Hi Everyone,
I'm up to the point of putting the oil pump in my reco motor. When I've done it previously, I've simply filled it with oil. But this time I predict the engine may sit for a while before being used.

How would people recommend I prime the pump when installing? I have heard to fill it with vaseline, or even grease (moly grease?) and have also been told to 'back-fill' the engine with oil through one of the oil pump holes, or even the front oil filter banjo fitting.

Any thoughts/recommendations? Whilst I'm at it, if any body can tell me the dimensions of the oil pump bolts, that would be really handy. Save me time hunting round for them.

I'd use vaseline or cam lube to prime the pump.
It usually works OK, but if you get no pressure after 30 secs cranking with plugs out, pull the banjo bolt and prime it there with an oil can. Then put it in 4th gear and push car back a few turns, then prime again, refit bolt.
Leave the banjo bolt barely finger tight, when you see it drip there during cranking it's on it's way.

<edit> Forget priming through the relief valve as some may suggest, it is no higher than the pump outlet port. Use the banjo fitting to get a head of oil above the pump.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

yeah i use STP (Sticky Tacky Poop)

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

Like the doc said, I packed mine fulla Vasaline. I got instantly 40psi just on the starter.

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what's the story with using vaseline - I realise it's oil based and should dissolve into the oil, but couldn't it also glob into places we don't want it?

my guru has a special cannister thingy that you connect to the oil pressure line outlet, you fill the cannister with oil, and put 120psi of air into it with your compressor, then pull the lever and it squirts the oil through the motor. When I did my rebuilt motor, I even had oil through the rocker shaft... I probably put 3 litres of oil into the motor through the oil pressure line hole

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

Vaseline is probably OK but after sitting for 4 years with just engine oil my pressure came up after a few short cranks with the starter. As long as there's something in there it doesn't seem too critical.

Cheers, Ian

When I had my first Mini in the '60s I used to put a dob of graphite grease into the oil filler every time I changed the oil - read somewhere it helped cut down wear in the engine. Didn't give any problems with "glob into places we don't want it"

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

My own Brand of Cam Lube is STP mixed with Moly grease

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

Mine is generally straight Castrol LMM Molygrease, been using it since I built Vees and Formula Ford motors in the early 70s.
Unlike some cam lubes, it doesn't all drip off while sitting there.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Could I just use straight moly grease? I have a tub of it here I have been using for engine assembly. I don't have any Vaseline handy.

Not sure using a lot of moly grease in a new engine is a good idea, mate.

Same trap as using GTX or oils with friction modifiers? Does not really assist in bedding those rings in.

The bolts are 1/4" UNF 'bout 45 mm long BTW

Okay, vaseline and oil it is. I'm just not keen to find out once the engine is in that I'm not getting oil pressure. Maybe I should be more optimistic.

You don't need to pack the pump solid, best way is put some in and wind pump over by hand to get rid of the excess.
You just need a film on the rotor lobes.
Whether moly or ordinary grease or vaseline, result will be the same.
I doubt this amount of moly will affect running in, many people including me put it all over cams and lifters on assembly.

Anyone for KY jelly? (snigger snigger). Maybe a bit thin for this though-

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Yep I also use moly grease for the cam assembly, works great. And none of my engines so far have blown up in any way that could be directly demonstrated as being caused by it.

So really, when I prime the pump I don't need much in there at all? Put some grease in there on the rotor, and then add some engine oil?

No good at all - water based

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!