Trying to break in my sbc 350. I originally built this motor 20yrs ago for project that never happened. I pulled it apart, checked things over, New gasket kit and back together. I did pull pump and inspect it looked brand new. I installed a new oil pressure gauge, but it didn't register, that I saw, at start. All seemed good and I had primed the engine and oil flowed to each rocker arm, so I discounted as faulty hookup. I was told repeatedly not to shut engine down, so I let her run. No strange sounds and all was going well. About five minutes in oil started spewing from the filter area. I looked and filter looked loose. I know it was tight. I reached up and soon it and it stopped leaking for a few seconds, then started again and this time I could see the o ring buldged out. No choice but to shut down. Wix filter and it was hand tightened the same way I have for years with no issue. And it is the correct filter. I had a second (one from O'Reilly one from summit) wix, so topped it up put on New filter and added Lucas additive, since I was now trying on Lucas hot rod oil and not sure if that had enough additive for break in. Second start and pressure on gauge registered, then went away. Can't honestly recall what it read, but I'm guessing 40-50psi. Trying to get the eff pms up and watch for leaks. All seemed good then it started AGAIN. Shut her down and cleaned up the mess....huge mess! Some things suggest oil filter adapter byp*** do I pulled it. Byp*** fitting opens easily. I pulled the one from the froze engine that had been in truck to compare. On the one from donor engine the threads seem sharper, more crisp. I had spoke with an uncle that is mechanic and he wondered if it just isn't staying tight. With the adapters out the filters snug down and don't feel stripped, but they are apparently working loose. The replies I've had elsewhere are: -is filter tight enough....have to say yes -right filter and good quality....yes wix -oil byp*** at filter sticking....opens easily with light push from screwdriver -byp*** at pump stuck...good question...as I said I pulled pump and looked it over, liked great. Can't recall if I checked the byp***. - someone mentioned ring gaps not off set. didn't pull pistons. Machinist said NOT to. I know they get off set, so can't believe they wouldn't have been but that was twenty years ago. If I think back I'll say yes, but wouldn't that be more compression issue? -oil p***ages clean. I didn't rod them this time, but like I said it primed easily enough. If p***ages clogged, wouldn't that effect priming? -another thought was the zinc additive in these oils mixed with ***embly lube maybe clogging filters. Any other thoughts? I was also told by ac Delco filter, get more break in oil, put adapter from other motor on and try again. If it's in the pump, I'm guessing I need to pull the pump and check, or is there a way to rule that out or test without yanking motor and/or dropping pan?
I would suspect the threads where the filter screws on. Next I would suspect the pressure byp*** valve in the pump. The additives...hmmm....what additives are you using? Are you sure it's the correct part number filter?
Put a good oil pressure gauge on it. Sounds like the oil pressure is going too high blowing the seal out on the filter and causing the filter to loosen. Cause could be the relief valve in the pump sticking closed. Sent from my Moto G Play using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Correct filter. Just had a fb reply saying same thing happened to another poster, but while driving and he lost motor. Mine, never made bad noises, so I'm hopeful. The gauge is Bosch, which I think makes good quality gauges. On initial fire, only comp cams break in oil. 2 fire, I had Lucas hot rod oil, want sure if enough additive, so added their additive as well. I still have a bottle of additive and half gallon of Lucas oil, . Plus what is left in pan. I guess I should at least drain and find more break in oil. Or is it ok to try again with this Lucas oil, with or without additive? I'm really suspecting the threads, but figure I should rule out pump. Any easy way to do that?
I always go hand tight, then give it a good twist with firm grip. I've never had any issues in 30 years of almost always changing own oil.
Did you apply a thin layer of oil on the filter gasket/o-ring prior to attachment to the engine? Sometimes that will make a difference in leaking or not.
Is the old gasket off the filter base? Sometimes an old one would stick there. Usually when the pump valve sticks the oil pressure pegs high and then blows the seal out. You say you're not reading consistent pressure. I damn sure wouldn't run it without pressure confirmation in the propped ports with a drill running the pump.
No filter left on. Maybe the pump valve is stuck. On the second fire, it shot up and then down. Want expecting it to register so wasn't paying that much attention. From what I saw from corner of eye, it might have quickly jumped up, leveled down to about 40-50 then down to zero. May have done that at first start as well and I missed it.
The way my fire wall is, I can't get onto the oil priming tool with a drill. There is just enough room to stab an hei distributor in there.
