I have researched how to prime the oil pump and need clarifaction on it. It seems there are differeing opinions as well as different stages at which this can be done. Please clarify.

During Rebuild:
1) You can prime the pump before installation on the block by using vasoline and/or assembly lube on the rotor and pick tube hole.

Already Installed:
2) Remove the little cap at the top (spring tension??) and add oil there.

Or

3) Just add oil to the filter and disconnect fuel pump relay and unplug coil pack...than crank for a few seconds.

In my situation I installed the pump and than poured oil down the pickup tube and than installed the pickup tube. I than flipped the block around on the engine stand to finish the rebuild. I have filled the engine w/ oil now and filled the oil filter as well. Is it true that I can prime the pump by just cranking the engine a few times or do I need to remove that little cap on the oil pump and add some there?

I just want to make sure I do it right.

well you could turn it and see if it sucks any oil through it.. I always prime it w/ vasoline before I install it though. And to do that you dont have to take the spring out.

Originally posted by 420Adebt
well you could turn it and see if it sucks any oil through it.. I always prime it w/ vasoline before I install it though. And to do that you dont have to take the spring out.

The pump is already installed on the motor in the car, how would I verify oil being "sucked" through it? In researching this on this board one guy said just to put oil in the filter and it was good to go but I wonder how that could be if the pump is dry to begin with?

well is the engine installed in the car already? is the oil pan in? If the oil pan is off. I guess you could put the oil pick up tube in some oil and turn the crank by hand. I've never done it like that, but it may work. As for taking the spring out and pouring oil down in it. I've never done it like that so I dont know. I always prime it before I install it. If you have the engine in and the oil pan on. I think you are gonna have to take something off to prime it.

The engine is installed in the car and the oil pan is on. Surely there is a way to prime the pump without taking something off? I did pour oil down the pickup tube hole but that was during the build process when the block was upside down.

well I honestly dont know. I dont know if you took that 16mm bolt off of the top where the spring is and poured oil down it if it'd prime it. I dont think it would, but I could very well be wrong. You want to prime the oil pump b/c of engine start up. If you have no oil pressure at the start up and you have fresh oil in and it isnt primed, the oil pick up tube will suck in air instead of oil and then possibly seize up the gears. Which is bad. I tried searching google for ya, but I dont see anything that would be similar to our oil pump locations and oil filter locations. If I were you I'd ask starturbotalon or another moderator, b/c the outcome could be bad and I dont want that to happen to ya. g'luck and let us know if you find out.