Lady72nRob71

How much oil can you see come out the push rod holes in the lifters during idle, how long does it take for all rods to have oil coming out of them, and why do some push rods spin like a top and some don't?

Okay, so Lady awoke this evening for about 3 minutes. I did not have the water pump and hoses all hooked up so did not want to run her long. When running, she sounded great - no odd noises.

After shutting her down after about 3 minutes, most of the right side rockers had some oil pooled up, some had none.
Only two or three on the left side had oil pooled up.

The pushrods were cleaned well and blown out before installation.
This is for a 72 stock 350.

Some pics below after 3 minutes of running...
Left side - little oil


Right side - has more oil.


I am hoping I am being paranoid and just hadn't run her long enough. I could pull a couple rods and make sure they are still clear.
Before rods were installed, I used a bright light to make sure the lifters were clean where the rod touches.

Oldsmaniac

The pushrods should spin and at idle the rockers just bleed oil from the holes and it makes its way to the center then drips off...

Lady72nRob71

How long does it take for them to start bleeding? Most of the ones on the right felt dry after 3 minutes of fast idle...

greenslade

did you have good oil pressure?

Lady72nRob71

yes; on notch before H on rally pac, same as its been for years...

Oldsmaniac

Did you have a problem with tapping or worn rockers or did you just notice this? Sometimes its like waiting for water to boil....if nothing ran dry and they are quiet all should be well. I would think after 5-10 minutes of fast idle all rockers should be oiled. You can dribble some oil on them if they are dry and wait a little longer while watching unless it gets too messy with the others and the oil...

442Harv

That is one reason I allways use a oil primer tool, and Know for sure you have oil comming out of all the push rod. With a oil primer, it can take a long time to get oil to all of them. Had me worrierd a couple of times, especially with BB Chevy, took for ever.

Lady72nRob71

Thanks for the advice - it was right.

After 10 minutes of cumulative running, oil was coming out of each and filling the rockers. In fact, #1 turned into a little squirter....
Those cardboard valve covers served their last use by capturing and absorbing the oil.
My Ford manual said to allow up to 10 minutes for the oil system to fully prime, expel air, and adjust valve lash. I guess it is true for Olds also.

Lady has always purred like a kitten but the reason I was paranoid was all of the loose crap I had to clean out of the head areas a while back. I worried I loosened somthing that could get lodged in a lifter port when I had the pushrods out, despite having plugged the holes first.
Seeing oil coming from each was a good verification that everything was getting oiled up there.

Given she has been under the knife for 4.5 months, I bet her oil had mostly drained back down to the pan.
She is alive and well and going back together!!