XJS. 1962 MGB
http://www.projectetype.com/index.php/the-blog.html
Adelaide, Australia

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links


Topic author
lyons
Posts: 115
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:23 pm
Great Britain

#5 Re: New rebuilt engine - fill or not fill

Post by lyons » Wed Nov 02, 2022 12:26 pm

Thanks for your replies.

It seems that it is best to drop some oil down the plug hole a turn it over regularly just to keep the bores lubricated - but will having NO oil in the sump do any damage over time.

Regards

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
Hide post links
Show post links

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic