What methods do you all use to prime the oil lines/external cooler etc before start up (assuming fully drained lines/cooler)?

Cheers
Alan

i normally use the hand pump i have for filling the gearbox with oil. put a clamp on the end and pump away till it comes back the return line.

I have used low pressure air to pressurise an oil can with a plumbed in line before to do a remote cooler/lines combo. Then turn it over with the plugs out and wait for the oil light to go out. I think you know that bit already

kkk

Hey Das,
I just removed my plugs and cranked the engine till the oil light went out, then put the plugs back in and fired it up..... too easy and no problems. Just check for leaks after each step and then after (or during) your first warm run. A spare amount of oil kept in a container in the car might be good insurance.... like I have done.

how do you prime it each morning when the oil has run back into the sump?

Thanks guys - I guess I was thinking more along the lines of how to get sufficient oil volume in the system for the first run when all lines are empty. I have a hand pump which I'll use to get oil through the lines into the cooler, then obviously fill the filter and case....crank it over to obtain pressure....then more than likely will have to top up oil in the case....crank again, check then fire up.

Craig - not sure about re-priming, I guess once there is sufficient oil in the case it would quite quickly find its way back through all the empty lines that have drained over night?? I'm new to this full flow business, hence why I thought I'd get some opinions.

Craig,
I have never had a problem with the oil running back into the sump. I assume this because within the first second of starting up the engine the oil pressure is right up where it should be. Maybe the oil filter has a backcheck valve in it (Fram filter??), I don't know. I just know it's all good for my engine. Sorry Das, got a little off track there but I suppose it answers any potential questions.

i'm thinking craig is being funny again.

I guess that makes me officially gullible then I told you I was new to this side of volkswagenism.

i know next time i have the motor sitting overnight in readiness to pull the engine out, i will again have a decent size bucket and a stack of rags ready for all the oil that comes out of the lines the instant they are disconected

yeah but priming before the initial start up with new lines is essential, but don't worry, the lil green light goes out just as fast each morning when running coolers etc

Hook line and sinker for me too....

last time, using compressed air pushing oil out of container I blew it into the oil light sender hole.
probably not complete filling of all lines and coolers, but certainly worked fine.ie. once oil sender screwed back in it cranked without the oil light shining .
I guess it would have back fed through the oil lines

With a fresh engine I prime with the plugs in (cause I'm lazy) if your starter and battery are pristeen.
If your lines have been drained and your filter is full,
priming a fresh engine can be trouble.
I just crank the engine over with the pump outlet hose in a bucket, and once it is hooked up again
it will fill the system ok, with the starter.

On a new motor I do pretty much the same as you said,I leave the oil pressure sender out and pump oil in till I see it come out of my pushrods,takes a little while by hand pump,but what's a little time