I'm replacing everything on the front of the engine, including the oil pump. I read somewhere that you should pack the oil pump with "white" lithium grease to help it build oil pressure more easily when you go to start it. I have some advance auto parts "#2 lithium grease", which is some dark black stuff, is this no good to do it with? Are there other ways to go about preparing this oil pump before installing it?

 

This "pack your oil pump full of grease" method is a bunch of BS. If the motor was built with a good moly assembly lube then you should have no fears. The oil pump should just be adequately lubed with assembly lube and you shouldn't have any problem at all with drawing oil pressure on start up. Think about it this way...look at how thick grease is compared to oil. Now look at how tight the tolerances are on the crankshaft, wrist pins and camshafts. The grease may up help you build up pressure quicker, but it will provide false readings that are too high and will not properly lubricate the engine until the grease is worked out.

Here's what I do:
-Use a quality oil filter with an anti drain back valve.
-Fill the oil filter with oil prior to installing it. I know it goes on sideways, but fill it up and try to spin it on quickly - Some is better than none. Grab a rag because it's going to get a little messy.
-Pour in some fresh new oil. I like to take the valve cover off and pour a quart over the cam, rockers and timing chain to make sure they are coated well.
-Disconnect your fuel lines and ignition coil
-Crank it over a few times to make sure that the oil pressure is rising properly before you reconnect the fuel lines and ignition coil.
-Reconnect everything and monitor the oil pressure at idle and at higher RPM under load and not under load.

 

It all depends on just how long the engine might sit till it is started

Over the years I have used many different things to prime oil pumps and assemble engines.

From STP back in the late sixties
The white lithium grease
Straight 50 Wt oil

A moly grease at times

Lucas oil additive

Just so long as you prime it with something that won`t run off in a few hours.

Does not have a adverse effect on the engine oil

We each have our own ways as long as it works there is no wrong way.

 

Depends on how long I wait until I start it? I plan to prime it right before I crank it to run, I don't see a point in priming it before then. I didn't rebuild the motor, just replaced everything on the front of it. Where do I get one of these oil filters?

 

I don't see any mention of a special oil filter. Any old filter will do. Well, except Fram

He's talking about priming the oil filter during the oil change, so there's some oil there already. Maybe assuming a rebuilt engine? Not sure.

When I replaced my oil pump I packed it with grease, as the manual recommends.

 

Axle grease works well too. I always replace my motor oil and filter again after 500 miles after I've done anything internal, to get any contaminants from the new work flushed out. May not be strictly necessary in every case, but it is cheap insurance,