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Sun Aug 17, 2008 5:47 pm

I just installed a CB performance Maxi Pump 3 into my bus and mounted an external oil filter. I finished bolting everything together filled her with oil (including filling up the oil filter before screwing it on) cranked it over for about 20 seconds the oil light wouldnt go out. cranked it for another 20 seconds still nothing and then another 15 still the light is on. I dont get it how could I not be getting oil pressure its not like I could have installed the pump wrong they only go on one way right?

Sun Aug 17, 2008 5:59 pm

its been a long time, but i think the pump can only go in 1 way, due to the way the inlet/outlet are drilled in the pump vs. the case. i think they are offset, and not straight across

Sun Aug 17, 2008 6:18 pm

Pump itself probably needs to be primed. I always pack them with white grease. Only the inlet side of the gear cavity needs it.

Evidently someone could unknowlingly put the pump on wrong. But if you installed the pump with the ports lined up with the ports in the case you are OK. And the pump cover with the ports to the L.H. side. Besides not having ample prime or installed wrong the only other issue could be the drive gear engagement with the cam.

You could try priming it by pouring oil in the outlet hose while you rotate the engine backwards.

Sun Aug 17, 2008 6:20 pm

Did you pack the pump with grease? Vaseline is best, the grease needs to get too hot and can be an obstruction until it melts, vaseline will melt in your hand. This is sometimes needed to develop pressure.

How is your remote filter plumbed? Did you bleed the air from the lines?

Is there an in and out on your pump? If so, have you hooked it up backwards, so the oil is getting caught in the check valve in the filter?

Has the gear fully engaged in the cam? IIRC there are two different sizes and you need to have the correct one, or it won't mesh properly...

Just some thoughts...

Sun Aug 17, 2008 6:32 pm

I did not know I needed to prime the pump a fools mistake I suppose. rather than take everything back apart I will start with trying to do it with the outlet hose and turning the motor backwards. I did not fill the lines with oil before installing them as I thought this would just make a mess and I fully expected oil to just start merrily pumping through them when I turned the engine over. There is an in and out on the pump and on the filter I have it running from out on the pump to in on the filter and from out on the filter to in on the pump. I think the gear would have to be fully engaged in the cam else the cover plate would not have went on. Ports on the cover go torwards the left (drivers) side. Hopefully the backwards prime thing does the trick otherwise i guess its off with everything and ready for round #2

Sun Aug 17, 2008 6:40 pm

orangesuper wrote: I did not know I needed to prime the pump a fools mistake I suppose. rather than take everything back apart I will start with trying to do it with the outlet hose and turning the motor backwards. I did not fill the lines with oil before installing them as I thought this would just make a mess and I fully expected oil to just start merrily pumping through them when I turned the engine over. There is an in and out on the pump and on the filter I have it running from out on the pump to in on the filter and from out on the filter to in on the pump. I think the gear would have to be fully engaged in the cam else the cover plate would not have went on. Ports on the cover go torwards the left (drivers) side. Hopefully the backwards prime thing does the trick otherwise i guess its off with everything and ready for round #2

You can take the cover off and smear some vaseline in there. It will seal the gears to the cover and aid your problem.

I don't see harm in loosening the filter and waiting for oil to start spurting out, then putting the filter on. That way you can at least verify it's pumping and flowing into the filter...

Sun Aug 17, 2008 6:49 pm

I was actually thinking of pulling out the idiot sensor and having someone crank to see if oil shot out there. But it seems first I need to prime...

Mon Aug 18, 2008 6:40 pm

backwards priming the pump worked thanks desertbusman. By the time I finished up it was 9 oclock and pitch black out I can see no leaks letting it idle in the driveway and I revved it up a bit to 3000rpm still no leaks. hopefully all goes well on the way to work in the morning.

