Oil Pump Priming

[rallyace]

An old timer told me that the best way to prime an oil pump on an old Mopar engine was to lightly pack it with vaseline as the vaseline will dissolve in engine oil. Has anyone ever tried this trick or was he blowing smoke up my tail pipe?

 

[kencombs]

I do that to every engine reassembly starting in the '60s.  That was a factory recommendation by Buick in their aluminum V8 for one as their oil pump was located in the front cover and had an extremely long suction pipe and screen.

 

Also, instead of using the pump to fill the oil passages, I use a connection to the oil gallery and fill with a Sure Shot sprayer and homemade adapter hose.  Much faster than pulling the distributor.

 

[Merle Coggins]

Yes, the Vaseline trick works great. I've also used white assembly grease. It helps seal up the clearances in the pump and create a suction to draw up oil, as well as keeping it lubricated when things start to spin.