Priming an oil pump....

[jason61c]

I've fitted a m3 evo twin pickup oil pump to my m3 engine, whats the best way to prime it, filling from the filter housing?

[rdodger]

I have filled oil pumps with vaseline in the past then filled the engine with oil and off you go. The vaseline is gloopy enough to stay in the pump until you start the engine but soft enough to be pumped out and replaced with oil.

[Vixpy1]

pack it with Vaseline

[jason61c]

its installed in the engine now.... it runs off a chain in the sump so to remove it is a major major hassle!

[CorseChris]

Getting as much oil down there via the filter fitting is your only option now then. Can't hurt and can only help. Be ready to fire it up, prime it, fit the filter and get it running as quickly as you can to get the best benefit from the prime. Pre-fill the filter as well if you can.

[Jon Ison]

As above but then rove spark plugs and spin engine over till you get oil pressure, much less strain on engine if plugs are out.

[The Black Flash]

Re: Vaseline: do you just pack the pump around the rotors etc, or do you fill the pickup tube as well?

[rdodger]

The Black Flash said:

Re: Vaseline: do you just pack the pump around the rotors etc, or do you fill the pickup tube as well?

The whole thing

[Furyblade_Lee]

Rdoger I wondered why you had all that Vaseline at your place, so did Claydon.... :-)

[jason61c]

actually thinking about it I can get to one of the pick-ups that sits in the deep part of the sump..... would packing that with petrolium jelly do the same trick? it sits in a pool of oil.

[Mr2Mike]

rdodger said:

The Black Flash said:

Re: Vaseline: do you just pack the pump around the rotors etc, or do you fill the pickup tube as well?

The whole thing

I wouldn't fill the pick-up pipe, filling the rotor with vaseline is adequate on engines that are known to be difficult to prime, e.g. Rover V8. On most engines you simply don't need to bother with this kind of thing - as long as the oil pump has been fitted with some oil inside it it should prime itself.

[tr7v8]

Trick we used to use on a Lotus Twin Cam was to prime the oil gallery with an pump oil can & engine oil, by taking the oil pressure switch out.

[The Black Flash]

Mr2Mike said:

rdodger said:

The Black Flash said:

Re: Vaseline: do you just pack the pump around the rotors etc, or do you fill the pickup tube as well?

The whole thing

I wouldn't fill the pick-up pipe, filling the rotor with vaseline is adequate on engines that are known to be difficult to prime, e.g. Rover V8. On most engines you simply don't need to bother with this kind of thing - as long as the oil pump has been fitted with some oil inside it it should prime itself.

Cheers both.
My alfa is probably going to be standing for around a year between rebuild and start, so I think I might stick some vaseline in there just to be on the safe side.