Rebuilding my '88 22re and got the new oil pump with the kit from EB. Something in the recesses of my memory suggests that someone (maybe Chili_man) told me you need to prime a new oil pump or do something to it before attaching it. Does that make sense to anyone? Is there anything I should do before just bolting it on? Or am I hallucinating from the spices in my burrito last night?

I'm sure you are hallucinating (must've been REEEEEALLY good burritos) but I've read Engnbldr's suggestion of packing the pump with Vaseline to prime it. That way you won't get an air bubble and pump zero oil. Personally I'd also disconnect the distributor and crank it till the oil pressure comes up, but that's just me.

As far as the burrito disturbance in the force, are you enclosed in a small room? There may be oxygen depletion going on... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/drunk.gif" alt="" />

I've had at least one "dry" rebuilt motor - meaning completely tanked and cleaned - that wouldn't pump oil as I didn't pack that oil pump. You could crank it all day long (without plugs) - still no pressure.

The last two oil pumps I've purchased have come pre-packed, so there must be something to it.

I've packed them with bearing grease.. Vasoline has a lower melt temp, I'm sure.

I've used vasoline several times and bearing grease. I defintitely wouldn't start it up dry...

I just squirt some oil in mine and I've never had trouble.

Thanks all. You may have saved me a future hallucination that I actually rebuilt a motor when I didn't!

If it means anything, I forgot to pack mine and had no problems, oil pressure went up right away. I might have loaded it when I poured oil into the engine. I started it within a couple of hours of filling it.

>>>*I had one classic critter that would NOT prime. I was lazy, and I happened to know the shaft was laid with high pressure grease, everthing preoiled *cept the pump, so I started it and took her to 6000 RPM and the bi*ch would NOT pick up!

Finally I just took the pump off and packed it with plain old chassis grease, after back blowing the galleys looking for something.

She popped up to the peg instantly, then faded to 20# idle after the grease got blown out.

Beats me why sometimes, but I say always pack them. One darn air bubble and the pump just spins and does nothing. Vaseline works if that is what is available, I prefer chassis grease because it has better film strength...*EB

I have used a home made tank (out of pipe) that I thread into where the oil pressure sensor goes and hit it with 30-40 lbs of air after filling it with oil, being careful not to run it dry. I add all of my oil into the engine this way when it is new if the pump can't be spun with a drill motor or I don't have an adapter to do so.

The machine shop that did the work on this last engine uses an old tank type of break bleeder to do the same thing and it gives them the ability to lift the tank so they can judge how much oil they have left.

vasaline is what i was tought to use when i went to school at universal tech. institute.its never failed me,good luck