RB Oil Issues

[Schassis4life]

Ok everyone. This is my first post on Zilvia however this site has been my life blood for years so thank you all.

After days of research i have not been able to find a cause for my problem and need some help. ( I seriously looked don't bite my head off)

I am having a oi flow issue in my Rb20det. When i say im having flow issues im mean none at all. Not to the head, oil filter or turbo feed. So before i tear my new engine out let me give you some background to my scenario and get some opinions since i have never seen or heard of anything like this.

I have a freshly built RB20 with the block cleaned up and hot tanked. All oil galleries were checked before assembly of the engine. (Steel wire method) I primed the pump with grease and reverse primed the block with a garden sprayer until the turbo feed was flowing oil. I also verified the old oil pump was in perfect condition before installation. The pickup and screen are installed and new. The oil pan is dent free and has no restrictions. I have replaced the oil filter with a 300zx K&N and made sure the bypass check ball is in proper condition. I do not have a oil press guage but i can look at the engine and tell that oil is not flowing through the block. The engine has ran for about 10 seconds before i shut it down in fear of damage. (used lots of assembly lube). After disconnecting the injectors and cranking the engine i still have not seen any oil flow.

So my question is what have i overlooked? Has anyone everheard of this before?

Thank you

[hanzbrady]

Well as much as we trust your ability to see the oil through the engine block we're all going to tell you to get an oil pressure gauge.

[ANDY black s13]

oil pump pick up pipe/strainer 'O' ring is missing,
or pipe is cracked high up so drawing in air above oil level edit:see pipe is new,
or the crankshaft nose pump drive flats are so worn it is not driving the oil pump
you seem to have covered everything else during build,
is it still using OE oil cooler?
need an oil pressure gauge for further testing
all I can think of atm causing it

[Schassis4life]

The pressure guage would only work if there was oil flow i figuerd. I have no problems buying one but there is no use at this point unless im wrong. I tested flow buy pulling the oil filter and cranking the engine. Since the pressure port is past the filter i assumed my bases were coverd. And as far as the pickup tube gasket i did try to use some sealer even with a new gasket after i noticed the problem. (sorry for not mentioning that earlier). I did a examination for cracks after i read this and it seems to be i working order.

[Schassis4life]

I also just pulled the oil pump apart again and it seems to be in great condition with only very slight contact pionts on the surfaces. (Well within reason for a used pump)

[Schassis4life]

No oil cooler on this particular engine. And the crank oil seats seem perfect Thank you guys for the ideas.

[cotbu]

You are already running the engine without oil, so either tear it back down install a new pump or try blipping the throttle, if still no pressure or flow shut it down. Get a gauge on it, so you only have to do it once.

I would have torn it down by now!

[Schassis4life]

I have already swapped the oil pump with another one and the problem still continues. There would be no point in tearing the block apart that i can think of. I will get a guage today and install it however the guage will just say that there is no pressure.

[cotbu]

That's why you blip the throttle.

If you don't get oil pressure with blipping the throttle and you already swapped pumps. where do you go next? Tare it down and get some brake cleaner and investigate is what I would do. Maybe you built an engine that doesn't require oil at all? Maybe just maybe.

[Schassis4life]

Yes it is one of the chinese replica motors. No oil requierd!!! Im absolutly lost at this point. Is it possible that it didnt run long enough tonbuild pressure?

[Schassis4life]

So say i tear the engine down. What could i even check that i cant check now?

[cotbu]

Yes it is one of the chinese replica motors. No oil requierd!!! Im absolutly lost at this point. Is it possible that it didnt run long enough tonbuild pressure?
That's why I said blip the throttle, at idle it may not be able to build pressure yet.

[hanzbrady]

Just so we all know, you're not supposed to let a rebuilt engine idle for the first start because it doesn't build enough pressure. This is why every camshaft is sold with break in procedure that tells you to hold the engine at 2000rpm, or something along those lines.

[cotbu]

So say i tear the engine down. What could i even check that i cant check now?
Mistakes! Which I doubt, but try revving the engine.
If you don't have a gauge check the filter before and after.

[Schassis4life]

Ok i will try these tips. I just bought a guage and will install before cranking the engine.I will let you guys know tomorrow. Thanks again.

[Schassis4life]

Well, the engine is flowing and building pressure. Thank you everyone that gave me ideas. I wish i could tell you what the problem was but im honestly not sure. It works now and that is all i need to know.

[KAT-PWR]

Well, the engine is flowing and building pressure. Thank you everyone that gave me ideas. I wish i could tell you what the problem was but im honestly not sure. It works now and that is all i need to know.

Well as much as we trust your ability to see the oil through the engine block we're all going to tell you to get an oil pressure gauge.

I believe this is what has occured

[Schassis4life]

Still didnt use the pressure guage. And there definatly wasnt flow before i can promise that. Could have been the third oil pump for all i know.