DIY: When to prime the oil circuit

[Arith2]

I found an SIB stating when to prime an oil circuit by disabling fuel system and cranking. I didn't expect it to be required for a couple items so I learned something new. Everyone on here should know and benefit from this.

The procedure should be performed after:

• Engine bearings
• VANOS gears
• Camshafts
• Bed plate resealing
• Engine oil pump
• Engine oil filter housing
• Cylinder head
• Engine oil cooler
• Anything that interrupts the engine oil supply circuit of the engine(engine replacement included)


1. It states rotate the engine clockwise twice, never counterclockwise.
2. Disable the fuel system if not already done and crank for 10 seconds.
3. Allow the starter to cool for at least 20 seconds and do this two more times.
4. Then start the engine. So prime 3 times and start the engine on the 4th.

Many of us work on cars and know our way around an engine bay but there's always more to learn. This is the right way to do it. The document applies to all vehicles and was last updated in 2017. It is intended for our vehicles as well as new ones.

[cobra]

For the rod bearings, I also removed the spark plugs and it spun very freely

[Casa de Mesa]

1. It states rotate the engine clockwise twice, never counterclockwise.

Presumably, this is when viewed from the front of the motor, not in the direction the car would travel?

Thanks for this. After my motor not starting since Sept (8 months), I'm planning on doing this.

[Thoglan]

Presumably, this is when viewed from the front of the motor, not in the direction the car would travel?

Thanks for this. After my motor not starting since Sept (8 months), I'm planning on doing this.

Yup facing front of the motor.

[Casa de Mesa]

Yup facing front of the motor.

Thank you sir.

[sapote]

The procedure should be performed after:

• Engine bearings
• VANOS gears
• Camshafts
• Bed plate resealing
• Engine oil pump
• Engine oil filter housing
• Cylinder head
• Engine oil cooler
• Anything that interrupts the engine oil supply circuit of the engine(engine replacement included)

All are good except why VANOS gears (splines)? Obviously if they are new dried parts then people should prelube with oil or grease.
And what is "bed plate resealing?

[Casa de Mesa]

And what is "bed plate resealing?

Ha! Missed that.

Maybe that's for the pickup-bodied M3s.

[Arith2]

All are good except why VANOS gears (splines)? Obviously if they are new dried parts then people should prelube with oil or grease.
And what is "bed plate resealing?

The VANOS thing threw me off as well but the VANOS is part of the oil circuit. They do contain super high oil pressure with really tight tolerances. Priming them is probably a better idea than not, however the S54 may be fine specifically. On the contrary, I can see where something can go wrong. The engineers say prime it and it's at least useful to know they suggest whether we do it or not. You have plenty of BMW shop experience whereas many on here don't. Heck, N20 oil filter housings keep most their oil in them which doesn't really warrant being primed. Once again, it takes shop experience to know that and this list should be the rule of thumb for people without that experience.

Bed plate is properly the oil pan. Bed would be the bottom and the oil pan is the only plate that makes sense to me. This was written in German, and then poorly translated in my opinion.

[Icecream]

Bedplate, #6, s54 does not have one. https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...1312351&page=7

[sapote]

1. The VANOS thing threw me off as well but the VANOS is part of the oil circuit. They do contain super high oil pressure with really tight tolerances.

2. Bed plate is properly the oil pan. Bed would be the bottom and the oil pan is the only plate that makes sense to me. This was written in German, and then poorly translated in my opinion.

It's expected to lube all vanos components during assemble if they are dried, so to the only reason to prime the vanos is to avoid codes popped up because there is big air pocket in there and it delay the oil pressure to move the cams. The loading on the components is the same during cranking or when engine fired up, as compare to a cam lobe or rod bearings.
2. if bad plate = oil pan, then it makes no sense to follow this procedure after every oil change (no oil in the pan is the same as remove/install the pan).

[George Hill]

What is the SIB number? I wasn't aware of one specific to the M/S5x engines. There was a bulletin that was targeting the N series engines because those engines were blowing up after simple maintenance and BMW enacted this priming procedure accordingly.

[bigjae46]

Bed plate resealing is an S65/85 engine thing. You have to inject foam into the bed plate which bolts onto the block. It holds the lower mains.

If you used assembly lube then you don’t need to prime the engine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Arith2]

It's expected to lube all vanos components during assemble if they are dried, so to the only reason to prime the vanos is to avoid codes popped up because there is big air pocket in there and it delay the oil pressure to move the cams. The loading on the components is the same during cranking or when engine fired up, as compare to a cam lobe or rod bearings.
2. if bad plate = oil pan, then it makes no sense to follow this procedure after every oil change (no oil in the pan is the same as remove/install the pan).

I can see there being extra wear on VANOS components or timing issues.

Bed plate resealing is an S65/85 engine thing. You have to inject foam into the bed plate which bolts onto the block. It holds the lower mains.

If you used assembly lube then you don’t need to prime the engine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I haven't done that yet but I know what you're talking about. Thanks for clearing it up. So it isn't an oil pan. I agree in most cases, assembly lube is enough.

What is the SIB number? I wasn't aware of one specific to the M/S5x engines. There was a bulletin that was targeting the N series engines because those engines were blowing up after simple maintenance and BMW enacted this priming procedure accordingly.

Probably is influenced by N engines blowing up, however, according to the SIB it applies to everything. I can see where this is a cya by BMW in some situations but it's just still good to put it out there. This SIB has all for the model so it should pop up under any vehicle in TIS.

[TexaZ3]

What is the SIB number? I wasn't aware of one specific to the M/S5x engines. There was a bulletin that was targeting the N series engines because those engines were blowing up after simple maintenance and BMW enacted this priming procedure accordingly.

Yup, sounds like it.

[bigjae46]

I do vac out the oil in the oil filter housing when going an oil change. I also dump about a 1/2 liter in, install the oil filter and then dump another 1/2 liter on top of the oil filter.

Is it necessary? Probably not but I makes me feel better.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk