Hi Tobin,

My Dad said basically the same thing about the pump not being primed. I
wonder if there's a way to prime it?
</Greg>

Tobin Copley wrote:
> Not at all sure about the design of that pump (I have a diesel), but is
> it possible the pump has lost it's prime?
>
> Pull the pressure sender and crank the motor. If oil gushes out the
> hole, you have pressure; if not you don't, and may have a priming problem.
>
> Hope this helps,
>
> T.
>
>
>
> On 2010-03-06, at 4:42 PM, Greg Potts <greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA> wrote:
>
>> Hi Volks,
>>
>> I spent what I thought would be a productive day out in the driveway and
>> was able to solve the leaking oil pump cover.
>>
>> As it turned out, the pump cover gasket had come apart and there was a
>> section missing from one side of it, which was probably the cause of the
>> leak. But I also noticed a sizeable smear of galled metal embedded in
>> the pump cover that had come from one of the pump gears. Not a good sign.
>>
>> Now, as it happens I do have a pair of surplus 1.9L longblocks here
>> awaiting teardown and disposal. So I pulled the oil pump out of each of
>> them and compared it to the one from my van... One cover plate was only
>> slightly better, the other was near perfect. So I opted to install the
>> near perfect one, along with the pump itself.
>>
>> I fished a fresh cover plate gasket out of my spares pile and set to
>> getting it all back together. As usual, getting the exhaust back in
>> place was pretty frustrating, but eventually I was able to get it all
>> back together, top off the fluids and turn the key.
>>
>> It's ticking like it has a sad lifter. No worries, that will pump up and
>> go away soon enough. It's also steaming a lot as the spilled coolant
>> burns off the exhaust pipes. But then I notice the flashing oil light on
>> the dash, and I shut down the engine.
>>
>> Turn the key to ON, and the light flashes. Start the engine, and it
>> still flashes; it doesn't go away with more RPMs.
>>
>> I double-check the pressure sender wiring, and it's intact. Kind of a
>> longshot, as I never touched it today and it was fine yesterday. I
>> suspect something might be wrong with this oil pump; though I can't
>> imagine what. I didn't have oil pressure problems with the donor motor
>> before it was pulled, and the gears and plate looked to be in better
>> condition than what I had. But this is new territory for me, and there
>> might be more to this than I expected.
>>
>> I checked the archives and don't see anything directly relating to this.
>>
>> I have an VDO oil pressure gauge set-up attached to my baywindow van; I
>> am thinking that tomorrow I will remove the sender and intall it on the
>> vanagon and see what's really happening back there.
>>
>> If anyone here has any helpful advice I'd REALLY appreciate it.
>>
>>
>> Happy Trails,
>>
>> Greg Potts
>> Toronto, Ontario Canada
>> 1973/74/79 Westfakia "Bob the Tomato"
>> 1987 Wolfsburg Weekender Hardtop
>> www.busesofthecorn.com
>> www.pottsfamily.ca
>

--
Happy Trails,

Greg Potts
Toronto, Ontario Canada
1973/74/79 Westfakia "Bob the Tomato"
1987 Wolfsburg Weekender Hardtop
www.busesofthecorn.com
www.pottsfamily.ca