Hi all

I have a problem with my HJ Statesman 308. It's currently undergoing a body restoration of sort. The motor, original, has 290,000km on it. History is unknown (I purchased it from a deceased estate), but runs well with good compression.

Some 4 months ago I drove it into the shed after sandblasting the whole car, to do some work and prepare for getting it painted. Running well with no problems at the time. I had all front fenders and nose-cone off since it for rust repairs. Whilst the front end was off, I did various things whilst I had easy access to the motor - some mechanical, but largely cosmetic.

One of the things I did was to change the oil and oil filter probably three months ago. Today, before my friends and I bolted all the front fenders / nose cone etc. back on, I took the opportunity to change the oil-pressure light switch with a brand new one - no real reason other than access was easy, and I didn't know how old the one in there was.

Late in the day we restarted the car for the first time in 4 months. Started first go, no issue. We ran it for several minutes, were discussing the automatic choke function and water level. Stuck my head in the cabin to check the temp-gauge was working and noticed the oil-light was on. Shut it off, checked oil level (still full). Restarted it, notice that the motor was getting increasingly "clacky".

I inspected the new oil-pressure light switch - zero leaks. I pulled the new oil filter back off, and apart from some oil around the seal, the inside of the filter was bone-dry. I filled the filter with oil (waited for it to fully soak in and kept topping in up), and refitted it. Started the motor one more time and gave it a moderate rev - no joy, oil light still on and noisy motor.

Reluctant to run it anymore and cause damage (hope like hell none has occurred so far), I shut it off and retired for the day to think about it.

I have no doubt that the switch is not faulty, but that there is in fact NO oil pressure. (Dry filter, increasingly noise motor). The car was fine before I pulled it into the shed 4 months ago, changed the oil and filter 3 months ago, and the oil-pressure send switch today. No other changes have been made.

Questions:

1. Is it possible to have a priming problem with the 308? Is it a known problem?
2. Can it be primed? If so, how?
3. Any other ideas?
4. As an aside, does the oil-pump push oil into the centre of the oil filter then return is through the multiple radial holes, or the other way around?

Thanks in advance.

Matt

Edited by user Saturday, 9 April 2016 9:00:25 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

I assume the oil goes into the centre hole and back out the radial ones.
You would be amazed at how quickly a high vol pump will empty the sump if the filter seal lets go. Had the experience with some Repco brand ones once.

OK, an update.

Armed with a new (standard) pump, I tried various things suggested here and other places online including vaseline on the gears, filling the oil-filter, making up a fitting to then pour about a litre of oil in the oil-pressure sender switch, removed the plugs, cranked it for minutes, putting the plugs in and running it / giving it a quick rev - nothing will get that damn thing to pick-up. I even checked the drive to the pump with a screwdriver in case the cog where it meets the cam-shaft had stripped.

After going an having a sausage at Bunnings and a think, I changed my approach. I again pulled the oil-pressure switch out, put my fitting in there with the clear plastic tube attached. I then plugged up the rocker-cover breather holes and the dipstick, and put a reverse-cycle vacuum cleaner in the oil filler hole in the rocker cover. This created a sump pressure that wasn't too great to blow seals but high enough volume to compensate for air leaks. Sure enough, after about 45 seconds, oil started bubbling out the pressure switch hole through the clear hose, and pretty soon flowed with no bubbles. I gave the motor a couple of cranks with no spark plugs - instant and airless oil flow out the switch hole. Put the pressure switch and spark plugs back in - oil pressure the moment the motor started.

I should have remembered the first rule of fluid dynamics - always easier to push it than pull it if you can! In hindsight, it was also the best way to get oil through, and air out of, ALL the system up to the pressure switch, including the sump pick-up pipe.

Anyway, hope that helps someone else who comes across it.

Thanks again.

Matt