No oil to rockers
03-31-2022, 06:24 PM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
No oil to rockers
Hello all, I've got a major issue and need some guidance. Short story is that I had a new longblock built for my 1984 Z28, it was sent to a shop for installation and after doing so they went to start it and it immediately started making a loud squeaking noise from the top end so they shut it down. Upon inspection and pulling the valve covers they found little to no assembly lube on the rockers and oil was not coming through the pushrods. Before installing they did prime the engine and it showed 40 psi of oil pressure, just none of it made its way up top to either side. I've done some searching and found 2 possibilities, let me know if they make any sense. First is that a front oil galley plug might have been left out so no oil was directed through the pushrods. Second one is that it didn't run long enough (due to the noise from the lack of assembly lube) to build the pressure up enough to get to the top end.
I really don't know much about this so I hope someone can shed some light on it.
Thanks!
I really don't know much about this so I hope someone can shed some light on it.
Thanks!
03-31-2022, 07:01 PM
#2
Supreme Member
Re: No oil to rockers
Run the oil pump with a drill until it produces oil at the rockers. If it never does after a few minutes, yep something wrong there.
03-31-2022, 07:40 PM
#3
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Meriden, CT 06450
Posts: 4,034
Received 517 Likes
on
431 Posts
Car: 84 TA orig. 305 LG4 "H" E4ME
Engine: 334 SBC - stroked 305 M4ME Q-Jet
Transmission: upgraded 700R4 3200 stall
Axle/Gears: 10bolt 4.10 Posi w Lakewood TA Bars
Re: No oil to rockers
You do not fire that engine unless ALL 16 rockers show oil as described by Komet.
03-31-2022, 08:00 PM
#4
COTM Editor
iTrader: (22)
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 9,932
Likes: 0
Received 1,861 Likes
on
1,275 Posts
Car: '89 Firebird
Engine: 7.0L
Transmission: T56
Re: No oil to rockers
Can a hand drill really make 40 psi when oil flowing? I'm just curious if that number passes the laugh test.
04-01-2022, 01:26 AM
#5
Supreme Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: 212 is up in this Bit@#
Posts: 2,763
Received 739 Likes
on
565 Posts
Car: Resto-Mod 1987 IROC-Z Clone
Engine: Alky fed L92 Vortec Twin-Turbo 6.8L
Transmission: My own built/ design 4L80M
Axle/Gears: Custom 12 bolt (4.10:1)
Re: No oil to rockers
If absolutely NO Engine Oil has ever passed through any of the Push-Rods...
I would STOP, and take the time to check the Build.
Remove the Distributor and Intake Manifold to see if any Oil is entering the Passenger Side Oil Passage for those Lifters.
Reply once you have had a Look.
Otherwise if some of the Push-Rods have had Oil pass through them...
Read my Post below:
I would STOP, and take the time to check the Build.
Remove the Distributor and Intake Manifold to see if any Oil is entering the Passenger Side Oil Passage for those Lifters.
Reply once you have had a Look.
Otherwise if some of the Push-Rods have had Oil pass through them...
Read my Post below:
Oil flow up through the Push-Rods (on a new build/ first few start-ups) can take a while for the Oil Pump to move the Oil everywhere...
A good amount of appropriate Assembly Lubricant, is going to be your best fiend here.
Even with Roller Valve-Train...
Bringing the Engine speed right up to 2,500 RPM, sprays/ splashes Oil all around the Bottom-End.
It also helps get Oil up through the Push-Rods.
The Assembly Lube is there to protect the Engine Components until the Oil has made it over the Rocker-Arms.
A good amount of appropriate Assembly Lubricant, is going to be your best fiend here.
Even with Roller Valve-Train...
Bringing the Engine speed right up to 2,500 RPM, sprays/ splashes Oil all around the Bottom-End.
It also helps get Oil up through the Push-Rods.
The Assembly Lube is there to protect the Engine Components until the Oil has made it over the Rocker-Arms.
04-05-2022, 01:31 AM
#6
Re: No oil to rockers
I always prime until all 16 have oil, sometimes it takes awhile and you need to stop n rotate the crank/engine a bit with a ratchet.
One time I had a running 350 stop getting oil to the rockers, lost a few lobes is how I found out. Since it was a low dollar who-cares type build, I blew down into the block at the rear wall npt port. Installed a new cam & lifters, primed till all 16 had oil and broke it in, never had an issue. My bet is it was some silicone or something, found a few gobs of it in the pump pick-up later when I fully tore it down.
One time I had a running 350 stop getting oil to the rockers, lost a few lobes is how I found out. Since it was a low dollar who-cares type build, I blew down into the block at the rear wall npt port. Installed a new cam & lifters, primed till all 16 had oil and broke it in, never had an issue. My bet is it was some silicone or something, found a few gobs of it in the pump pick-up later when I fully tore it down.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
PLANT PROTECTION
Tech / General Engine
5
04-19-2002 09:06 PM