No oil pressure after standing for years

[Fungus]

So today I gonally fired up the Bentley I've been working on, it's a 1956 S1 (straight 6).

Sounded lovely, ticked over perfectly but no oil pressure! The engine was perfect before the car was left standing since 2001.

I'm thinking maybe the pump had drained and needs to be primed? I was going to pump some oil into the hole for where the pressure sender goes.

Any other ideas?

Thanks

[Darkspeed]

[Fungus]

I'm guessing that's used to draw oil up through the pump?

[ChasR]

That looks like a garden spray canister, so maybe it does put oil into the engine.

Is it possible to spin the oil pump up without too much dissambly? I know on the Triumph Stag V8 you can remove the distributor and spin the oil pump shaft to prime the engine.

[dodgerover]

I know nothing about Bentleys I'm afraid but it's not a dry sump is it? Over enough time and given slightly leaky seals all the oil can drain out of the tank into the bottom of the engine giving zero oil pressure?

[composimmonite]

I'd drop the sump (assuming there is oil) and check strainer not blocked, pump OK and is being turned by cam etc.

[colnerov]

Hi, I would be inclined to put some oil in through the oil pressure switch port where it can wet the internals of the pump and provide suction. Remove the plugs and spin the engine on the starter which should spin faster until oil is circulated. before delving deeper. Also put a gauge on it to make sure it's not a faulty switch.

Colin

[welshpug]

first thing to check is the gauge or warning lamp.

if it has a gauge pull the wire off and earth it, should go to the top, if it doesn't, its the gauge, if it does, get a mechanical oil pressure test gauge.

much more preferable to pulling the sump off on a whim!

[Fungus]

Got oil pressure today after pumping oil into the pressure sender hole thanks for all the help everyone.