I was wondering if anyone could help me with installing an oil pickup on an oil pump. How do I know where to stop and exactly how to make it tight. Help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

i used liquid teflon thread sealer, and then screwed it in until it was both 'pretty tight' and with the pickup screen pointed down and level. when you pass the level point, if its pretty tight, stop. if its not pretty tight, you'll need to make another whole round. i put my pickup tube in the vise and rotated the pump by hand. otherwise its sort of hard to hang on to. when you get it where you want it, wipe off any excess sealer, so it doesn't fall off and float around in your oil pan. the liquid teflon sealer will prevent any leaks. the pipe is a tapered pipe thread, so you're not going to strip it. you just might not be able to make that next full round.

 

Thanks. I'll try and pick up some of the thread sealer. How much does it usually run in price?

At straight and level it is too loose yet I don't have enough thread to go round one more time. Is this a problem?

 

yah that could be a problem but you could always put a small tack weld on each side to hold the pickup tube in the correct posistion if you cant get it tight threading it....

 

I woundn't weld it. The pipe thread is tapered so it will seal when it's tight. If it's not tight and you tack it in place you won't have a good seal and the pick up and pump may not work as well.

 

do not weld. as mentioned above it is tapered pipe thread and it needs to seal up tight or it might suck air and not oil and that would be bad. real bad. check the two ends of the pipe and make sure you don't have the pipe upside down. there should be plenty of threads. if not, then use teflon tape, which you can wrap 1 or 2 or 3 times around the pipe which will tighten it up sooner. just be sure and cut off all the extra so nothing is sticking out and might fall off and clog up something. teflon liquid is $3, but if you are out of thread you are out of thread and thats unlikely to help you. again, check the pipe, you may have the ends crossed up.

 

Thanks. I don't have access to a welder or the liquid tape

I have plenty of teflon tape so I'll use that till its tight. Thanks a lot

If you have any other suggestions please let me know

 

It's really not that crucial that the screen be perfectly level with the cross of the truck. The main thing is to get a good pick up tube to pump seal and have the screen in a position where it does not hamper the pan installation. Just remember to always think of the physical situation. Whether that screen is @ 180 or 210 it will always be submerged if you maintain the proper oil level. Above all you don't want your oil pump sucking air.

 

Good questionm, though. I was wondering if it would thread in exactly or not and I'll have to replace mine this weekend. glad you asked it.

 

but - if something goes wrong and you get low on oil, and your pickup flange is sitting ****-eyed, then it will start sucking air SOONER. it will take you a good bit of time to remove and replace your oil pan and oil pump. so take the time and do the pickup tube right. you can put a good bit of force on the pipe to make that last 1/2 of a round. if you can't, take it back off and add teflon tape or liquid teflon and get it right. just be sure and cut off, wipe off, or clean off any excess sealer. you don't want anything to float around and clog your screen or filter.