Ok, I warm up the engine before changing the oil. 45-60 psi depending on RPMs.

Let the oil drain for about 30 minutes while I cool off inside my house in the A/C.
Reinstall drain plug, add 4 quarts of oil, check dipstick, reads FULL.

Start engine, no oil pressure. Idle for about 30 seconds and the gauge still reads 0.
Now what? Did the pump lose it's prime? Do I need to remove the oil pan & replace the pump? Or something else?

It's a 94 3.4 L V-6 from a Firebird with 152K miles. Oil has been changed every 3k miles since new.

[This message has been edited by 30+mpg (edited 07-17-2010).]

was the filter empty when you installed it? i would pull the filter back off and look down inside it to make sure it looks right as in the walls of the filter have not collapsed.. just my .02

Did not change the Fram filter.

Hmm, could the oil fliter, full of oil, be creating enough of a pressure barrier to the air in the pump to prevent it from priming?

Looks like I'm going to change the filter to test that theory.

Any better suggestions?

[This message has been edited by 30+mpg (edited 07-17-2010).]

Check the dip stick. Make sure there IS oil in the oil pan (not on the floor or in the drain pan) If you are sure there is oil in the engine's oil pan and you know the filter is on and is on right then start the engine and let it idle for 30 seconds more. Don't rev the engine but don't worry about how fast the engine is idling from the ECM.

Personally I consider changing the filter as important as changing the oil.

[This message has been edited by phonedawgz (edited 07-17-2010).]

Also, always "prime" the new filter, and coat the rubber gasket with a thin sheen of fresh oil.

Norm

Change the filter...I can not endorse the Fram filter either...AC Delco is the way to go...( maybe I'm just biased...working at the dealership and all.)

quote gt88norm:Also, always "prime" the new filter, ...Norm

Ha Ha, that's a good one as the filter axis is horizontal!

Put your finger over the main hole, and act fast, very fast! ;^)
Did I say safety glasses, oops, no, I meant to.
A half prime is better than no prime.

Norm

im thinking for some reason you did lose the prime. My Coronet engine had trouble getting primed with rebuild. I used the drill in the distrib and it just wouldnt prime. I had to take out the relief valve and spring a number of times in the exterior mounted oil pump till it finally got pressure. Ive did one oil change since that and it self primed with no problem. You might pull the dist and try priming it manually. If that engine has dis and no distributor I dont know how you prime the oil pump.

Problem solved.

Fram was replaced w/ AC47.
Removed injector fuses so that the engine would not start.
Cranked engine with starter for 15 seconds of which towards the very end the oil pressure gage needle leaped off of "0".
Replaced the fuses
Started engine
Approx 50 psi at idle.

quote Originally posted by 30+mpg: Problem solved. Fram was replaced w/ AC47. Removed injector fuses so that the engine would not start. Cranked engine with starter for 15 seconds of which towards the very end the oil pressure gage needle leaped off of "0". Replaced the fuses Started engine Approx 50 psi at idle.

Glad it worked out...Now...run over to CJ'S Big Boy Burger and grab a victory burger...Uhhh... one for me too...

quote P Mag V8:Glad it worked out...Now...run over to CJ'S Big Boy Burger and grab a victory burger...Uhhh... one for me too...

Walk over is more like it. I can see CJ's 2 blocks away from my backyard.
$7 for a burger & fries is kinda steep.

quote Originally posted by 30+mpg: Walk over is more like it. I can see CJ's 2 blocks away from my backyard. $7 for a burger & fries is kinda steep.

They are good...but I do agree...hard for me to lay out $40.00 for Burgers with my crew...Cheers.