No Oil in the heads after replacement

[ltramon45]

I replaced the head gaskets in my heads. I also put in a new radiator, power steering pump, water pump, new timing belts/tensioners/rails, all new gaskets all the way around.

I fired it up and its making a knocking sound. I checked the dip stick and there is no oil on it. I also put in a new oil filter and oil. I then checked the oil cap and no oil on it. As the engine was running I looked down the tube for the oil cap and there is no oil hitting the cams. Is the problem in the pick up tube or oil pump? Hate to start tearing it up again.

 

[01yellerCobra]

Dumb question, did you put oil in it? The dip stick shouldn't be dry.

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[ltramon45]

Yes I put oil in it along with a new filter. Even added another quart.

I edited the original thread.

 

[GAINMOB]

Did u put the plug back on the pan? Happened to me before

Holy Rollerz Christian Car Club (HRC3)

 

[ltramon45]

Yes, plug is in. I am beginning to think its the oil pump

 

[bedrck46]

if you put oil in it and then you say the dip stick isn't showing any oil something is wrong Even if the oil pump wasn't working you should get a reading on the dip stick.

How many Qt's did you put in??

Also you may want to drain the oil again If is new oil just save it so you can use it to refill

 

[ltramon45]

My dip stick is from the junk yard. I think its shorter than the original. I think I have 6 qts in it, it could be 7. Nothing in the heads and it makes a ticking sound. my neighbor says that the sound is the lifter being dry.

 

[ltramon45]

The gauge is reading normal. If I completely tore things down to the heads to replace the head gaskets will it require more than the 6 or 7 qts. I just can't see tearing this thing down again.

 

[stamp11127]

You should hear more than a ticking sound if your not getting oil in the top end.

Remove oil sender, replace with mechanical oil pressure gauge, disconnect coils or cut off fuel. Crank engine and read gauge.
You don't want it running at this point, just turning enough to read the oil pressure.
I don't trust electronic gauges when something isn't working right - switch to mechanical.

 

[ltramon45]

How do I know if the oil pump is good or bad?

 

[tonydiv]

No oil pressure on mechanical gauge = bad.

Are you sure that you didn't block off any passages when you installed the new head gaskets?


Don't take this the wrong way, but have you ever done a project that is anything like this before? It kind of seems like you're winging it.

On a new motor (or newly rebuilt) it is common practice to prime the oil system before you try to start and run the motor. This would have shown you that you have a problem before you messed up the motor. (if you ran it with no oil pressure, you certainly did some damage.)

 

[ltramon45]

tonydiv I have never tackled anything like it before. I have not tried the mechanical gauge yet. i would have to go out and get one. I had removed the oil pan and sprayed cleaner in the underside of the engine before putting everything back together. i hit the screen with cleaner really good. I had the heads checked over and redone.

 

[stamp11127]

There are some unwritten rules when working on an engine. One of which is: Replace the oil pump and pickup - or at least check clearances when you drop the pan for any reason. It is just cheap insurance.

In your case I would check to see if the head gaskets are specific to which bank they are placed on.

No oil in the top end it should sound like a rattle can from hell.

Get a good book on rebuilding engines and do it the right way - it is cheaper in the long run plus you learn something.

 

[ltramon45]

I replaced everything else except those two things. Just not sure if its the oil pump. The noise I hear is coming from that area. The head gaskets are from Felpro and came in a kit for the entire engine.

 

[stamp11127]

Do a Homer Simpson and smack yourself in the forehead....

How many miles are on the engine and how long did you let it run after you replaced the head gaskets?

 

[01yellerCobra]

The gaskets are side specific and should be marked for which side they go on. If they're on the wrong side that could block the oil passages.

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[ltramon45]

The engine has about 154000 miles on it. I let it run for about 3 to 5 minutes about 4 times in the last 2 days

I am pretty sure that I got the gaskets on correctly. I had a friend who is a mechanic and we put on the driver side together.

 

[FordandPolaris]

Mine has had a singular knock for 60,000 miles and still runs, though it is getting worse. I use Lucas oil stabilizer with my oil changes and that does help. For some reason, one lifter is not getting oiled like the others. I have heard it in other 5.4's too but I have not torn my motor down yet so not sure what causes it. So it did not knock before you did the work?

 

[ltramon45]

It had a small ticking sound before, not that now

 

[ltramon45]

somebody on another forum suggested it might be air in the system that needs to be purged out. any thoughts?