Morris Minor Owners Club

But are you SURE about the relief valve ? If it's not there - or is jammed open or has no spring behind it - then you will never get oil pressure.

Yes it was working fine before I swapped the crank, so it should still be working now.

nleader wrote:could someone explain how the vaseline trick works, and what to do. I will need to lay up a rebuilt engine for some time. And while on the subject, any views on assembly lube??

Nick Leader

You simply pack the pump with the stuff. As it's jelly, it stays in there (till it's replaced with oil of course!), and seals the pump internals well enough for them to suck the oil up when you finally turn the engine over. It also mixes OK with oil, so no worries about having such a small amount in the system.

As for assembly lube, it's always better to have something to reduce the metal on metal contasct before the oil gets up to pressure

I had for gotten about Picky's little plug - Mini engines don't have it - however it's hard to get to hidden behind the exhaust manifold. Well worth a try if you can get to it. I wouldn't use 100% vaseline (or grease) - mix of oil + grease is good. As for assembly lube - lashings of engine oil! No need for pastes and potions.

Grease has soap in it to solidify it, petroleum jelly doesn't. Hence why you use vaseline not grease, as it's entirely miscible with the oil.

Garrgh! I've put loads of oil down the hole BMC suggested, whilst turning the engine backwards. Still no pressure! This is assuming that I'm putting it down the right hole - it is the one where the pipe running to the filter casing normally runs, isn't it? Should I try putting grease down it?

My engine also does not have the little plug on the other side.

I'm so totally fed up of this now! Any more suggestions before I tow it to a garage/weigh it in/tear my limbs off in frustration?

argh bad luck!
are you turning it over with the spark plugs out?

Yup.

... I would double check the pressure relief valve.. will only take a few minutes to take it out and quickly clean it, and check the spring is still 'springy' if its not had any oil for a while maybe it has dried up and got stuck?

also, how do you know there is no oil pressure? do you have a gauge? check that the low oil pressure sensor is connected, and that the bulb works.

Yes - it's where the pipe was connected. Never known to fail. So - what could it be. Don't blow up at this - just brainstorming ideas - Are you 'sure' there is an oil pump in there ? What kind is it - ie what drive does it have? What cam are you using - what drive end does it have ? What I am getting at - is the pump the correct one for the camshaft? Was the pump definitely seated ok and tightened up against the block - is there a gasket fitted - is it the right way round - not obstructing the oil ways ?? Is the camshaft turning - ie is the dizzy shaft with rotor arm turning when you crank it ? Is the oil pick-up in the sump connected to the block ok - nut and olive in place ok and well tightened ? Sorry if some of these are 'lame' - just mad ideas that may throw some light. (I am assuming there is enough oil in the sump!!) And as above - are you sure there really is no pressure - do you have a gauge connected - yes I can see them on your dash - but is it connected ok ?

There definately is a pump in there, I remember fitting it. It was a minor oil pump (pin drive I think), and it engaged nicely with the cam which is the standard Minor 1098 item. The gasket was new and as far as I can remember I put it on the right way round. I'm sure I would have checked. The cam is definately turning as the rockers are moving when the engine turns over. Everything else should be fine as I put everything back where it came from.

The pressure relief valve is OK - I checked that today. The switch is not at fault - I tried a different one today and still no joy.

I've had enough and I'm getting a garage to look at it tomorrow. I need the car back on the road pronto!

They will likely just start it up when you are not looking and rev the guts out it till the pressure comes up! Ruins the nice new bearings.

I hope not! I've used this garage before and they are good (the owner has a mog too).

well if the owner has a mog then I think they are likely to understand the situation and possibly come across this problem before.. hope they can sort it.

Did this 'no oil pressure' problem get diagnosed/resolved picky ??

my oil pressure is ok now, but i dont know if the garage managed to sort chrisd87's car.

Ah - sorry - forgot the thread had been hi-jacked !!

yeah but i think we can forgive him as he did have exactly the same problem as me. ive still got a cylinder with no pressure and some fried electrics to sort out

Hi sorry I haven't been able to reply, but the garage did sort it out and the mog now runs fine.