Pre-Lubing dry fresh engine.

[19963.4lsr5]

I am trying to prelube my engine and I’ve been cranking it longer than I want to get the oil light to come on. I’m afraid I’m going to run the assembly lube out and have dry bearings.

Now when I turn it over the starter starts working harder after about 3 seconds on the starter but I’ve done it a few times now letting it crank like that and still the oil light stays on.

I squirted oil into the holes in the bottom of the oil filter base. If I knew it was pumping oil I wouldn’t be so worried.


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[sleepydad]

I am trying to prelube my engine and I’ve been cranking it longer than I want to get the oil light to come on. I’m afraid I’m going to run the assembly lube out and have dry bearings.

Now when I turn it over the starter starts working harder after about 3 seconds on the starter but I’ve done it a few times now letting it crank like that and still the oil light stays on.

I squirted oil into the holes in the bottom of the oil filter base. If I knew it was pumping oil I wouldn’t be so worried.


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I did a dry start last summer on a fresh engine. I put an oil pressure gauge on to make sure it was pressure primed. It only takes a couple of 10 second starter turns to get the pressure up. I also filled the oil filter when I put it on.

My oil light would go out once the pressure was up.

I also had all the plugs out at first when I pressure primed it.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

I’m going to end up pulling the oil pressure switch out and seeing if oil comes out or pumps out during cranking. Or burp the oilfilter. I like the idea of an oil pressure gauge also.

Currently, With the plugs out after about 3 seconds the starter is working harder and has a pulse sound to it. It’s probably only had 10-15 seconds on the starter with that sound. I think it’s pumping oil because of that sound. With all the assembly lube used I can’t see a bearing getting tight already.

With a jumper I can run the starter without turning the key. But that starter relay is a pain to remove. I always feel like I’m going to brake it.



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[phattyduck]

Just pull the EFI fuse and crank it. You could also unplug the fuel pump or the crank sensor (easy on Subarus, so that's what I've done there) It might take a couple 10 seconds or longer, if so, do it in a few bursts to avoid overheating the starter.

If no oil is flowing in the engine, the assembly lube will still be in place, so don't worry about that...

-Charlie

 

[gamefreakgc]

Isn't the oil pressure light always on when you turn the key over? Or is that oil temp...

In my experience, it's the fuel pressure that keeps the engine from starting. You could try jumping the fuel pump at the diagnostic port to build up pressure first.

 

[phattyduck]

Isn't the oil pressure light always on when you turn the key over? Or is that oil temp...

In my experience, it's the fuel pressure that keeps the engine from starting. You could try jumping the fuel pump at the diagnostic port to build up pressure first.

That's the point. The oiling system is completely dry and should be primed/pressurized *before* any ignition events. So, you don't want the engine to start on the first crank...

The extra cranking later (waiting for fuel pressure or whatever) is a separate issue - and fine as long as you have enough juice in the battery.

-Charlie

 

[19963.4lsr5]

I pressurized the crank case and got oil flowing out of the filter base. But spinning the filter tight I’ve cranked the engine longer than I feel I should to get the oil light to go out.

I’ve also filled the side hole in the filter base and turned engine backwards a 1/4 turn to try and get oil in the pump.

Ugg. I’m about ready to fire it up and see what happens. It’s that or something is wrong with the oil pickup or gasket.

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[19963.4lsr5]

So I listened to my brother and stopped being paranoid. It fired right up oil pressure light went out instantly.

It’s time to finish this thing and get it on the road!!!!!!

I hope to be driving it Wednesday or Thursday at the latest.

Thanks for your advice.


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[gamefreakgc]

That's the point. The oiling system is completely dry and should be primed/pressurized *before* any ignition events. So, you don't want the engine to start on the first crank...

The extra cranking later (waiting for fuel pressure or whatever) is a separate issue - and fine as long as you have enough juice in the battery.

-Charlie

I misread his first post. Realized that he DIDN'T want it to fire up until the light turned off lol.

I just start it up and listen and watch, anything out of the ordinary and I cut the power and address it. I've never had a 5VZ-FE have oil pump issues though, it's a pretty solid and foolproof system.