Hi people,
Am very nearly ready to test out my Saab turbo engine, filled with oil/water, petrol pipes connected , home made loom, plugged in, fire extinguisher at the ready - now, do I prod the starter and hope or as my gut keeps telling me, do I have to somehow prime the oil system?
The motor has been dry of all oil/water for some time and im concerned that if (fingers crossed) it starts first time(ish) that the oil will be nowhere near where it needs to be for too long and seize?
Any advice appreciated - any other advice on 1st start also welcome
Cheers
Kev

turn it over on the started without the spark plugs in to get oil pressure up first!

if it was me, i would crank the engine over for a while with no spark plugs in just to get the oil moving around, take the oil cap off to see if the oil is getting to the top of the engine ok, check oil and water and fire her up.

however i'm no expert so unless some one who knows what there on about comes on and say different.

quote:

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turn it over on the started without the spark plugs in to get oil pressure up first!

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i guess if there's issues with the coil, maybe diconnect the coils too? just to stop them trying to fire?

you have to get a video of it and show us

When you do get it fire up you should run it at a fast idle as this will actually be kinder on the engine than letting it idle at a lower speed. Personally I'd go for something like 1800 RPM.

Let it idle for a minute or so then switch off and check around the engine for any leaks of fluids. If all is well then start again and let it warm up until the thermostat opens. Keep an eye on water temp and oil pressure during warm up and keep watching for fluid leaks. It helps to put a fresh bit of clean cardboard under the car so any drips will be easy to see at a glance.

When your cooling system is pressurised for the first time it is wise to be very careful in case a hose bursts or becomes detached. Have a bucket of cold water nearby in case you get scalded. Obviously try to avoid this happening in the first place by checking all hoses before you begin. Also, the first time you run the engine you might want to leave the pressure cap off to allow any airlocks to more easily bubble out.

Good luck!
Craig.

fill the oil filter first and do as others have said re cranking.
disconnect the LT plugs from the coils as well

If you are worried about the computer, leave the spark plugs on the wires and ground them to the engine, the computer won't know the difference. My 66 427 Corvette had one of the first electronic ignitions and this is how we did compression checks without damaging the control box.

Unplug and remove the DI Cartridge, then the plugs - but you might want to diable the fuel pump as well based on the way it starts up. The Saab system is a strange old bird..

errrrrrr and don't forget to to turn the key,

Cheers for all the replies, enthusiasm and light are failing for today so tomorrow I'll give her a poke..
Tom, Im sure videoing it would just bring sods law (and a fireball) into play..but I might..
Kev

good luck,
i know when i started my engine for the first time i was craping it.

It'll be fine - you'll be wearing a great big silly grin this time tomorrow.....



......(probably).

Well, gave it a go this morning, checked it over, looked fine, tested fuel pump as I hadn't yet - yup, works, ignition on, start to sweat, turn over with coil unpluged (was going to say DIC out, but sounded dodgy), 20psi oil pressure, plug in coil - sweat a bit more - push button. chug chug pshhhhttt. bugger.
Fuel line popped off underneath - it's at this point you start thinking about what you may have forgotten to tighten stuff up properly

OK, try again, whirr chug chug vroooooom. wohoooo
Shocking how shakey and excited the whole thing can make you, and how happy you are when a simple thing like an engine works!
Hold on - sounds a bit "blowy" - hmm I hear an air leak somewhere - a big one, check pipes = lots of em on a turbo - oh hang on.. thats right, I FORGOT TO ORDER ANOTHER BLOODY INTERCOOLER (the one I had got trodden on) theres a 2ft gap in my intake pipework that I somehow overlooked.. duhh...
Still happy though a little bit embarrased too

Told you you'd be grinning

With something as complicated as a new engine install you have to expect one or two glitches - but - congratulations are in order, I think!!

Thats fantastic news, go on get some pics on the site.

Tommy