New oil pump, should it be packed with greese to prime?

[90mustangGT]

Buddy's dodge ram 318/5.2 had the oil screen and pickup clogg up. (yeah, pos dodge, its a common problem) I replaced the oil pump but didn't pack it with greese or anything, upon crankup still no oil pressure. I would have packed it because I have heard to do this to make it prime faster, but I was in a hurry and forgot. Would it make the difference between getting oil pressure and not?

I have thought of filling it with enough oil to totally submerge the oil pump, cranking it and once it gets pressure to shut it off and drain off excess oil, would this work?

 

[dragnazz5.0]

did you try priming the motor and pump before hand with a drill? dont know if you can do that on that motor but its worth a try

 

[rd]

Normally you should not have to prime it. If it runs for more than 20 to 30 seconds, and does not have oil pressure, something else needs attention.

You can prime it by hand by removing the dist, or just disconnect the ignition so it wont start and crank it for a while, to see if it picks up oil.

If it has a new pump, new filter, etc, it could take a bit of time to fill up.

 

[8950HO]

Aren`t you a professional mechanic?.You should know,j/k.

As a shadetree mechanic,if I installed a new oil pump,in any engine ,I would find a way to rotate that oil pump drive shaft to prime the oil system,(if possible) before starting the engine.

Seriously,this is a good question,as I recall reading in the past that some vehicle manufacturers oil pumps should be packed with grease to help with priming the pump.

I still think it`s best to prime the oil system manually before starting the engine after a new oil pump is installed.

 

[90mustangGT]

I know, I know, If I was doing this on a customer's car, it would never happen, but on a freind's vehicle, BS always seems to happen. I put a oil pump in a Buick with a 3.8L, it picked up real quick, but this is a dodge were talking about. It ran for over a minute, no pressure at all, lifters rattling like hell. Maby the shaft is stripped or something. I'm going to try to do some things tomorrow and see what happens. Thanks for the advise.

 

[iapexl8r]

I know for a fact that on the older slant sixes (dodge) the oil pump had to be installed "wet" with some oil in the pump for it to work upon start up. hope this helps chris

 

[8950HO]

I know, I know, If I was doing this on a customer's car, it would never happen, but on a freind's vehicle, BS always seems to happen. I put a oil pump in a Buick with a 3.8L, it picked up real quick, but this is a dodge were talking about. It ran for over a minute, no pressure at all, lifters rattling like hell. Maby the shaft is stripped or something. I'm going to try to do some things tomorrow and see what happens. Thanks for the advise.

Tried replying again last night,but my hi speed internet connection crapped out.

I know what you mean,it should have started pumping oil fast even without priming the system.
You mentioned that the pickup screen was clogged up.There might be some engine damage from oil starvation.If the pump was starved for oil,they can seize up and twist and break the drive shaft,although it sounds like this didn`t happen in this case.
(how did the engine sound before replacing the pump)?

Any possibility you guys forgot to fill the crankcase with oil before starting the engine .
Just joking man.

 

[90mustangGT]

Conclusion....

The other day I dropped the pan back down and pulled the pump back off. I wish I got a picture of this but it was sent back too fast. The reciever to the oil pump shaft as well as some of the housing had spydered. Spit like a banana, looked like what happens when you use a crome socket on an impact gun type damage. So I spun the engine by hand with a half inch breaker bar to see if the oil shaft was bent breaking the new pump but it spun straight. Finally got the new pump, packed that mofo with berring greese while spinning the pump with a ratchet and got it good. Put it back in and five seconds after start, OIL PRESSURE. The Dodge lives another day!!!!

WTF broke the other pump? Hell if I know. Defective pump I am guessing. In celebration we took our trucks out and burried them in mud. I wish mine was 4x4. The Dodge is 4x4. I swear we can't get it stuck, if just crawls out of everything.... so far.