Air bubbles in my oil! No oil pressure.

[Vtec?lol]

FML
I just changed every single gasket in this M42. Everything was torn down on an engine stand and rebuild with fresh seals everywhere. No leaks but now it looks as if I may have to chalk it up to the fact that I'm getting zero pressure in my oil.

Symptoms:
*Large air bubbles in the oil filter housing.
*No pressure
*Removed the oil filter housing to check the relief valve and it's closed and free..
*Cranked the engine over to see if oil comes out or moves around, nothinG
*Added more oil to level the oil pickup to see if it was leaking at the gasket. nothing.

What gives? I'm guessing it may be the upper pan gasket but really? I've spent 3weeks taking everything slow and making sure everything is together for reliability sake as this will be daily driven to class.

Anyone ever experience this?

[M-technik-3]

Did you check the pump?

[Vtec?lol]

It's pumping air so I assumed it's working

[Vtec?lol]

Hmmmmm. Me wonder long time!

[vpilarrt]

Isn't there a front and a back to the oil pump? Could you have put it back together backwards (assuming you took it out when replacing the seals)? Pumping air is a lot easier than pumping oil so I'm not sure that's a good indicator.

[nomansland92]

Check the pickup tube in the pan maybe it's cracked

[Vtec?lol]

The pickup isn't cracked. The oil pump can only go in one way.. I hate to have to pull the engine just for this oil pan... ugh!

[nando]

If it was totally dry it needs to be primed with some heavy oil. you're supposed to put it together with some grease, otherwise it just sucks air.

[bmwm42]

If it was totally dry it needs to be primed with some heavy oil. you're supposed to put it together with some grease, otherwise it just sucks air.

My thoughts exactly prime the bitch

[Vtec?lol]

primed? how do I "prime the bitch"?
How does it suck air if there's only oil to be sucked in?

Thanks for the help.

[MikeDE]

Remove timing CASE, then the oil pump cover, and pack/prime it with Vaseline.

[Vtec?lol]

Remove timing CASE, then the oil pump cover, and pack/prime it with Vaseline.

cool. would it be the same if i remove the plugs and force the Vaseline up the pickup tube while cranking?

[Ryann]

An easier way to prime the pump is to remove the oil pressure switch and force pressurized oil into the port.

[Vtec?lol]

Good idea. now to rig something to shoot oil.

Thanks all for your help!

[rjcaptsean]

The area the oil pickup tube bolts to the upper pan/ block is above the oil level in the pan. Is it possible you left out a gasket there or didn't get that tube fully seated and torqued down correctly? This sounds exactly like the "loose upper pan bolts causing the oil pump to suck air" dilemma these motors experience.