Lubrication of a rebuilt engine before start up

Ten1nis

Ten1nis

Member
I have a rebuilt stock engine that I will be installing soon. How should I lubricate before I start it up for the first time? Thanks for your response.
 
Remove the distributor and pour a quart down the hole, crank the motor over with the plugs out, loosen the lower drain back tube to verify oil flow
 
nkaminar said:
Was the engine assembled using assembly lube?
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I can't imagine anybody assembling an engine without assembly lube but who knows what was done in this case. If I didn't know for sure that lube had been used, I'd assume it hadn't and pour oil down the distributor hole and crank until I was sure oil had circulated throughout it before starting.
Putting a freshly rebuilt engine is not just a matter of hit the starter and go. My process is to pour oil down the distributer hole, start it (I use assembly lube) and bring it to operating temperature. I NEVER start an engine without coolant in the system. Once the engine is cool again - I leave it overnight, retorque the head nuts. IMO, it is now ready for a drive. After about 300 gentle miles, and with the engine cold again, retorque the head nuts again and change the oil and he filter if you have one fitted. Repeat after about another careful 500 miles and it is ready for use. I tend to still take it easy till I can feel the engine has freed up - usually about 1,000 miles.
For the first drive, my ears are strained listening for noises that shouldn't be there!
Others may very well have a different regimen from that but that is what has worked for me.
 
I guess the alternative to assembly lube is Luberplate (spelling?) which tends to become glue after the engine sits for some time. If the engine turns over by hand then it has some kind of assembly lube, or perhaps plain engine oil, on the bearings.
 
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