Hi all, sorry to introduce myself this way, but it you have a moment, and the knowledge, I would appreciate the advice. I did the timing chains on my 07 F150. Chains, phasers, tensioners, guides, all rockers and lifters. I buttoned it up last night, turned it over to prime it, and got no movement on the oil pressure switch gauge. Went for 8 seconds... Hmmm... Try again... 6 to 7 more, nothing. Crawled under and pulled off\replaced oil pressure sensor connector, tried again, for 10 more seconds. Nothing. Quit for the night to drink and ponder. I know I hooked up the oil pickup, whaled on those two bolts. I know I torqued down the new melling hv pump, all three bolts and swear it was flat on the block... I could see it was. Gave it an oil fill of 7 fresh quarts and filter... Gauge was working when I parked it for the repair, unlikely coincidence that it has failed this particular moment.... This morning, figured out maybe I am just too timid with the time of cranking... Gave it a 15 second run... Nothing. Folks, I am fresh outta ideas about what I have done wrong, but I must have done\not done\improperly done, something... Any ideas? When I bench primed the pump, could I have installed the backing plate wrong? Is there any way to mount the pump and not have the gear properly set on the crank? I dont know, but kind of depressed about all the work and money, and bad outcome. At this point, only thing I can think of is to tear it all down again . Thanks for your help,
Dave
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Take a deep breath Dave and just fire it up. Keep your ear tuned - and don't let it get to knocking for a whole minute ----- NO motor will build enough oil pressure to trigger the idiot switch at the RPM rate the starter can spin it. But the fast idle speed for a couple of seconds upon startup darned sure will. Even if it takes several seconds (10-15) before it self primes, will not destroy it.

 

Start it and let it run till you hear knocking. If you do than shut it off cause there is a lack of oil pressure. I understand your concerns, I know the guy feeling people get when they see no oil pressure warning but you need to let it run to find out. Or get a pressure gauge and check it. Engine will have to be running to do that

 

Did you prime the pump first? (I see you bench primed it, something I didn't do) Before installing the filter, did you get a 1/2" flexible tube, stick it into the inlet side of the oil filter (the off center hole), add a funnel to the tube and then pour oil into it? That's what I did, except I used a transmission fill tube that you attach to the quart and squeeze it in (As suggested by Cloyes installation video). It takes up to a minute of turning over for it to show oil pressure. NOTE: I had the crank position sensor disconnected while I did this (Same procedure as what FordTechMakuloco does)

 

Thank you, to all who provided advice, helping me with my concern. On Sunday I went to my garage and taking the advice from a couple of people, pulled off the oil filter, filled it with oil, and connected the crank sensor. Priming the filter certainly doesn't hurt, and didn't take very long. Then I went ahead and started it.

I was so happy to see, after just a couple seconds, the gauge needle pop up to the center, showing oil pressure.

I had forgotten all about the automatic continuing engagement of the starter that is part of this truck. I don't know what would have happened if I had heard bad things after 10 or 15 seconds and tried to stop the starter from its attempt! Frantically attempting to disconnect a cable from the battery while listening to the engine make its suicidal noises, I suppose...

But, it ended pretty well. I listened to my now quietly purring engine, no longer ticking and tapping, and was quite happy. At least until the "check charging system" notice popped up and near as I can tell, after cleaning all the connections and grounds, is that my alternator has mysteriously decided to quit. So, Wednesday my new alternator should arrive and I will throw it in, and hopefully start driving my truck once more.

Again, thank you.
Dave

 

Great to hear, but I hope you bought a MotorCraft alternator. Others are a crap shoot.

 

Purely anecdotal but rule of thumb is that the weakest link is the next to fail. Replacing other pumps/pulleys and the belts but not one (IE the alternator) can cause that last one to fail due to stresses/tension. Lets hope new alternator can solve it.