testing lq4: no oil at rockers

[Lookin4the1]

I have a 6.0 lq4 that i bought off craigslist a while back. I swapped the cam, replaced heads, new springs, oil pump, timing chain, push rods (7.4" TSP)

the bottom end is still stock and i inspected it for any damage or wear. looked good.

during final assembly i put 5 its into the motor through the top end and then rolled the motor over to see if i got any oil out of the push rods and into the rocker. NONE that i can see. What could be causing this issue? I just used the starter without plugs or coil packs while on the engine stand in order to check.

[akdg87]

Did you pack the oil pump with assembly lube or that white grease ?

I just ran across this video the other day and will probably use this technique in the future. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=539ClWWJMl8

[Mr.Chevy4x4]

Another thing to check is the o-ring on the pick-up tube. If it's the wrong one or damaged, the pump will pull air around it and not pull oil.

Mike

[72MARIO]

How long did you crank it over for ? My engine took 3-4 minutes to get oil pressure up to the rockers after draining all the oil and changing to the ctsv oil pan.

[Bigdav160]

That's what I was wondering. It's hard to do just by cranking. You'd probably burn the starter out first.

[homemade87]

I always did the cranking thing also and did not seem to get the results I would have liked to . I got to looking into it and gm recommends priming from the front lower plug on the drivers side . I got me a cheep 1 gal pump up garden sprayer and got an extra plug and drilled it for a barb fitting . Screwed it in and added oil to the sprayer and pumped away . After a few minutes I had oil coming out of the push rods . I now prefer this over the starter method . I just cant help from thinking the starter is taking a beating cranking on it that long .

[chev3600]

Totally agree with homemade87. After watching a few people crank their engine for several minutes with no oil up top, I used the pump garden sprayer and had oil in the rockers with 3qts and just a couple minutes.

[Lookin4the1]

Thanks for all the responses guys. Im going to do the bug sprayer method. I ordered a few fittings to do it this week. what i'll probably do is drain the oil pan, fill the new filter and then pump 5 qts into it at the front driver side plug.

oh and I needed to change the starter anyway the previous owner broke one of the terminals off while pulling it out of the vehicle. I've got one waiting lol.

[Lookin4the1]

Originally Posted by Mr.Chevy4x4

Another thing to check is the o-ring on the pick-up tube. If it's the wrong one or damaged, the pump will pull air around it and not pull oil.

Mike

O-ring isn't pinched I had heard of this problem before and made sure not to. I used the blue o-ring that came with my new oil pump.

[davepl]

I've never managed to get an LS motor to self-prime just from cranking. Only luck I've ever had is with a pressure-fed oiler.