Oil pre-lube system

Hi guys,
I remember someone referring to an oil system prelube kit. I am looking to add one to my car so I will let you know what I find.

I used one several years ago on my old race car but that one I built out of hydraulic accumulator parts...and it was manual operation....

I have some race car buddies and people that I can ask to see if I can find an inexpensive but reliable unit.

Nathan

[Joe Blowe]

http://www.enginelube.com/

Have you used this one?
Thanks, Nathan

[5banger]

Nate,
Here is a link to the research done by the mbcoupes forum. The overall impression is that it is a good product, but not much bang for the buck, considering that the bottom-ends of MB engines last so long already. I would likely install this product on a newly rebuilt engine, though.

http://db.mercedes.cx/sec/200204/03/0009.html

Cheers, Andrew Seidel.

Thanks for the link info.....
I am actually looking for an accumulator type....not a pump...I will talk with my friend at the hydraulics place....I think I can make what I am thinking of about for less than a $100 and it does not have a pump...but it only works the first time you turn the key on and then it fills itself up after the engine starts and the pressure refills the cylinder....
Nathan

[leathermang]

Andrew, that link does not appear to be working...

On the first one... enginelube... I hate a site which does not tell how much something costs...I am not going to register with them before I know what the prices are...

I do not think there is anything wrong with a " manual " system... not the pumping but the turning it on.. I have no problem with a button you press until your oil pressure gauge reads 'charged' ... simple is better...

It seems to me that any car which comes stock with a remote oil cooler or filter is way ahead on being able to add on a preluber...

I've looked into this in the past and 5Banger is correct as far as I'm concerned regarding prelubing. It is rare that the bottom end gives trouble before anything else. An engine typically requires attention due to; valve problems, timing component problems, overheating problems or cylinder/piston related problems.

The accumulator is another issue altogether, however. In the case of oil pressure loss it will keep the engine alive a little longer so you can get it shut down before catastrophic failure ensues.

Have a great day,

[Joe Blowe]

Originally posted by leathermang
On the first one... enginelube... I hate a site which does not tell how much something costs...I am not going to register with them before I know what the prices are...

http://www.enginelube.com/awebshop/WebStore/products.asp?ProductType=0

the pricing is there w/o registration, just have to poke around a bit...

by the way, i have no experience with this product. i just happened to bookmark the following thread:

? on how to keep a daily driver lasting forever

i would consider doing anything to keep my little wagon running!

[leathermang]

Thanks Joe, I could not find that when I was there... OUCH... that is about what other systems I have seen cost ... but really , there is not that much stuff there... and I would sure put a simple on off switch on mine instead of a " ecm"..

I am always amazed that anyone would go to the trouble of being " against" a preluber... especially if the complaint is not the price... but the " unnecessary due to lower engine strength" type of argument...

And this is often the same people that go to the trouble of getting their high mileage badges, and extreme measures to get stuff right on their cars, including their engines...

All I can say is that aircraft engines use them... and the big diesel trucks use them... so while I do not think that at $500 or more they are cost effective... I do believe in the principal , in case someone comes up with a diy model at a reasonable price....

[5banger]

Hmm, link still works for me--maybe some restrictions on the server? Try: www.mbcoupes.com ... W126 SEC ... archives ... search ... "oil pre luber" Cheers, Andrew Seidel.

Let me be clear. I am NOT against the preluber, it is a great addition. I'm only saying that the odds are that the bottom end will outlast the rest of the engine by far anyway.

My daughters 300D at over 190,000 miles had bearings and crank journals that looked like brand new, and mic'ed out perfect. The bottom end of my original 240D engine was in similar condition at 380,000 miles. This does not sound like an engine with a bottom end that is at risk. Even in engines with marginal bearing/journal combinations, the odds are still heavily in favor of the failures I outlined occurring before bearing, journal problems.

Additionally you can probably buy new bearings and turn the crankshaft in one of these engines for much less money than the cost of the preluber. I'm sure this is not true for a Cummins, a Cat or a large piston aircraft engine. We're just talking about a different cost model.

I have done plenty of things that are probably more extravagant than a preluber just because I wanted to do them. If you want to do a preluber I think that's great. I didn't mean to rain on anyone's parade. I was just looking at the cost justification.

My $0.02,

Thanks for the ....02 cents....my grandfather always told me to watch the pennies....the dollars would take care of themselves...

I totally agree....what if I add a pre luber for under a $100.00 ... maybe then....the top of the engine....will out last the bottom....lol...

I am still looking for my accumulator device....

Any hydraulics people in the group?.....I am looking for a 1 quart capacity aluminum tank....might look like a miniture diving bottle or a small propane bottle....

You put a hydraulic solenoid valve on the end of this..
Mount it valve side down in the engine compartment.....
Tee it into your oil pressure sending unit mount....

Open the valve....with your engine running....and 1 quart of oil is pumped into the cylinder....close the valve...add one quart of oil to your engine...

Then....before you crank your engine....you open the tank valve...the air pressure from the empty tank has compressed with the oil and will push the oil out....into the empty oil chambers of the upper engine....

I found a site that has small oil pumps...am checking into that also.

Nathan
p.s.....I am doing this because I do a lot of stop and go driving...city type....maybe I should just rig the engine so I can lock the car....and keep the engine running.......you know....never shut the engine off until I am done for the day.

[leathermang]

I am not sure what emergency you are trying to protect against with an accumulator..

Most of the time I have read of them they are used on racing engines doing 6000 rpm plus... in case of an oil line blowing out.. and include an ignition shutoff ,,, and this accumulated oil is an attemp to keep the bearings lubed while the engine gets shut down....

From an engineering viewpoint... with this limited amount of oil, and relatively slow injection ... I think you will want to examine the relative friction looking from the oil pressure sending unit hole... it may very well be that the oil will wind up traveling toward the oil pump instead of towards the bearings...

If you are worried about an engine run on after an oil line blowing it might be more effective to install a vacuum switch which would activate the regular shut off on the engine based on a drop in oil pressure... like some cars have for shutting off the electric gas pump in case of accident ...

[leathermang]

Larry , I was just checking to see if you are reading my posts...

Nate,

You can purchase an accumulator from Summit Racing Products. It is a cylinder with piston and spring. When you start it up it forces oil into the cylinder, compressing the piston and thus the spring. Upon failure, the spring forces the oil back where it came from maintaining oil pressure.

The problem is that how will you know that the accumulator is making up for the loss of pressure from some other source? Something to think about and plan for.

Good luck,