Oil Pressure Zero

[ekranoplan]

Engine has been rebuilt, new valves and pistons

Before allowing ignition, took plugs out and turned engine over to build up Oil Pressue.

VDO oil pressure gauge (takes a feed from next to Oil Filter but reads ZERO

It worked fine in Jan 2009 when Head gasket failed.

So either:

1. Oil way blockage
2. Air Lock in system to gauge
3. Dial fault


I have turned over the engine until battery goes flat twice (sealed battery was new in 2006 around 1000 miles since)

I did not prime oil filter but sump has 5 litres - it is large Fanalone Rally sump.

Are there any problems with oil filters on Fulvias?

Any ideas?

[Stefan Elshout]

It happened to me 4 times out of about 20 oil filter changes that I've done so far, that there was zero oil pressure. Never with a fulvia filter, but with several other filters. Perhaps it's bad luck, but the conclusion is that there are many rubbish filters around so be aware. I am not 100% sure that the filter is the problem, it can be something else but it's worth changing it for another one.

[Huib]

I use MAN W940/1 oil filter.

If you just connect a (transparant) hose to the oil pressure nipple, does any oil come out?

[Ralph deMasi]

With the minimal oil pressure that is accepted at idle speeds on the Fulvia is it expected to be able to see some pressure on the gauge at cranking speeds?

I've never looked at my oil gauge untill after the motor has started so I'm asking out of curiosity.

[ekranoplan]

OK,

Checked line to gauge - fine

Changed OIl Filter - No improvement

Recharged battery for 5th time

Took out Pressure Relief valve from Filter Housing and pumped in about 250ml more oil down the return passages.

45 sec crank and Oil Pressure finally rose to 2 BAR.

Hallelujah!
(tu):)-D

[Bart Verbeek]

Like Ralph,
I'm asking the same question: how can you check oil pressure while cranking the engine?
At Idle speed (approx: 800giri/min) there is no good pressure,
at cranking speed (approx: 200giri/min) there should be less pressure.....:S

There are several good oil filters available for a Fulvia (MAN - Knecht - FIAAM - ...) I doubt that the (if there is any) problem is the oilfilter.

But, aparrently the pressure is restored. Do you read the oilpressure from the gauge on the dash or do you have an external pressure gauge????

just curious....

Bart

[Stefan Elshout]

I was wondering about the same thing, but according to his thread it did build up pressure before, and it didden't after. I tried the same thing, but no visible pressure on the gauge. With running engine (800rpm) and oil still cold, pressure raise to 6 bar. I still don't know if it's just not building up pressure while cranking, or if it's not visible on the original gauge. If it show's 6 bar at 800 rpm, there should be some pressure at 200 rpm...?
Anyway, it's a strange story that you have to disassemble the pressure relief valve to fill it up with oil before it will build up pressure. It should work fine by just filling it up, and if not, the problem could be something else.
I would check everything carefully before damaging your engine, and maybe you should just fire it up, pressure should be there within 2 or 3 seconds, i don't think it will cause damage, running without pressure for 2 seconds.

[ekranoplan]

The reason there was ZERO pressure is because the engine was completely stripped and rebuilt with new pistons and valves.

In this situation it is possibe when filling with oil that only one side of the oil pump has oil and the send side has air. To overcome this oil has to be pumped to the oil pump outlet from the filter base as described.

It was a very common fault on A series engines used in original Mini - these has a bleed valve in an oil way near the pump to allow back filling pre start.

[Ralph deMasi]

When rebuilding a Chevy V-8 there is a rod which is inserted in place of the distributor which is turned by an electric drill. This builds up pressure prior to the initial start. Another solution I've heard and used on a rebuilt VW engine is to fill the oil pump with grease. This will create the proper vacuum to start pulling in the oil from the sump once the motor is started.

Sounds like you may have been priming the pump from the filter pad. That must have been tedious but oil pressure is not something one can defer to "later".

[Geoff]

priming engines with an elec drill is not uncommon - used on Aurelia rebuilds, to make sure oil is flowing.