Serp oil pump Q...

[Tobs]

Does the serp oil pump self prime? As I have removed the front timing cover to fit a new cam, do I need to do anything to ensure I get oil pressure after refitting it?

Cheers Toby.

[ozstyle]

Tobs,
from all the threads I have read on this subject, yes it is self priming.
Before I refitted my front cover, after a cam change, I poured oil onto the oil pump via the drillings to coat the rotors, filled the new oil filter up also before fitting. When I spun the engine over on the starter (without spark plugs in) I could not get the oil light to go out or any reading on the oil pressure gauge. After reading a few threads on PH I put the plugs in fired it up to about 2500 rpm and oil light went out instantly and oil gauge registered good pressure.

[Tobs]

Ok thanks.. I did think it was.... As you cant really get inside it easily to fill it with petroleum jelly.

I was planning to turn it over without the plugs in, like you did, to try to get some pressure before starting it, but it sounds as if this may not work....

Cheers,

Toby.

[jonnyb]

Tobs said:

Ok thanks.. I did think it was.... As you cant really get inside it easily to fill it with petroleum jelly.

I was planning to turn it over without the plugs in, like you did, to try to get some pressure before starting it, but it sounds as if this may not work....

Cheers,

Toby.

It does work, it just takes time. I have just put my front cover back on after changing the cam and spinning it on the starter without the plugs does get the oil pressure light to go out.

I didnt bother packing the pump as the serp pump self primes, just make sure the rotors are coverd in oil. Or you could do what I did and replace the oil pump rotors.