OIL PUMP QUESTION

[Ronnio]

  OK, I was getting terrible fluctuation on my oil gauge so I put seafoam in it, ran it a bit then did an oil change. After the oil change, I could get ZERO pressure reading so after some reading, I removed my oil pump to prime it by hand last night. While I was turning the gear as the pump was submerged, I was getting nothing from the hole where the relief stop valve is. I took the cap off, spring out, and the valve stayed pushed in. I tapped it a couple times and it freed up. I backed it out and saw that there was no oil visible in that hole. I turned the gear probably 4-5 full turns before oil started coming out. I worked the valve  back and forth a couple times, reassembled and it moved when I turned the gear to release oil from the hole.

   MY QUESTION:

   Would this be the likely reason that I had no pressure reading?  I really barely had to tap the valve to get it to come out, but the lack of oil in there was what I was suprised to see. I would think that the pressure from that pump spinning would force that valve open to release the air that was in there. Especially with that spring being so light weight, but maybe I'm wrong. What do you guys think? Just curious as to what you thought. I guess I won't know for sure until it goes back together. Thanks

[sgtslag]

I'll take a stab at it.  I would guess that if there was no oil reaching the star-shaped rotor pump inner/outer gears, then, yes, it was not pumping any oil.  These pumps generate 70+ PSI of pressure, normally.  But they have to have oil reaching the pumping chamber to push it along the lines, generating pressure.  Hope that helps.  Cheers!