Could use some advice - New 2.8 V6 - Initial Start - Low/No Oil Pressure?

[rusty ol ranger]

I really doubt you have actual oiling issues

 

[Bronco648]

is it possible the oil isn't draining back to the pan?

Anything is possible but the dipstick is reading full.

 

[Bronco648]

I really doubt you have actual oiling issues

I don't think so either but this is a brand new motor and I'm a little paranoid.

 

[Blmpkn]

I used an old distributor and a 1/4 socket made a tool to turn oil pump in my new 2.9 I had issues "building" pressure as well. Verify oil type/viscosity. And I highly recommend making a tool to avoid spinning engine with little/inadequate pressure. I had a manual gauge in the port and LH valve cover off to watch rockers. I primed with a drill on the tool and it took probably 20-25 sec of turning to achieve pressure and oil pumped for a while at the rockers. All passages have to be filled to get a good pressure reading. I was running 15W-40 FYI.. good luck.

The old distributor truck is commonplace with SBCs as well. Stick the tool in a screw gun and build yourself some pressure before you even turn the motor over.

 

[Bronco648]

The old distributor truck is commonplace with SBCs as well. Stick the tool in a screw gun and build yourself some pressure before you even turn the motor over.

Yeah, I did that (by using the starter, as suggested by the engine rebuilder) and verified that there was oil up in the heads (by removing a valve cover) before even attempting to start the engine. The issue with that method is that it doesn't spin the oil pump fast enough to register oil pressure thru the electrical sending unit.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I bought a Matco mechanics oil pressure gauge probably 40 years ago. I've never built an engine that I didn't start it using that gauge... and I built a bunch of engines. It was money well spent IMO.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

A grease gun hose and a tractor gauge works for me.