Please do not use starting fluid on a brand new engine. As a matter of fact do not use it on any gas engine. I always use Brake Cleaner, It works perfect with no ill effects. I have seen many things go wrong real fast with starting fluid. The worst one being a crankshaft broken in half at the thrust barring on a 289. It was designed for diesel engines. Starting fluid explodes inside the engine, the brake clean will burn like gas, just a little hotter. Many things may not be just right with a new engine untill you get it running and all adjusted. Please do not take the chance.
while the above was maybe a bit dramatic for the side effects of using starting fliud to start an engine.. at the very least.. you can scuff the walls and rings while using it on a fresh one. So, don't do it bud. And I second Bryant's advice. Physically check flow out of the pump and then troubleshoot up the line from there. Personally.. I just pre-fill the bowls(via the vent tubes as mentioned earlier) and dribble just a bit down the primaries before a fresh start. That allows the engine to start up right away and run at least until the bowl is dry. 9 times out of 10.. this burst of fuel pump speed purges the air from the pumps diaphram, lines, and filter which is usually enough to get the pumps fuel flow kickstarted. Plus.. you always want the car to start right away so you don't dry crank it.. or even worse.. wet start it.
No...The wear in does not start till the whole thing is spinning/running. You did use a good assy lube on it right??? If its a roller cam/lifters, it really does not need a break in.
Possibly but if the lobes are coated with break in lube not likely... As far as the starting fluid, I meant just a quick one time puff to see if the engine would run a couple of seconds which may excite the pump enough to start functioning(sorry I wasn't clear)... I would not keep trying to run the engine on it or even keep pouring gas down the carb... You do want it to start and run with as little cranking as possible...
found out why it wasnt sucking in fuel like it should have been, I had put in a section of rubber fuel line in back by the gas tank some time back i took it off today and saw that the inside of the rubber hose had been eaten away by the sumthing little pieces of rubber were blocking the hose, i think that maybe a chunk of it may have gotten sucked up by the mechanical pump and clogged it, gonna check the rest of my fuel line tonight
I didn't think it was even a little bit dramatic. I was just letting the man know what some of the effects of using starting fluid are. Sorry I was just trying to save the guy some heartache with some advice and something I personally witnessed happening to an engine. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!