[Healeys] No oil pressure

[Mirek Sharp]

Michael,  I personally would not be worried if the engine was just idling and it was not being revved up or put under load.  In my opinion there would be sufficient oil film on the bearing surfaces/cyl walls etc. to protect the metal surfaces.

 

I have no suggestion to get pressure back, but while testing for oil pressure, pull the spark plugs and turn it over without generating any pressure in the combustion chamber.  The faster spin may help prime the pump also.  This is actually part of my break in procedure on new engines – I always spin them up with no plugs until I get an oil pressure reading.

 

Best,  Mirek

 

From: Healeys [mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Michael Oritt
Sent: December-05-16 12:50 PM
To: Austin Healey
Subject: [Healeys] No oil pressure

 

This morning I drained my old engine oil on my 100 and replaced the oil filter, then refilled the sump to the correct level and restarted the engine to check for oil pressure.

 

After several seconds I became concerned when the oil pressure gauge needle stayed pegged.  I also have a low oil pressure warning light, the sender for which is mounted to the block at the point where the flex hose normally attaches and it is staying lit.  

 

By this time I had run the engine for at least 30 seconds and was becoming very concered, so I shut it down, removed the valve cover and disconnected the banjo bolt going to the rocker shaft, then restarted the engine--no oil is coming out of the bolt.

 

Thinking that perhaps the oil pump lost prime I removed the flex hose from the coiled copper pipe gong to the oil pressure gauge and back-fed some engine oil, then reattached the hose to the line but on restarting again nothing has changed.

 

Though this has never happened before I have heard of oil pumps not repriming themselves and/or taking a while to do so after an oil change.  I have already run the engine for at least a minute in the several restarts and am frankly concerned that serious damage may have already happened.

 

Any thoughts or suggestions will be appreciated.

 

Best--Michael Oritt

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