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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - First time starting

Nearly ready to try and start engine for first time just filled with oil and coolant but when i spun it over with plugs out and coil disconnected, i am not getting any oil pressure showing on gauge. Disconnected oil pipe to gauge at engine end and oil comes out do you need to bleed the capillary pipe to gauge, never run car before as i bought it in bits i was told the gauge worked before. Is there anyway of checking for oil pressure before i try starting.
mark (1977 1500 Midget) Preston Lancs

You do not need to bleed the gauge however getting oil pressure up for the first time can be a fairly long process. If you have an oil cooler then hopefully you will have filled this with oil initially, equally filling the oil filter before fitting would also help. With the plugs out how long did you allow the engine to turn over and did you prime the items mentioned?
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

turned over for about one min twice have not primed either filter or cooler / thermostat.
mark (1977 1500 Midget) Preston Lancs

I would expect that even with a full oil cooler and full oil filter then turning the engine over for about a minute would be needed to get pressure up. Without the items alreay being full then anything over a couple of minutes would probably be the norm.
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

With Bob on this one it takes ages (well feels like that) to get oil pressure with a new engine.
Onno Könemann

And sometimes the gauge needle sticks and needs a tap on the glass to get it to respond.
Guy

A quick way round this that I have used is to disconnect the union to the block for the oil gauge take off, then push in the nozzle off a blow off gun, crank it over for 10 secs while shooting compressed air down the oilways...10 secs job done, always works for me and less time cranking the engine over with little or no oil pressure.

Mark presuming you have a compressor of course.
Rob Newt

What sort of pressure would you set the compresser at?
mark (1977 1500 Midget) Preston Lancs

Normaly lower mine down to 60-80 psi
Hope it works for you.
Rob Newt

just cranked for another min and showing 40 psi so all seems ok
mark (1977 1500 Midget) Preston Lancs

Thats right Mark just takes a very long time if you dont get everything full before hand.
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

The BEST way to do it with a 1500 (given that the filter doesn't have an anti-drain valve) is to remove the distributor and distributor drive gear, then using a flattened rod (I use an old cut down screwdriver shaft), engage it in the oil pump drive and spin it ANTI-CLOCKWISE using a power drill.

This way you will prime all the oilways and you'll have oil pressure indication in around 60 - 90 seconds with NO wear since you are not rotating anything bar the oil pump.

Now refit the drive gear and distributor and start as normal.


Shooting compressed air down the oil galleries while cranking is a sure fire way to feck up a 1500!
Deborah Evans

This thread was discussed between 01/08/2011 and 02/08/2011

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