Stupid question but there is not an old gasket stuck to the block and you are screwing the new filter on an old o-ring on the block ? Seen it done more than once.
Well master brain, how do you figure you'll confirm oil pressure? Pull the coil wire and the plugs and spin it with the starter. If you have zero you'll be swapping guages and try again. If you still have zero it's coming out. If you peg it at 100, you'll be swapping guages and trying again. If you still have 100 it's coming out.
I think Squirrel is right. I had the same problem with a rebuilt 327 when we used an old distributor shaft in an electric drill to pre oil the engine prior to firing it. Blew out 3 filter gaskets. On the third try we noticed that the oil pressure gauge was ******* out immediately when we hit the drill trigger. The filter gasket would blow immediately and the pressure would drop to zero. This happened so fast that we didn't catch the oil pressure spike at first. This was the clue that it was the pump. Ended up dropping the pan and found out the new oil pump had a faulty pressure valve. Replaced the oil pump and the problem was solved.
The gasket wasn't left on, sorry, think i typed filter. I just finished cleaning up the mess under the car. I had to dump sand/dirt over the oil and I just got it swept up and washed off. Once dry, I'll crawl under and see about dropping that pan I guess. **I just recalled, I have an angle adapter for my large hammer drill. I'll see if that combo might work to spin the oil priming tool. So, if I get pressure with the replacement adapter, I might be good to try again? Crazy part is I didn't blow out the gasket/o-ring when I primed it before. Is it safe, If it primes and get pressure to break it in with the Lucas Hot Rod oil, or MUST I dump that and get something else ordered? It currently has the additive added, maybe that's overkill....
Also, I think someone said something again about old o-ring being stuck up there, but if I recall when I dropped that filter it had the o-ring in tact. Everything was clean when new filter went on. I was going to start it up with conventional Valvoline oil with a Hi-Zinc Engine Protector additive, but everyone said to go with Break-in-oil, so I went with Comp Cams Break In Oil and swapped filters. Both of those still have the o-rings in tact, they are also the ones giving the issue.
Angle adapter works, but gauge goes to 100, so.....what does that mean? I can buy a Bosch mechanical gauge for $20 locally. Do I try that? I know previous poster said if goes to 100, but different gauge, but this isn't a gauge issue is this a clog somewhere? Do I drop the pan and swap pumps or what am I looking for?
I'll follow up and say the drill I'm using is a Bosch bulldog hammer drill, it's a beast of a drill and of course variable speed. If I lightly go gauge hours to 50, if I get on it, it goes to 100. I hear oil being pumped.
20 year old ***embly lube petrified and clogged something up. The way the pressure gauge acts is a clue.
So is that a new pump or new pump valve? Suggestions on pump? Part of me wants to drop pan, swap pumps from other motor and try it, then order new pump, refill and go again.... I darn near ordered a new pump but this one looked brand new and only ran preluded oil in it. I asked a few people and sounded like it would be good to go. Hind sight!
You can try cleaning the byp*** valve, subs***uting a known good one, or buying another. There's a good chance the ***embly lube got things plugged up but I also think you'd have oiling problems. My money is on a oil pump byp*** valve.
The drill may be a monster drill, but what kind of rpm's dfo you think it's turning? More than what the engine is going to do? Doubtful. Most likely that the system is building excessive pressure, and the weakest link (i.e. the filter gasket) is failing.
Had it happen a few times. I will never use the high pressure spring in a high volume pump. After I just started using the stock spring we never had any problems again. I would throw a pump on it and problem solved. Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I'm going with byp*** valve stuck. Had a OT Yota, built the engine, had to change timing cover because chain had worn old one out. Oil pump is mounted on the front of the timing cover on those, I didn't notice the small hole where the pump bolted on was missing. Fired it off, in less than a minute the filter exploded, oil everywhere. Got another filter and oil next morning, tried it again, same result, ruling out bad filter. A call to a mechanic friend told me to look for the small byp*** hole, sure enough old cover had one, new used one didn't.....different year I guess. Drilled that hole, next time it fired without any oil loss. While I was working on a totally different engine, the same principal holds, if the oil can't byp***, it will build up pressure and come out at the weakest point, mine blew the filter, his is blowing the gasket.
I would suggest you not use the pump off the old engine! Either clean and free up the pressure relief on the one you have or buy a new pump.
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