Engine not getting oil?

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Aug 25, 2011 | 11:38 PM

TreySmith

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Engine not getting oil?

I burned up my last 6.0 from oil issues and I just installed another. I pulled the valve cover off and cranked it but didnt see anything. I fired it up with ether and still nothing. Maybe it just wasn't running long enough? I ran it once before and 3 times after for a couple seconds and it looked the same.

What's my issue? I am not about to lose a second engine to this.

It's an 80 Trans Am with a 6.0 LQ4, GM muscle car pan and that's it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzK3bL_RR4k

Aug 26, 2011 | 12:33 AM

Stockcar Axeman

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From: Black Diamond Wa

Did you prime the motor before you started it?

Aug 26, 2011 | 01:07 AM

TreySmith

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nope.. A little research says it takes a few minutes of running to get oil to the top but I am not willing to take that risk. I'm going to try and rig a gauge up tomorrow.

Aug 26, 2011 | 03:11 AM

Stockcar Axeman

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From: Black Diamond Wa

You HAVE to prime a new motor before you start it. Anything less is going to lead to failure. NEVER start a new motor without priming it until you see oil coming out of all the pushrod holes and filling all of your rocker arms at the pivot point. Use light weight oil and a strong drill and run it for a few minutes after you get oil to the rocker arms. A gauge is nice but not a requirment. You have to have oil coming out of the pushrods period. Don't start the motor and put pressure on the bearing surfaces until you have oil on top. It only takes a second to do damage to a new motor. Good luck.

Aug 26, 2011 | 12:12 PM

TreySmith

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Well it's a used engine, not new. Does that make a difference? And does it kinda squirt out the top? I fired it up this morning and it looked like small drops shooting up.

Aug 26, 2011 | 12:16 PM

Schoolteacher

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From: Houston Texas

Be sure to make sure you have the proper oil level. you mentioned that you used a different pan, did you use the proper pickup and dipstick that match the pan?