Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi, haven't posted on here for a while so hello everybody!

My new engine is basically ready to go in, but I just have one question about priming the oil pump. Last time I changed one I tried to prime it with oil which really didn't work, so this time I'm doing it properly with vaseline.

I just wonder how much I need to put in? I've had the back cover off and stuffed the innards with it, plus I've filled up the inlet and outlet channels of the pump with it. When you turn the drive with a screwdriver it does pump vaseline. Is this enough or too much? Obviously I don't want to clog the system up with too much of the stuff but then again I do want the oil pressure to build properly.

Any thoughts are most welcome!

You will clog it up - and it's all going to end up in the filter clogging IT up too!! Just a smear of vaseline - and then fill with engine oil. How long is the engine going to stand before it gets fired up ? Is it a nice new pump ?

I didn't prime my oil pump! I just removed the spark plugs and turned it on the starter until the oil light extinguished. The engine should have been assembled with copious amounts of oil on the various bearings anyway.

Ah. The pump is a brand new one. Do you mean a smear of vaseline on the inlet/outlet channels or in the whole thing? If I'm only supposed to put a tiny bit inside the pump, where should I put it. Basically what I've done is to pack the spaces between the 'vanes' (if that's what they're called) with vaseline.

Will the vaseline eventually dissolve in the oil or will it stay as a nasty lump?

The engine should be in the car within a week (unless the hire people manage to be as hopeless as they were last time).

Just a smear inside will be plenty (+ oil) - but honestly - within a week - filled with oil will be fine. Problems start when engine is left for months before use - and yes - spin it up with no plugs till you get pressure.

Didnt bother with any vaseline on my newly rebuilt engine. I just removed the small oil priming plug on the back of the engine block (Underneath the water jacket drain tap, right next to the backplate, on a what could be explained as a "horizontal bump"). Its the main oil gallery from pickup strainer, gave a few of pumps from an oil can. Instant oil pressure.

Except later engine don't have that plug!

Perhaps my engine has been replaced with an older unit but its a 1098 in a 1971 Pickup

cool tip, cheers pikey *goes off to look at van's engine*