Vasoline for oil pump replacement

Posted By: 53fopar

Vasoline for oil pump replacement - 02/22/15 01:30 AM

Getting ready to do my 904 to 518 tranny swap. Since the tranny will be out, thought I'd do the rear main seal and oil pump. Thinking of doing a high volume pump to bring the oil pressure up a little. Might as well do a chrome oil pan too. Hell, it's only money....

Anyone used the "pack the pump with vasoline" trick? Does it avoid having to pull the dizzy and prime?

Posted By: 5spdcuda

Re: Vasoline for oil pump replacement - 02/22/15 04:27 AM

Probably not necessary, but I always do it on small blocks since I don't want to have to pull a freshly sealed oil pan even if it's still on the engine stand much less in the car. Most of time simply spinning the pump with a hex shaft will suck oil without any vasoline or other help, but I don't want to chance it. Big blocks with their external pumps I am not that concerned about. On big blocks I just make sure they have some oil in them. I've never seen where the vasoline does any harm.As far as avoiding the need to pull the distributor and drive gear is concerned, so long as the engine already has oil in all the galleries,bearings, etc. then no you don't have to do it. If it's a fresh unfired engine then yes do it.

Posted By: NITROUSN

Re: Vasoline for oil pump replacement - 02/22/15 06:57 AM

First of all high volume may do zilch for your pressure. If your intentions are to increase the pressure you should be looking as to why your pressure has dropped. Vasoline was a old time pump packing when a rebuilt engine may sit for a while.

Posted By: dogdays

Re: Vasoline for oil pump replacement - 02/22/15 06:51 PM

Oil pumps are constant volume pumps, meaning for a given rpm they pump a given volume of oil. They really don't make pressure, just flow.

So, it is the flow restriction downstream that determines what the pressure is at the outlet of the pump. If the flow restriction decreases, the pump pressure will decrease. That's what happens when clearances open up.

The only way to get increased pressure through a fixed restriction is to pump more volume. That's what the high volume pump does. It's Pumping 101. So if your oil pressure is decreasing because the clearances are opening up, a high volume pump should crutch the situation and allow you to get more miles out of that set of bearings.

R.

Posted By: Pacnorthcuda

Re: Vasoline for oil pump replacement - 02/22/15 06:59 PM

Quote:

Oil pumps are constant volume pumps, meaning for a given rpm they pump a given volume of oil. They really don't make pressure, just flow.

So, it is the flow restriction downstream that determines what the pressure is at the outlet of the pump. If the flow restriction decreases, the pump pressure will decrease. That's what happens when clearances open up.

The only way to get increased pressure through a fixed restriction is to pump more volume. That's what the high volume pump does. It's Pumping 101. So if your oil pressure is decreasing because the clearances are opening up, a high volume pump should crutch the situation and allow you to get more miles out of that set of bearings.

R.

: correct

Posted By: 53fopar

Re: Vasoline for oil pump replacement - 02/22/15 07:54 PM

Yeah, I am guessing the cam bearings are the problem. Pressure isn't awful, about 5psi at idle when hot. In he summer I switch to 20W50 to keep pressure up. With all my money going in the transmission swap, I don't have the money to do the motor this year. Not burning any oil yet. I think it will hold up another year, maybe more, before needing a re-build. Not really looking for a racing pump, just improvement over OEM.

I was checking into rear seals and get a lot of conflicting information. Rope or rubber? Silicone or not? Off-set the two halves or line up with the bearing cap? And I thought it would be simple.....

Also, what's the experience with the chrome oil pans? Leaky junk? Any better brands?

Posted By: Pacnorthcuda

Re: Vasoline for oil pump replacement - 02/22/15 08:10 PM

Quote:

Yeah, I am guessing the cam bearings are the problem. Pressure isn't awful, about 5psi at idle when hot. In he summer I switch to 20W50 to keep pressure up. With all my money going in the transmission swap, I don't have the money to do the motor this year. Not burning any oil yet. I think it will hold up another year, maybe more, before needing a re-build. Not really looking for a racing pump, just improvement over OEM.

I was checking into rear seals and get a lot of conflicting information. Rope or rubber? Silicone or not? Off-set the two halves or line up with the bearing cap? And I thought it would be simple.....
(Quote)

(Quote)
Cam bearings are very lightly loaded. Odds are that its the rod and/or mains. The HV pump IS the band-aid for that issue.

As far as the rear main, get the Orange Viton seal maid by Superformance. Yes offset the split in the housing. Don't worry about a knurled crank or not--I put one on a knurled crank and it does not leak a single drop!

I hate cars that leak!

Posted By: John_Kunkel

Re: Vasoline for oil pump replacement - 02/22/15 10:31 PM

Packing the rotors and drive shaft with Vaseline seals the rotors and improves suction for initial startup.

Posted By: savoy64

Re: Vasoline for oil pump replacement - 02/24/15 03:37 AM

some use the engine assembly grease as pump packing----dont let your wife find your black fingerprints on the vaseline.....

Posted By: dogdays

Re: Vasoline for oil pump replacement - 02/25/15 08:49 AM

Yeah, and K-Y jelly will drip out!

R.

Posted By: scratchnfotraction

Re: Vasoline for oil pump replacement - 02/25/15 03:56 PM

make sure the type of assembly greese you use is formulated not to clog the filter.

I use the Vaseline in a used pump if I have it off and a new pump if it is a fresh build with cam break in.

assenbly greese/break in lube on everything else.

Posted By: JoesMopar

Re: Vasoline for oil pump replacement - 02/26/15 05:02 AM

Don't you need a hardened intermediate shaft when you use the HV pump? I thought they also had a radius on the shaft as well?

Posted By: Pacnorthcuda

Re: Vasoline for oil pump replacement - 02/26/15 05:14 AM

Quote:

Don't you need a hardened intermediate shaft when you use the HV pump? I thought they also had a radius on the shaft as well?

Do you NEED it? Well no, but it's a pretty damn good idea. Radius on the shaft is what identifies a hardened shaft from standard.

Posted By: goldmember

Re: Vasoline for oil pump replacement - 02/26/15 07:50 AM

Vasoline is for something other than engine builds. Yep,it's been printed for years but c'mon guys. Prime your engine and drop the distributor and go. Vasoline??? Really?? I could only guess that was printed for folks that would spend hours getting a build to fire? I dunno but I'm certain Gibbs,Roush,R&M,etc would not consider such crap ever enter a good engine.

Posted By: John_Kunkel

Re: Vasoline for oil pump replacement - 02/26/15 07:53 PM

Would you start a new engine with no assembly lube? Then don't turn a new pump without lubing it internally.

Sure, oil will work but Vaseline clings better and will dissolve in the oil.