Mon Aug 18, 2008 7:17 pm

Great :D

Tue Aug 19, 2008 9:22 am

Driving to work today I had one small drip at the bottom of the oil filter but the whole filter seems to be buldged out. I would think it would need to be under huge pressure to bulge the filter. The bottom seems to be more bowed then it started out and I think it used to have a flat its now totally convex also the little dimples are popped out a little. I am afraid of the whole thing blowing up. I am running 10w40 synthetic with a quart of lucas. My only thought is that my oil pressure relief valve is sticking? the motor is a 1600dp. any thoughts?

Tue Aug 19, 2008 9:30 am

uh....yeah!

Seems likely. Doesn't take much to pull the relief valve out... except in your case soon as you pass the last thread it's likely to come shooting out like a bullet... :lol:

If you drive it much more, this may not be a problem, however... You will have an oil spill to contend with.... got kitty litter? :lol:

Tue Aug 19, 2008 9:42 am

what kind of filter are you using? i think you can only use an hp1. because of the high start up oil pressure.

Tue Aug 19, 2008 10:06 am

The Fram HP1 filter is what should fit your filter housing, but some have remarked that they cannot withstand high pressure and are prone to bulging out and even bursting. Since it sounds like you need to replace your oil filter anyway, start looking for a high quality filter. You'll get all kinds of suggestions here for a suitable replacement. I personally use a Napa Gold 1515.
Definatley check both of your oil pressure relief valves. Do you have pics of the whole set-up???

Tue Aug 19, 2008 11:33 am

I have a napa gold on there now I think its a 1085 if I remember right. I can get pictures of the setup later today when I get home from work.

Tue Aug 19, 2008 6:25 pm

I picked up a K&N filter today HP-2004. They are rated to 550 psi I think the case will blow apart before the filter does. I didnt have a chance to get pictures before it got dark out. I pulled both oil relief valves and they were both free and just dropped out. Muir talks about getting the 1500s style valve which has the big groove because it makes the engine run cooler. My valves are both solid cylinders does the grooved valve really make much difference in engine operating temp?

Tue Aug 19, 2008 9:44 pm

Evidently you don't have a pressure gauge. Of all gauges, it is by far the most important to have, my opinion.

Also I put a Tee and hex bushing with 1/8" port on one of the filter mount ports. You can also drill and tap the mount. And then got a $15 direct reading test gauge with flex hose from Harbor Freight. I used it for the first start up on my engine. But if questions about pressure ever come up I can easily plug it in again.

Even with a PH-8 Fram filter the relief should never let the pressure get so high that it will fail.
Polly bought a new engine and on start-up it blew the filter. We then put in a VDO gauge, started it up just at idle and it blew the filter again. But the gauge immedialty pegged out. It was a new Mexican case and both the relief and control valve looked good and were smoothe in the bores. They were both the flat top pistons and I put in a different identical set of pistons and springs. Immediatly it pegged the gauge again, maybe even with just the starter. So put in the old style piston with the chamfered top and everything was great after that. My engines both have the standard flat top pistons and no pressure problems. It's interesting that pictures in Bentley show different pistons. One with the large groove. There should be no need for a high pressure filter. The problem is that the relief or the control valve is not functioning properly.
At least hook up a direct reading test gauge. They respond much quicker than the dash gauge and you can see if there is erratic relief functioning or pressure spikes.
An engine builder said that over pressure can damage bearings. I'm not sure about that. But over pressure can burst or damage the cooler. That would be much worse than blowing a filter. Actually, if the system was overpressuring it would be real great if the filter failed first.

Thu Aug 21, 2008 6:08 pm

I want to get a pressure gauge in my dash next to my temp gauge but I need to find a decent electrical one that somewhat matches my temp gauge. The electric gauges are far more expensive than the mechanical gauges but I dont want to run an oil line from the engine compartment. I think in the meantime what ill do is get a t fitting for the idiot sensor and leave one of the autozone $15 mechanical gauges permanently set up in the engine compartment I saw a baja like that at a show I was at this summer seemed like a good idea..