This document is intended to be a guide for customers who have loaned or hired an engine oil primer bottle from Lotus Marques.
It is important to follow these instructions when priming a freshly rebuilt Lotus engine with oil before attempting to start it.
This involves delivering oil at 60psi into the oil galleries, bearings, oil pump, oil filter and oil cooler.
These items contain a significant volume of oil and therefore require priming to ensure an immediate flow of oil to all the bearings.
To ensure oil pressure is established rapidly, it is recommended that the oil pump and the internal components be assembled with a pre-mixed combination of molybdenum paste and fresh oil.
This sticky mixture ensures it remains in the pump during storage and the moment the pump rotates it immediately draws oil from the sump.
The most effective way to lubricate all the critical components is with a purpose built engine oil primer bottle.
It consists of a pressure vessel that is sufficient to hold enough oil to carry out a complete oil change.
In the case of a Lotus twin cam its 4.5 litres and a Lotus Esprit requires 6 litres of oil.
Primer Bottle Operation
Fill the bottle the appropriate amount of oil you wish to deliver in to the engine.
Screw on the filler cap so the bottle is air-tight.
Connect the transparent flexible oil delivery hose from the delivery gauge to the engine main oil gallery.
The delivery hose is intentionally transparent so it will alert the operator of pending low oil level.
This alert is flagged if air bubbles are observed whilst oil is being delivered into the engine.
Turn the delivery valve/tap to the off position so the oil cannot flow.
Connect the airline hose to the pressure regulator.
Set the primary pressure regulator so the corresponding gauge reads 60psi.
Open the valve/tap and note that the delivery gauge should read 60psi.
The bottle then discharges the oil at approximately one litre every two minutes.
NOTE- The actual discharge rate will depend on the ambient temperature, grade of oil and the type of engine you are priming.
Special instructions for the Ford/Lotus twin cam engine
Whilst the oil is discharging into a Lotus twin cam engine it is advisable to turn the crankshaft so the jack-shaft rotates and allows oil to flow up to the camshafts.
The jack-shaft has cut-outs machined into the front bearing journal that interrupt oil flow and subsequently controls the amount of oil delivered to the camshafts.
During normal operation the jack-shaft journal rotates at half engine speed, periodically opening and closing the oil gallery ports and interrupting oil flow.
As the oil discharges from the primer bottle, it is recommended that the oil level be checked on the engine dip-stick.
When sufficient oil has been pumped in and approximately 500ml remains on the primer bottle, turn the tap to the off position. Handy tip - bottom low level mark on the dip stick allows approximately 500ml top-up to full level mark.
At this point, re-set the primary pressure regulator so the corresponding gauge reads 40psi.
Reducing the primary delivery pressure in this way allows the gauge to display an increase in pressure as soon as the engine oil pump takes over.
It is important to get an immediate increase in oil pressure as this indicates all is well with the engine.
Next, make sure there is fresh petrol in the fuel tank and the carburettors are primed.
Check the ignition timing has been set correctly and there is a spark at the plugs.
Turn the delivery valve/tap to the on position so the oil can flow and note the delivery gauge should now read 40psi.
Now start the engine and when it fires, note the delivery gauge should jump to 60psi for Lotus twin cam and 70psi for the Lotus Esprit engine or any other 900 series engine.
Once the oil pump on the engine is operating at the correct pressure, the oil primer bottle should shut off.
Diagnostics
If the delivery gauge does not show an immediate increase in pressure when the engined is cranked, then this should be investigated. From experience, lack of initial oil pressure can be -
1) Worn or damaged internal oil pump components
2) Air-lock caused by incorrectly primed oil pump
3) Oil gallery plug missing
4) Cracked or poorly sealed oil pick up pipe located in sump
5) Leaking oil-cooler
Summary
It is important that this two stage process be followed carefully as it ensures there are no problems with the oil pump or pick-up.
Pumping in oil at ambient temperature requires a significant amount of pressure to ensure oil is delivered up into the hidden oil galleries contained within both camshafts. NOTE - Both camshafts are hollow.
Inexperienced operators using or recommending using plastic garden spray bottles completely miss the point of using a purpose built oil primer.
Plastic spray bottles are not designed to safely handle engine oil pressures and it is unlikely that sufficient oil will be delivered to both camshafts.
Failing to have a gauge fitted and not delivering a constant supply of oil at 40psi when the engine first rotates is not the best way for any engine to commence life.
Lotus Marques always primes freshly built engines prior to installation or dyno testing.
Customers who have their Lotus engine rebuilt by Lotus Marques are welcome to loan the engine oil primer bottle to ensure a safe initial start.
About the author
Steve Taylor: is the business owner of Lotus Marques who has a multi-discipline background. This includes 12 years engineering experience gained whilst working on weapon systems design and development for UK Department of Defence. He has also worked for 7 years in a cutting-edge American super-computer company Gould CSD as the UK southern region support manager. During this time he developed a passion for Lotus Cars and motor racing at Brands Hatch Racing School. Emigrating from the UK to Australia in 1987, where in 1992 Lotus Marques commenced trading as a specialist parts supplier. The business offers log-book servicing and repairs as well as designing and manufacturing a range of high quality components to support Lotus owners world-wide.
