No oil pressure

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100 OCTANE

Original Poster:

139 posts

94 months

Wednesday 11th May 2016
quotequote all
Please can anyone help me. I have a kit car fitted with a BMW 1200s K40 motorcycle engine, it has a dry sump and a front mounted oil cooler. The problem is, after draining down the oil and re-filling it, takes about 30 seconds to build up pressure, and the engine knocks badly. Please don't advise to prime the system, as this is not possible.

paintman

7,669 posts

189 months

Wednesday 11th May 2016
quotequote all
How long have you had the vehicle?
Did it come with this issue or was it OK & just started after you've done work on it?
If you have done oil changes before has it always been like this on initial start & then fine afterwards?

100 OCTANE

Original Poster:

139 posts

94 months

Wednesday 11th May 2016
quotequote all
The problem occurred after its first fully oil drain down.

stevieturbo

17,229 posts

246 months

Wednesday 11th May 2016
quotequote all
100 OCTANE said:
Please can anyone help me. I have a kit car fitted with a BMW 1200s K40 motorcycle engine, it has a dry sump and a front mounted oil cooler. The problem is, after draining down the oil and re-filling it, takes about 30 seconds to build up pressure, and the engine knocks badly. Please don't advise to prime the system, as this is not possible.
Prime the system, it's always possible. Why do you feel it isnt possible ?

And starting an engine with no oil pressure....isnt really a good idea.

100 OCTANE

Original Poster:

139 posts

94 months

Wednesday 11th May 2016
quotequote all
Unable to prime as I can't remove the spark plugs without removing the engine.

stevieturbo

17,229 posts

246 months

Wednesday 11th May 2016
quotequote all
100 OCTANE said:
Unable to prime as I can't remove the spark plugs without removing the engine.
you say it's a dry sump....how is the pump driven ?

And cranking the engine over with plugs in to prime, is better than running the engine with no oil pressure until it knocks

Or get an electric pump and hook up to an oil gallery and prime it eternally before starting.

227bhp

10,203 posts

127 months

Wednesday 11th May 2016
quotequote all
100 OCTANE said:
Please can anyone help me. I have a kit car fitted with a BMW 1200s K40 motorcycle engine, it has a dry sump and a front mounted oil cooler. The problem is, after draining down the oil and re-filling it, takes about 30 seconds to build up pressure, and the engine knocks badly. Please don't advise to prime the system, as this is not possible.
You've got more issues than you realise if that is what you think is happening. A bit more explanation is needed as to what you did and what has happened.

100 OCTANE

Original Poster:

139 posts

94 months

Wednesday 11th May 2016
quotequote all
stevieturbo said:
you say it's a dry sump....how is the pump driven ?

And cranking the engine over with plugs in to prime, is better than running the engine with no oil pressure until it knocks

Or get an electric pump and hook up to an oil gallery and prime it eternally before starting.
Nothing in the BMW workshop manual about priming the system after an oil change.
I don't want to spend time faffing around priming the system, ever time I change the oil.

100 OCTANE

Original Poster:

139 posts

94 months

Wednesday 11th May 2016
quotequote all
227bhp said:
You've got more issues than you realise if that is what you think is happening. A bit more explanation is needed as to what you did and what has happened.
I did no more than just change the oil.

227bhp

10,203 posts

127 months

Wednesday 11th May 2016
quotequote all
100 OCTANE said:
227bhp said:
You've got more issues than you realise if that is what you think is happening. A bit more explanation is needed as to what you did and what has happened.
I did no more than just change the oil.
No we need to know more.
What did you do then, change all the bearings or has it run ok?
Have you got an oil pressure gauge fitted?

