Oil priming question??

[myasylum]

When should you prime the engine? Right before you start it?

Can you prime it a few days before you start it?

I was thinking if I could prime it early then I could get the distributor in, and bolt down the valve covers a few days early and everything ready before I start it.

When the distributor goes in, the number one piston has to be at top dead center?

Just to throw it out there off topic... Do you use gasket sealer on the valve covers? Or just the gasket?

Thanks!

 

[the67fish]

I would pre prime it just before starting, the oil drains back down to the pan unless your using an oil filter with the anti drain back valve in it, one of the best inventions ever in my book. The #1 piston needs to be at TDC on the compression stroke. The valve covers I use dont have the little notches in them for the tabs on the gaskets to hold them in place so I glue the gaskets to the valve covers, just a thin coat of silicone to hold them in place.

 

[mopar340dave]

and be gentle when you install those valve covers! They don't need a lot of torque and you want to tighten them down gradually in a crossing pattern.

 

[dusterbd451]

also, youmight want the distributor bolt to be a bit loose so you can rotate it easily if need be during start-up