Rover V8 oil pressure after winter lay over

[whp427]

I have a cobra with a Ford v8 bvut also have a trike with a rover v8.

After winter lay up the trike has no oil pressure after several turn overs and i just can't understand what the hell is going on.

I removed the plugs so it turns over faster, still no pressure. Have checked pressure relief valve seems ok, also put oil in the relief valve hole and pressure switch hole. Stiull no pressure.

I guess all the oil has drained out of the pump...

I have a spin on filter with oil cooler and I think under the filter is a sandwich thermostat. Can this cause a problem?

If I remove the lines to the oil cooler and pour oil in at a high level will this prime the pump? I guess not since the thermo will be closed?

Is the only way to remove the pump and fill it with petroleum jelly? This seems like a real pain...

Any advice much appreciated.

Brian
srv8351windsor

[whp427]

Oh and by the way. If I do need to fill the pump with pj where the heck do I get the star bolt sockets that I need to remove the pump and can I reuse the pump gasket.

brian
srv8351windsor

[TINKA]

Brian, my advice to you is if you think all the oil has drained out of your oil pump but aren't sure. Take off the distributor and make up a tool ( I think I used a piece of 15mm copper pipe by slightly squashing one end so I could put it onto the oil pump shaft ( down the hole where the dist was ) and making the other end fit in the drill but so it would run true ) then run the drill and see if any is coming through the rocker assembly ( probably need to remove one of the rocker covers ) . If there is oil coming out ( there wont be loads ) then if the guage is still saying 0 oil pressure the fault is either in the sensor, wiring, or the guage itself.

HTH

Martin :tu :tu :tu :tu

[whp427]

i have ran it on the starter with the plugs out for some considerable time and no oil in the rockers. in addition i have oil pressure gauge and pressure switch and they both show nothing.

i am pretty sure i need to take the pump off and vas it up. never done it before, any bits to watch out for?

brian
srv8351windsor

[beanpole]

Brian,

Remove the pump case, ( I think 8mm ring spanner will work on the star bolts), drop both gears out , then pack the resulting cavity with Vasaline, put the two gears back and smear around the vasaline which now gets displaced, the suction will hold the gears in place now.

While you have the cover off, check the presure relief vavle is not stuck open. Re-fit the cover, ( I also filled any holes here with Vasaline as well).

Fill up with Oil, fill the filter and screw on, now with the dizzy removed spin up the pump as described. very quickly you will see the pressure come back, replace dizzy and job done.

BTW I had no oil pressure once because one rocker had snapped, all the oil pressure then leaked out through the oil feed hole.

Also use Valvoline 20/50 racing oil, it gives good oil pressure when hot hot and is less likely to 'drain back' after standing for a while.

If all else fails I have a spare Oil pump just in case yours is stuffed.

Steve

:tu :tu

[TINKA]

Brian, when I first start my car it indicated an oil pressure of about 80 untill warm then it dropes to 40 ish. My point being it doesn't register much pressure when cranking as the engine turns over too slowly.

Martin :tu :tu :tu :tu

[osgood]

Brian, your pump obviously needs an overhaul or replacement, after months of lay up you should not have to prime the pump again. The alley front cover is the worst offender for wear rather than the cogs themselves.

I have to wind my 3:9 over until the oil pressure is up, normally 25 PSI which is obtainable from the starter only! The High rev lift lifters bleed down after a day with my application with very strong double valve springs.

The ring spanner/ socket size is 5/16th AF I think you will find not 8mm Eric.

[whp427]

Stripped the pump down, dry as a camels arse in a sand storm... I had the bike jacked up for a while as I was doing the head bearings. It head a oil cooler with 4 foot long pipes at the rear. Think all the oil went there.

Will start it up tomorrow, keep my fingers crossed.

PS cooler and pipes with sandwich thermo will be for sale. i am taking them off. Great for a rover v8 cobra?

Brian
srv8351windsor

[TINKA]

Brian YHM

Martin :tu :tu

[milner]

Warning for future readers, don't make the same mistake as me !

An imperial socket set ( £15.99 ) won't do as it'll only reach 5 of the 6 bolts - the last one needs a spanner.

The only place to buy one on a bank holiday is in a F*#$ing B+Q set worth £19.99. Must be the dearest bolt on the build yet !

Jon
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