100 OCTANE

Original Poster:

139 posts

94 months

Wednesday 11th May 2016
quotequote all
227bhp said:
No we need to know more.
What did you do then, change all the bearings or has it run ok?
Have you got an oil pressure gauge fitted?
I've not done anything to the engine. It took about 30 seconds before the oil pressure came up that's it, end of story, it's now running fine

227bhp

10,203 posts

127 months

Wednesday 11th May 2016
quotequote all
So it knocks its tits off and then runs fine laugh

100 OCTANE

Original Poster:

139 posts

94 months

Wednesday 11th May 2016
quotequote all
227bhp said:
So it knocks its tits off and then runs fine laugh
Yes that's one way of putting it. It's a complete mystery as the pump is gravity feed, however the return feed via the front cooler that's an area where a lot of air can collect, but not sure if that would effect the pressure?

227bhp

10,203 posts

127 months

Wednesday 11th May 2016
quotequote all
If an engine does that it's fked, it doesn't suddenly repair itself so I have to refer you to my first post.
Again; oil pressure gauge? Yes? No?

100 OCTANE

Original Poster:

139 posts

94 months

Thursday 12th May 2016
quotequote all
227bhp said:
If an engine does that it's fked, it doesn't suddenly repair itself so I have to refer you to my first post.
Again; oil pressure gauge? Yes? No?
No oil pressure gauge fitted, I'm not sure if it's possible to fit a gauge as it has a cambus electrics, I know nothing about electronics. BTW the engine has only done 18,000 miles, as I said before the problem only occurs after a oil change, I would have thought if there was a oil pressure problem, it would have knackered the engine by now, given I've done a track day.

wutschel

5 posts

94 months

Thursday 12th May 2016
quotequote all
Did you change the oil filter? If yes, did you use a good one(In the US it normally should be AC Delco or oginial BMW stuff). Are ou shure that you used the right oil regarding viscosity range? It can even happen that there is the wrong stuff in the canister. Normally the oil pressure should rise in seconds after starting.

To me it looks like something in that direction.

But it also can be that the oil pump is broken. And: If this is not the case: Even worn down or not well connected spark plugs can lead to such behavior. Just because they can suffer from a weak spark.

Greetings from Peine/Germany

wutscherl


Boosted LS1

21,165 posts

259 months

Thursday 12th May 2016
quotequote all
Instead of the shells could the knock be due to a hydraulic valvetrain, rattling prior to pumping up?

227bhp

10,203 posts

127 months

Thursday 12th May 2016
quotequote all
Boosted LS1 said:
Instead of the shells could the knock be due to a hydraulic valvetrain, rattling prior to pumping up?
Not on a motorbike engine.

227bhp

10,203 posts

127 months

Thursday 12th May 2016
quotequote all
No oil pressure

100 OCTANE said:
Please can anyone help me. I have a kit car fitted with a BMW 1200s K40 motorcycle engine, it has a dry sump and a front mounted oil cooler. The problem is, after draining down the oil and re-filling it, takes about 30 seconds to build up pressure, and the engine knocks badly. Please don't advise to prime the system, as this is not possible.
So basically how much of that do we ignore? You have no oil pressure gauge fitted rolleyes

I'd love to be your Doctor:
So what seems to be the problem?
I think i've got flu
What makes you think that?
My bottom is sore. party

Is it possible you dreamed the whole thing?

100 OCTANE

Original Poster:

139 posts

94 months

Friday 13th May 2016
quotequote all
wutschel said:
Did you change the oil filter? If yes, did you use a good one(In the US it normally should be AC Delco or oginial BMW stuff). Are ou shure that you used the right oil regarding viscosity range? It can even happen that there is the wrong stuff in the canister. Normally the oil pressure should rise in seconds after starting.

To me it looks like something in that direction.

But it also can be that the oil pump is broken. And: If this is not the case: Even worn down or not well connected spark plugs can lead to such behavior. Just because they can suffer from a weak spark.

Greetings from Peine/Germany

wutscherl
Yes I did change the oil filter, with a original BMW. I used a 10-50w oil, BMW recommend 10-40w so could this cause the problem?