Copyright © 2011 Lotus Marques
It is important to follow these instructions when priming a freshly rebuilt Lotus engine with oil before attempting to start it.
This involves delivering oil at 60psi into the oil galleries, bearings, oil pump, oil filter and oil cooler.
These items contain a significant volume of oil and therefore require priming to ensure an immediate flow of oil to all the bearings.
To ensure oil pressure is established rapidly, it is recommended that the oil pump and the internal components be assembled with a pre-mixed combination of molybdenum paste and fresh oil.
This sticky mixture ensures it remains in the pump during storage and the moment the pump rotates it immediately draws oil from the sump.
The most effective way to lubricate all the critical components is with a purpose built engine oil primer bottle.
It consists of a pressure vessel that is sufficient to hold enough oil to carry out a complete oil change.
In the case of a Lotus twin cam its 4.5 litres and a Lotus Esprit requires 6 litres of oil.
Primer Bottle Operation
Fill the bottle the appropriate amount of oil you wish to deliver in to the engine.
Screw on the filler cap so the bottle is air-tight.
Connect the transparent flexible oil delivery hose from the delivery gauge to the engine main oil gallery.
The delivery hose is intentionally transparent so it will alert the operator of pending low oil level.
This alert is flagged if air bubbles are observed whilst oil is being delivered into the engine.
Turn the delivery valve/tap to the off position so the oil cannot flow.
Connect the airline hose to the pressure regulator.
Set the primary pressure regulator so the corresponding gauge reads 60psi.
Open the valve/tap and note that the delivery gauge should read 60psi.
The bottle then discharges the oil at approximately one litre every two minutes.
NOTE- The actual discharge rate will depend on the ambient temperature, grade of oil and the type of engine you are priming.
Special instructions for the Ford/Lotus twin cam engine
Whilst the oil is discharging into a Lotus twin cam engine it is advisable to turn the crankshaft so the jack-shaft rotates and allows oil to flow up to the camshafts.
The jack-shaft has cut-outs machined into the front bearing journal that interrupt oil flow and subsequently controls the amount of oil delivered to the camshafts.
During normal operation the jack-shaft journal rotates at half engine speed, periodically opening and closing the oil gallery ports and interrupting oil flow.
As the oil discharges from the primer bottle, it is recommended that the oil level be checked on the engine dip-stick.
When sufficient oil has been pumped in and approximately 500ml remains on the primer bottle, turn the tap to the off position. Handy tip - bottom low level mark on the dip stick allows approximately 500ml top-up to full level mark.
At this point, re-set the primary pressure regulator so the corresponding gauge reads 40psi.
Reducing the primary delivery pressure in this way allows the gauge to display an increase in pressure as soon as the engine oil pump takes over.
It is important to get an immediate increase in oil pressure as this indicates all is well with the engine.
Next, make sure there is fresh petrol in the fuel tank and the carburettors are primed.
Check the ignition timing has been set correctly and there is a spark at the plugs.
Turn the delivery valve/tap to the on position so the oil can flow and note the delivery gauge should now read 40psi.
Now start the engine and when it fires, note the delivery gauge should jump to 60psi for Lotus twin cam and 70psi for the Lotus Esprit engine or any other 900 series engine.
Once the oil pump on the engine is operating at the correct pressure, the oil primer bottle should shut off.
Diagnostics
If the delivery gauge does not show an immediate increase in pressure when the engined is cranked, then this should be investigated. From experience, lack of initial oil pressure can be -
1) Worn or damaged internal oil pump components
2) Air-lock caused by incorrectly primed oil pump
3) Oil gallery plug missing
4) Cracked or poorly sealed oil pick up pipe located in sump
5) Leaking oil-cooler
Summary
It is important that this two stage process be followed carefully as it ensures there are no problems with the oil pump or pick-up.
Pumping in oil at ambient temperature requires a significant amount of pressure to ensure oil is delivered up into the hidden oil galleries contained within both camshafts. NOTE - Both camshafts are hollow.
Inexperienced operators using or recommending using plastic garden spray bottles completely miss the point of using a purpose built oil primer.
Plastic spray bottles are not designed to safely handle engine oil pressures and it is unlikely that sufficient oil will be delivered to both camshafts.
Failing to have a gauge fitted and not delivering a constant supply of oil at 40psi when the engine first rotates is not the best way for any engine to commence life.
Lotus Marques always primes freshly built engines prior to installation or dyno testing.
Customers who have their Lotus engine rebuilt by Lotus Marques are welcome to loan the engine oil primer bottle to ensure a safe initial start.
About the author
Steve Taylor: is the business owner of Lotus Marques who has a multi-discipline background. This includes 12 years engineering experience gained whilst working on weapon systems design and development for UK Department of Defence. He has also worked for 7 years in a cutting-edge American super-computer company Gould CSD as the UK southern region support manager. During this time he developed a passion for Lotus Cars and motor racing at Brands Hatch Racing School. Emigrating from the UK to Australia in 1987, where in 1992 Lotus Marques commenced trading as a specialist parts supplier. The business offers log-book servicing and repairs as well as designing and manufacturing a range of high quality components to support Lotus owners world-wide.
Copyright © 2011 Lotus Marques