Getting oil pressure pre first start

Talk about the E-Type Series 3
User avatar

Topic author
BobV12
Posts: 31
Joined: Mon Nov 04, 2019 6:46 pm
Great Britain

#1 Getting oil pressure pre first start

Post by BobV12 » Sun Jul 27, 2025 6:44 pm

Hi all, I wonder if anyone can advise experience of this:
I have built up the engine, installed it and attached everything. I used engine build white grease around the oil pump gears and on the crank and big end bearings, and used engine oil everywhere with the build but that was a few weeks ago now.
To get oil pressure as soon as possible once engine is turning on the starter, I have overfilled the sump (Millers running in oil) and have removed the plugs, but I am concerned the oil pump has a lot to do at only starter motor revs to suck up the oil and create pressure before damage occurs.
So I’m thinking of taking advice I have read which is designed to assist this initial “oil arrival in the pump” by
pressurising the sump to 20 psi with an airline connected to the dip stick tube (crankcase breather blocked off) and the oil pressure gauge sender removed at the top of the engine.
When the starter is applied, the hope is this will help the process of getting the oil up the engine and through this hole. Returning the oil pressure switch should result in immediate oil pressure that will allow me to move onto engine start.
However this is all first time stuff for me. I welcome your thoughts.
Cheers
1973 E Type OTS V12
Lotus Esprit V8

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


MarekH
Posts: 1746
Joined: Wed Jul 21, 2010 8:30 pm
Location: Surrey
Great Britain

#2 Re: Getting oil pressure pre first start

Post by MarekH » Sun Jul 27, 2025 8:52 pm

The topic has been covered before. Use some of your oil to fill the oil galleries by plugging an insecticide sprayer into the oil pressure sender port and pump oil into the oil galleries directly. Overfilling with oil and pressurising the crankcase isn't a good idea. You'll end up pumping it out of the rear main seal and spreading it over the bottom of the car with your 20psi pressure. The crankcase wants to be under mild vacuum if you want to be oil leak free.

kind regards
Marek

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

User avatar

Topic author
BobV12
Posts: 31
Joined: Mon Nov 04, 2019 6:46 pm
Great Britain

#3 Re: Getting oil pressure pre first start

Post by BobV12 » Mon Jul 28, 2025 6:23 am

Thank you Marek for your prompt answer.
It must be better to let gravity get the oil into the pump from the top rather than suck it under vacuum from the bottom and I was concerned about the rope seal, hoping that the short time the pressure would be needed would not broach it. But the reason I had decided to stick with the pressure option was I thought the tiny hole under the oil pressure sender would be impractical to force enough oil in to get to the pump.
However I will transfer to your suggestion and see what happens.
Thanks
Bob
1973 E Type OTS V12
Lotus Esprit V8

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

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic