Pre-start oil fill

[oldbike99]

If I understand this correctly, on a rebuilt engine, I should put two quarts of oil down the distributator hole to fill the lifter area and the dipper tray. Is there any reason not to put all five (or 4 1/2) quarts down there?
Thank you in advance.

[Tom Endy]

If you pour oil down the distributor shaft hole it will run into the valve chamber and on into the dipper trays. If you don't, the trays will be dry and the rods and the mains will be starved for oil until it begins circulating.

Tom Endy

[Patrick L.]

One Qt down the little hole should be enough, but, all 5 would fit as well.

[Mitch//pa]

another tip:::
before starting loosen the lower oil return pipe bolt to make sure you have oil pressure .
it should start coming out within the first minute of running...don run it longer than 2 minutes if nothing shows

[Jwilli]

Good advise, I have to do this soon.

[w.michael]

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Originally Posted by Tom Endy

If you pour oil down the distributor shaft hole it will run into the valve chamber and on into the dipper trays. If you don't, the trays will be dry and the rods and the mains will be starved for oil until it begins circulating.

Tom Endy

I agree that if you don't pour oil in the distributor hole, the valve chamber and main bearings will be dry on start -up. But if you put oil down the oil fill tube, doesn't it fill the dipper trays? Maybe it misses the FRONT dipper tray if you only pour it down the oil fill. But to get oil in the front dipper tray from the valve chamber, wouldn't you have to pour enough in the distributor whole to spill oil over the front dam? I'm not sure you can pour enough oil, fast enough, through the distributor hole to get it to spill over the front dam and fill the front dipper tray.

Where's that clear plexiglass valve cover when we need one?

W. Michael

[1crosscut]

Pouring some oil in through the distributor hole is a prudent thing to do.
The person that did the re-build of the engine should have used some lubrication on assembly that will help lubricate things until the oil flows.

[Dodge]

The only reason not to put down all 5 quarts of oil is the amount of time it takes to
go down that hole it is restricted by the size of the head gasket hole.

[James Rogers]

Put as many of the 5 quarts down the distributor hole as you want. Just let the motor sit for a while to allow the oil to seep into the bearings and pan as it would after running.