[Walt Fricke]

Well, new pressure fed tensioners come without oil in them. I've just put them in, cranked the motor until there was oil coming out a loosened line (plus you can see the oil pressure gauge stirring), and fired it up. Never had an issue. The air in both the supply and working chambers will quickly be pushed out, one past the ball on top, and the other up the spiral windings and out the hole in the side of the piston top.