Oil Pump Primer Tools & Shafts

Engine oil pump driveshafts mechanically drive the oil pump, which builds oil pressure and distributes oil throughout the engine. Without oil, friction and heat are quickly created, causing excessive wear, expansion, and catastrophic damage to the engine. Using a high-quality oil pump drive shaft ensures proper operation and long life.

Using an engine prelube tool is necessary before starting an engine (such as a SBC, SBF, or Mopar engine) that has not been fired up since it was built or rebuilt. Driven by an electric or cordless drill (with the ignition distributor usually removed), the engine oil primer spins the oil pump intermediate driveshaft, creating oil pressure and causing oil to flow throughout the engine. Without this oil pump primer tool process, most of the engine parts will be dry or lack enough oil during the initial engine break-in process, causing severe damage.

The best way to align the oil pump drive shaft with the distributor is to confirm where your distributor rotor will be pointing when you install it, usually under the distributor cap terminal for the number 1 cylinder. Next, note the position of the oil pump drive shaft "key" on the bottom of the distributor when it is installed. Then turn the oil pump shaft to the same position that will allow proper alignment. If clocked correctly, when the distributor is lowered into place, it will turn as it engages the camshaft gear (in most applications) and then line up with the top of the oil pump shaft.

Original oil pump shaft retainers are often made of plastic. Inexpensive and lightweight, these plastic retainers usually work fine for coupling the driveshaft to the oil pump of a factory engine but with the trade-off of possibly falling apart due to the weak design. Aftermarket retainer versions can be made of metal. However, performance manufacturers offer "one-piece" intermediate shaft kit options with a pinned metal sleeve, which is much stronger than the factory-designed retainer. This ensures that the retainer will not fail in high-performance engines.

An oil pump drive shaft is the connection between the oil pump and the distributor or other engine part that provides the rotation needed for the oil pump to operate. It is crucial to make sure it is installed correctly for proper operation.

The steps to remove an oil pump shaft from the oil pump can vary depending on the year, make, and model of the vehicle and the engine type and size. The shaft is gently wiggled free from the oil pump in most cases. In other cases, it is held in with an external bolt or fastener. In some cases, the oil pump shaft is part of the oil pump and can't be removed. To get the correct instructions, a shop or repair manual for your specific engine will help you with correct removal of the oil pump shaft.