Mercury MerCruiser MCM 454 Mag MPI Service Manual page 223

454 CID (7.4L) / 502 CID (8.2L)
SERVICE MANUAL NUMBER 23
After leaving the pump, the pressurized oil flows through a full-flow oil filter. On engines with
an engine oil cooler, the oil also flows through the cooler before returning to the block. A
bypass valve allows oil to bypass the filter and oil cooler should they become restricted.
Some of the oil, after leaving the oil cooler and/or filter, is routed to the No. 5 crankshaft main
bearing. The remainder of the oil is routed to the main oil gallery, which is located directly
above the camshaft and runs the entire length of the block. From the main oil gallery, the
oil is routed through individual oil passages to an annular groove in each camshaft bearing
bore. Some of the oil is then used to lubricate camshaft bearings. The remainder of the oil
is routed to the valve lifter oil galleries and No. 1, 2, 3, and 4 crankshaft main bearings by
means of individual oil passages which intersect with the annular grooves.
The camshaft bearings have holes that align with the oil passages or annular grooves in the
block and allow oil to flow in-between the bearings and the camshaft journals. The oil that
is forced out the front end of the No. 1 camshaft bearing drains down onto the camshaft drive
and keeps it lubricated.
The oil which reaches the crankshaft main bearings is forced through a hole in the upper
half of each bearing and flows in-between the bearings and the crankshaft journals. Some
of the oil is then routed to the connecting rod bearings through grooves in the upper half of
the crankshaft main bearings and oil passages in the crankshaft. Oil that is forced out the
ends of the connecting rod bearings and crankshaft main bearings is splashed onto the
camshaft, cylinder walls, pistons and piston pins, keeping them lubricated. Oil that is forced
out the front end of the No. 1 crankshaft main bearing also assists in lubricating the camshaft
drive. A baffle plate, mounted on the bottom of the main bearings or in the oil pan, prevents
oil thrown from the crankshaft and connecting rods from aerating the oil in the oil pan.
Oil that reaches the valve lifter oil galleries is forced into each hydraulic valve lifter through
holes in the side of the lifter. From here, the oil is forced through the metering valve in each
of the lifters which controls the volume of oil flow and then up through the push rods to the
rocker arms. A hole in each rocker arm push rod seat allows the oil to pass through the
rocker arm and lubricate the valve train bearing surfaces. After lubricating the valve train,
oil drains back to the oil pan through oil return holes in the cylinder head and block.
The distributor shaft and gear also is lubricated by the oil flowing through the right valve lifter
oil gallery.
Index
90-861326--1 MARCH 1999 Page 3A-19
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