how to test if head/valves is getting oiled.

[Guest]

Hi

I`v just finished rebuilding my engine. I need to know if there is a way to see without removing the valve cover if the head is getting oiled.
It oil pressure light goes off when idling.
I cant see through the RPM gear.
Should oil be spitting out that hole if I remove the gear.?

Thank you.

[eil]

That might work, but I'm not sure. On the 16-valve engine, the tach drive gear is up high, unlike the 8-valve one which is practically sitting in a pool of oil.

Another way might be to remove the oil plugs on the sides of the head and turn the engine by hand. (By hand, I say.) They look like bolts. I believe they're for oil cooler lines. I imagine oil will drip pretty good from the holes with those plugs removed.

[isleoman]

Removing the oil plugs is what my engine builder recommended for first start up to make sure oil was present.

[c&c]

Thank you for your input. I finally asked a friends help to hold the cover closed, started the engine, let it run, turn it off, remove the cover as fast a possible and look. There was oil.all over.
I wish there was a plastic cover you could use to visually see the oil flow to make sure the cams are getting lubed up nice and slippery!
Maybe get a oil pressure gauge and put it at the head where the top oiler goes to see if proper oil pressure is present.

[Steve]

Maybe get a oil pressure gauge and put it at the head where the top oiler goes to see if proper oil pressure is present.

That would be nice, except that the fact that you have pressure does not mean that oil is flowing.

It only means that it is being supplied faster than it is being used.

.

[c&c]

I agree it does not confirm that the cams are getting oiled. I guess tt's just an other tool to determine if proper pressure is getting to the head.

[londonboards]

I've seen several mods that will help (although you will still not know for sure).

One was a little restrictor plug that diverts more oil up top. See: Restrictor Plug

The other one is using the GS750 oil pump gears. Presumably this just gives a greater oil flow all round.

Then of course there are those top end oiler kits.

What you don't want is to end up like this:



Greetings

[sharpy]

No wonder its worn theres a hair on ure cam. Im sure that caused clearance issues and was tight and started to eat it self alive. Give it to ray, he will fix it

[stetracer]

Plain and simple.
With the valve cover off. Remove the clutch basket and spin the oil pump gear by hand or by finger until you see the oil flowing in the head it is a good way to prime the oil pump on a complete rebuild also

[reliant_turbo]

i was gonna say, if your tach gear leaks like a sieve (16v) like mine, its probably getting oiled up there.

Brian

[reliant_turbo]

on a similar note, on a motor that is normally running just fine for years, what are the chances/causes of the head not receiving enough oil?

Brian

[Fjbj40]

On a fresh engine I remove the chrome bolt on the r/h side of the case. Use a new bottle of Rotella with a nozzle on it an back prime those galleries. The oil pump gets filled along with the head galleries.

Cheers,
Daryl