Serp oil pump priming. with plug's in!
Discussion
Was talking to my mate today who has a Chim.. he was asking how my car was etc and I told him I changed the oil last night but getting the plug's out is still a sod.
He recons he takes his to a local Indi who does an oil change without filling the filter (coz it has a valve in and you can't) and without removing the plug's... end result is turning it over on the starter for 30 seconds or so before you get pressure.
Now I always take my plug's out when doing this... I assume it reduces the pressure on the big ends and helps the motor spin faster so priming is quicker...
The Indi told my mate that the crank oilways are full anyway and protection is not from oil pressure it's from the film of oil between the two parts... and turning it on the starter for 30 sec's will do no harm at all so long as you don't actualy start it up?... am I making too much of a job of it here taking the plugs out?.. do others do it this way??
He recons he takes his to a local Indi who does an oil change without filling the filter (coz it has a valve in and you can't) and without removing the plug's... end result is turning it over on the starter for 30 seconds or so before you get pressure.
Now I always take my plug's out when doing this... I assume it reduces the pressure on the big ends and helps the motor spin faster so priming is quicker...
The Indi told my mate that the crank oilways are full anyway and protection is not from oil pressure it's from the film of oil between the two parts... and turning it on the starter for 30 sec's will do no harm at all so long as you don't actualy start it up?... am I making too much of a job of it here taking the plugs out?.. do others do it this way??
OK... sounds like it's me then!.. . but you still need to crank it for 20 sec's my way before you get pressure.. so running it for 20 sec's without pressure, Mmmmm... not sure I like the sound of that?.. I suppose it's all to do with bearing speed etc.. so long as it's just at tickover should be okay?... right, thanks for advice... will may be try your way's next change!.. cheers 
Edited by TVR Beaver on Sunday 18th April 21:24
Ant. said:
You won't get any pressure from the serp oil pump just by turning the engine over, even with the plugs out.
Just put the oil, and fire it up. Keep a close eye on the oil pressure light/pressure gauge and if there is no pressure after 20s switch it off and investigate.
I recon this is the best way but take the coil lead off one end, So as the car wont start but turning it over will pull the oil through & wont hurt the bottom end when firing up...Just put the oil, and fire it up. Keep a close eye on the oil pressure light/pressure gauge and if there is no pressure after 20s switch it off and investigate.
My father would always turn the engine over by hand after changing the oil using a device called a starting handle. Whatever happened to them? He would change the plugs at the same time and would leave them out when turning it over to make it easier.
When such things disappeared from the extras list on cars he would leave the plugs in but not connect the HT leads. He would then turn the engine over on the starter. Batteries being what they were in those days this did not generate much in the way of RPM.
But with modern synthetics there is little to worry about as long as you don't spend a fortnight changing the oil and you keep the revs down.
What is true however is that a tremendous amount of damage can be caused to engines with cold starts. This is where most wear takes place for a given amount of time.
As for draining the oil via tube into the sump: this was chosen for reasons of saving time. But the old days of sludge in the sump should be long gone. If any came out during a change I'd be a bit worried so prhaps changing the oil that way is ok. I don't know but I have to say I'll go one doing it by draining the sump.
When such things disappeared from the extras list on cars he would leave the plugs in but not connect the HT leads. He would then turn the engine over on the starter. Batteries being what they were in those days this did not generate much in the way of RPM.
But with modern synthetics there is little to worry about as long as you don't spend a fortnight changing the oil and you keep the revs down.
What is true however is that a tremendous amount of damage can be caused to engines with cold starts. This is where most wear takes place for a given amount of time.
As for draining the oil via tube into the sump: this was chosen for reasons of saving time. But the old days of sludge in the sump should be long gone. If any came out during a change I'd be a bit worried so prhaps changing the oil that way is ok. I don't know but I have to say I'll go one doing it by draining the sump.
or you spin a shell 
Quinny said:
I've had 3 pre serp V8's.... Even a pre serp doesn't require any phaffing about for a simple oil change
Seconded.I had an pre-serp RV8 powered Cobra kit car for four years before getting my Griff. Carried out numerous oil changes without spinning it over with the plugs out or the coil lead off with no ill effect. The only thing I ever did (and still do to this day) was to fill the oil filter. Never had a problem with oil pressure on re-start.
Edited by Marty V8 on Monday 19th April 21:42
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