No oil pressure on Perkins 6.354 after several years idle

[Lomax]

Apologies if this is another stupid idea, but might it be possible to inject oil into the pump via the oil cooler connection?



(N.b. my engine is naturally aspirated, and has no bypass valve on the cooler)

 

[B27]

Definitely possible; there is just enough room under the engine to drop it. Might need to get a torque wrench first. Would this allow me to prime the pump, or are you just thinking about a possible clogged pick-up filter?

I don't know where the pressure relief/regulator valve is on this engine.
Generally, cleaning out the sump can't hurt.

I would suggest getting some more oil and injecting more with your syringe.
I reckon if you don't start seeing some resistance to pusing oil in with the syringe, you have a significant problem?
It might take half a litre to fill the oil filter and oil cooler?
Not sure if the oil pump is likely immersed in the sump anyway?

I would be very reluctant to start this engine without seeing the beginnings of oil pressure.

 

[penberth3]

.......Problem is I only have 10 L of new oil, and if I use too much trying to prime the pump with the old oil still in the engine I won't have enough to fill the sump afterwards, which I think takes 9.6 L.

Oil is a consumable, buying some more isn't a problem, is it? Your priority is to get oil pressure, use whatever it needs to achieve that. Oil used for priming will end up in the sump anyway, most of it.

 

[ean_p]

Mmmm..... It seems to me that the oil filter (if its the standard vertically mounted fitting) wont drain down and nor will the oil pump to greater than about 50% as the suction and discharge points are mounted high on the pump casing. The suction filter is immersed in the sump and so in liquid oil which really won't ( shouldn't !!!!) have gelled over a couple of years. The issue then with standing is that the sliding surfaces will to a greater or lesser degree have dried out. Indeed had you left the engine for say two weeks or two years the difference will be the extent of this surface drying as all the 'drain downs' will be the same. This surface drying will be more so on the 'open' surfaces ie cam lobes and lifters etc and lesser on the journals of the plain bearings. Taking the rocker cover off and pouring half a litre over the shaft, the valve stems and the around the push rods will get some oil to the exposed 'open' surfaces including the cam lobes as some oil will drain past the lifters given a little time. No amount of squirting oil manually into the engine will get oil into the plain bearings unless you intend to pressurise the system externally with sufficient flow, to counter natural drain down, while slowly rotating the engine. If it really concerns you then a more considered approach might be to decompress the cylinders by popping out the injectors or heater plugs or some such if you have them prior to turning it over on the starter battery. This will let the starter rotate then engine much faster and not 'stress' the loaded internals so much. Though you'll also need to move the fuel pump to the stop position manually too! For my part I think the reason that your not seeing pressure on the gauge is that the engine doesn't crank sufficiently fast enough to enable pressure to build and show before firing but then I'm not there and am just responding to my imagination of your situation. Final word...as said previously it it was me ( and your not!) I'd have just have gone for it having slopped a bit of new oil over the head, though I appreciate and know most wouldn't !
Again good luck.

 

[Lomax]

It was a very nervous 20 seconds or so, but the oil pressure eventually came up Runs very smooth and even!

 

[Pete Treadgold]

Mmmm..... It seems to me that the oil filter (if its the standard vertically mounted fitting) wont drain down and nor will the oil pump to greater than about 50% as the suction and discharge points are mounted high on the pump casing. The suction filter is immersed in the sump and so in liquid oil which really won't ( shouldn't !!!!) have gelled over a couple of years. The issue then with standing is that the sliding surfaces will to a greater or lesser degree have dried out. Indeed had you left the engine for say two weeks or two years the difference will be the extent of this surface drying as all the 'drain downs' will be the same. This surface drying will be more so on the 'open' surfaces ie cam lobes and lifters etc and lesser on the journals of the plain bearings. Taking the rocker cover off and pouring half a litre over the shaft, the valve stems and the around the push rods will get some oil to the exposed 'open' surfaces including the cam lobes as some oil will drain past the lifters given a little time. No amount of squirting oil manually into the engine will get oil into the plain bearings unless you intend to pressurise the system externally with sufficient flow, to counter natural drain down, while slowly rotating the engine. If it really concerns you then a more considered approach might be to decompress the cylinders by popping out the injectors or heater plugs or some such if you have them prior to turning it over on the starter battery. This will let the starter rotate then engine much faster and not 'stress' the loaded internals so much. Though you'll also need to move the fuel pump to the stop position manually too! For my part I think the reason that your not seeing pressure on the gauge is that the engine doesn't crank sufficiently fast enough to enable pressure to build and show before firing but then I'm not there and am just responding to my imagination of your situation. Final word...as said previously it it was me ( and your not!) I'd have just have gone for it having slopped a bit of new oil over the head, though I appreciate and know most wouldn't !
Again good luck.

Trying to start up my Perkins 6.354 after a few years on the hard and I'm not getting any oil pressure indication when turning over on the starter. I first turned the engine over by hand, which was easy and smooth. After a handful of rotations I switched to the starter (fuel shut-off engaged) and it turns nicely even on my old & undersized 95Ah battery. But I saw no indication of oil pressure on the instrument. Switched to a more sensitive mechanical gauge, directly screwed into the pressure sender take-off, but the needle doesn't even twitch when turning over on starter. Needless to say I am loath to attempt an actual start without seeing an indication of oil pressure - though I think perhaps the starter isn't turning the oil pump rapidly enough for it to prime. Appreciate thoughts & suggestions for how to proceed.

Drained oil on my 108 and waited two days before refiling and fitting new filter, no pressure! Tried several times for a minute or so. Still zero oil pressure. Slacked the spin on oil filter and oil leaked and pressure returned instantl.Never had this problem in twenty years of ownership. I think the oil drained from the pump because of delay refilling and would not reprime. Hope this helps.