Oil system won't prime - 20XE

[Iain]

Been cranking my rebuilt 20XE on the starter for quite a while now and the oil pressure light isn't going out.

It's a rebuilt engine, the block and head oil galleries were cleaned out before reassembly.

Before refitting the oil pump I packed the gears with vaseline which I heard was advisable in order to help the pump prime quicker. However I've just removed the oil filter and a lump of vaseline fell out - is there a chance it could actually be blocking the galleries instead of helping? The oil filter itself was full of oil though.

I also removed the bolt on the back of the oil pump and no oil came out of there. I removed the one on the front and some trickled out once I removed the relief valve and spring.

The top end feels very dry if I put my finger in the oil filler cap hole, although the cam lobes have a thin film of oil on but I covered these in oil a week or two ago, so I think it's actually an oil pressure system rather than a faulty sender or gauge.

Help

[Plug]

right i had the same problem with my let i took the plugs out and turned it over for 10 mins with no joy.

I decided to fire it up with the plugs back in and it fired straight up and the oil light went out.

i think the oil light might stay light up when your cranking although i may be wrong

[Graeme]

Sounds a tad risky, I'd like to see the light go out before firing it up, I asked Sbs about packing the pump first and he said it wasn't needed on genuine pumps

[Iain]

Ah yes, I am cranking with the plugs out at the moment. Little reluctant to fire it up as all the advice I've heard has been to make sure the oil pressure is right/light has gone out before starting.

[Plug]

i was told exactly the same, not to fire up intil the light went out.

But with the oil pressure gauges i have the engine has to be running to use them

[comptoncj]

I had the same issue with my xe corsa, i turned the engine over for ages and the light stayed on so i started it up and it went out in about a second, although with my gsi i put a battery booster on it to turn it over quicker and the light went out by just cranking.

[Graeme]

Is the O ring on the pick up pipe definately present?

[Iain]

You've just given me an idea; I did think it was cranking a little slowly despite there being no compression (plugs out), perhaps I'll try charging a different/bigger battery to see if it'll crank faster.

Graeme I'm fairly sure it's present as I was very careful to make sure I didn't forget it when fitting the pickup.

[mills]

the oil pump is probly dry you will need to take the bung out of it and fill it with oil the turn the crank with a socket till it starts to pick it up once you do that try and crank it with the plug leads out

[djbrowney]

If everything is present and correct you should remove the plugs and crank and the light should go out, sounds like its either a duff pump or something else is wrong ???

i wouldnt be starting anything until the light has gone out !!! is it a genuine pump ???