Serpentine oil pump priming

[Alexc1984]

Being a complete amateur I left my car empty of oil with the filter off for a while. I am now trying to prime the pump with the plugs out and the fuel pump relay off. I'm turning it over for 10 seconds at a time and the oil light is going off but there is no register of pressure on the gauge and when I stop after about 5-10 seconds the light comes back on. Is this normal or am I doing it completely wrong? How long should it take? I filled the oil filter before fitting it. I'd like to avoid taking the cover off to expose the pump as I've just put everything back together and filled with coolant. Would the fact that the front end is jacked up on ramps cause an issue? Can't get it off ramps until the engine runs. I seem to learn these lessons the hard way so any help will be much appreciated.

[jojackson4]

If the light goes out you have oil presher
The gauge will not show until it's running

[Alexc1984]

I was hoping that was the case. My other thought was that I'd damaged the sender when taking it off to remove the sump, but sounds like a might be safe to fire it up and see if the gauge rises. Thanks for your speedy response!

[AV8]

jojackson4 said:

If the light goes out you have oil presher
The gauge will not show until it's running

+1. The serpentine pump shouldn't need priming.

[s p a c e m a n]

+2 on the serp not needing to be primed, I left mine with no oil in it for 5 hours when the sump nut did a disappearing act

[britpower100]

Check signal connection to pressure guage its easily disloged when changing filter. The wire had broken on mine leaving spade connection in place but no signal to guage. Caused me a small but perfectly formed panic.

[britpower100]

Check signal connection to pressure guage its easily disloged when changing filter. The wire had broken on mine leaving spade connection in place but no signal to guage. Caused me a small but perfectly formed panic.

[Duke Thrust]

Serp pump can still drain down, not nearly as readily as the pre-serp though.