Morris Minor Owners Club

getting to the point where i am going to start putting the engine back together, but i was wandering if i should invest in some of this stuff you put on bearings to protect them before the oil gets to the on the initial start up, or should i just use a good blob of grease or a smear of oil?

I use engine assembly lubricant - to all intents and purposes a specially formulated grease. Even if you use it make sure you have oil pressure before you start the engine. Prime the pump and oil filter and turn the engine over with no plugs and the fuel pump wire disconnected until you get oil pressure then its all systems go.

Just use lashings of engine oil - i've never heard of using grease! Likely to block small oil holes. Prime the (new - I hope!) oil pump too - and test the crank /engine can still turn freely after nipping up each bearing. Only when all have been nipped up - start to torque them up one by one - and again test it can turn easily after each one! And yes - when ready to go - prime it by churning on the starter with the plugs out until oil pressure comes up - and put plenty oil down the bores too!

GGL9122X Graphogen Engine Assembly Lube £24.95 - Moss
I think that Cris meant this sort of stuff Roy

Waste of £24.95 if you ask me!

Progress Roy Progress
Oh and if you do use this stuff Cris dont use it in the bores it apparently stops the rings from bedding in

Blimey - all these years - all the engine I built - how DID I manage without it............. You lads must have far more money to spend on cars than I do! £24.95 ? That's my repair budget for the Minor for the whole year gone - on a daft wee tube of grease... crivens!

Its available much cheaper elsewhere I just couldnt remember where I bought it and its too cold to go out to the garage to find out

Don't bother on my account! I have absolutely no intention.......!

It wasnt for your benefit Roy

£24.95 is quite expensive for something just to squirt into the engine. ill use the tried and tested method of lots of oil and then build up the oil pressure in the new oil pump by using the handle first, before i fire it up for the first time.

You'll struggle to get pressure using the handle! It will need the starter - with all spark plugs out - and a well charged battery. Oil will be fine - has been for 100 years!

Coat with engine oil on reassembly.
Check for free rotation after torquing up.
Plugs out, build oil pressure (you do have a gauge, don't you?) on the starter.
Plugs in, off you go....

I used Graphogen (for the first time I might add) on the recommendation of the machine shop who rebored my block. It cost £13.99 for a tube - not a lot compared to the price of your engine rebuild. Its not something new but has been available for many years. Lots of info (google) on the web if your interested.

I like to use the same oil when assembling an engine as it will be running with.
Engine assembly grease is OK, IF the engine is going to be started and run in a short period of time. If the engine is going to sit for 6 months or more DON'T USE IT. I've seen it used in an engine that was stored for a number of years and it all dried out to a very sticky paste, couldn't turn the engine over. The engine had to be disassembled, cleaned and re-oiled before it was run.

its only meant for the first start up, it should break down into the oil so it doesnt clog the oil ways, and then change the oil once everything settles down. but for the price of grease ,engine oil would do the job.

Well I thought those prices sounded a little high, and that less than a fiver was more realistic.
http://www.minispares.com/Product.aspx?ty=pb&pid=37309

Certainly that is a more reasonable price. I still would just use oil - but then I'm old skool - so what do I know!