I recently rebuilt my b18a1 and put about 3500 miles on it when It pushed the front crank seal out. I replaced the seal and after about 1500 miles it tore a whole in the same seal. After replacing the timing belt and font seal AGAIN things seemed to be fine. I have put about another 3000 miles on it and it is now parked for the winter. I fired it up today and It has no oil pressure. Just as soon as started the oil light came on, so I immediately shut it down. I disabled the ignition and cranked the engine over a few times to try and build oil pressure but no luck. I started it one more time and still no oil pressure. Do you think that the seal could have been caused by a bad pump and that the seals failing could have been the calm before the storm and that the pump is just toast. There are no oil leaks and I DID NOT REPLACE the pump. I know that is dumb but It is a budget build. Any info, experience or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time!!!

 

Excessive wear of the gears in the pump could possibly cause the seal issues. Does your oil filter have an anti-drainback valve? it sounds like the pump has lost prime. Remove the filter and crank the engine with the plugs out until oil runs out of the engine. Reinstall the filter and plugs. Start the engine and see if the light goes out.

 

I will not have acesses to the car again until next weekend so I will get back to you then. I can tell you that is is just a cheap napa filter and that I have an oil pressure guage and the needle doesn't even attempt to move. Also doesn't the oil pump put oil to the oil pressure galley before it hits the pump. Thanks for the info hopefully I can try removing the filter next weekend. Thanks again.

 

The oil goes from the pickup to the pump, then the filter, then into the galley after the filter. No oil makes it to the motor if it doesn't get past the filter.

 

Is it a new pump? Also if its a used pump it worked before you put the motor back together right? I had the same problem with my built motor. Your supposed to prime the oil pump by packing it, most likely with vasoline to help it suck up oil. If you think the pump is fine, add an extra 2-3 quarts. What that does is cause the oil pump to be completely submerged so it does not have to suck oil up hill. Turn it over and it should get oil pressure almost instantly. If it does, just drain the extra oil out.