A pre-lubrication oil system extends engine life and eliminates premature failure of engine components due to lack of lubrication on start-up. Installation is quick and easy.

By Jan Mundy

You may not realize it, but simply starting your engine causes significant wear. The grinding and knocking sounds a cold engine briefly makes upon startup is engine wear occurring. In fact, as high as 95% of engine wear occurs in the first 10 seconds after startup before oil has pressurized and coated bearings and other critical parts.

When a hot engine is turned off, it begins to cool and lubricating fluid drips into the oil pan. The longer the engine sits, the thicker the cooling lubricant becomes and the more difficult it is to pump the oil. For a few seconds after a cold startup, no oil pressure is present. Running at fast idle, the engine waits for oil to coat the bearings, cams, rods and pistons. This causes cold start-up engine wear. Should the engine stall, the wear process is repeated. Abrasive metal particles that are rubbed off at startup also accelerate engine wear. Letting an engine warm up at a slow idle does not eliminate engine wear. Such un-oiled "dry" starts occur in very cold or very hot weather, after an oil change or following prolonged periods of non-use. Your engine may last a lot longer if all moving parts are prelubericated before start-up.

Hailed as "the greatest thing since sliced bread" by Marine Business Journal, the Pre-Luber from Engine Lubrication Systems minimizes dry-start wear on engine components each time the engine starts. Originally engineered in 1988 for cars, the system has gone through various generations and the newest marine version has eliminated pressure problems experienced by earlier models.

 

Operation is quite simple. An electric pump-driven system wired to the engine's existing ignition lubricates and pressurizes the engine with oil prior to cranking. Turning the ignition key to the "on" position sends a signal to the Pre-Luber to start. It pulls oil up from the oil pan into the engine and pumps oil through the engine following the same oil channels as the engine oil pump. For up to 60 seconds it bathes friction-prone engine surfaces with oil. Engine oil is pressurized up to 55 psi before turning the key to engage the starter and starting the engine. Pre-Luber then shuts off and the oil pump takes over. As the system isn't wired to the starter motor, in an emergency situation or when you're impatient, you can turn the key to the "start" position and drive away without waiting for the preluberication cycle.

Weighing less than 4.5kg (10lb), the Pre-Luber's compact and lightweight pump is a patented ring and rotor mechanical unit capable of pumping up to 140W oil. It's compatible with all natural and synthetic engine oils and additives. A built-in check valve prevents oil back flowing into the pump, causing a loss of pressure. A brass mesh filter screen filters the oil; another filter can be added to the outlet line if desired. Power draw is four to 26 amps depending on engine temperature.

Quick five-minute oil changes are possible with an optional disconnect coupling without having to loosen the drain plug. Just put the hose end into a container, turn the ignition key to "on" and pump out dirty oil without having to loosen the drain plug. Upon startup, the Pre-Luber automatically fills oil filters.

Pre-Luber comes in three 12-volt versions to fit most gas and diesel engines: Standard (US$498), Heavy Duty (US$545) for 454 cu. in. gas and 7.2L diesel engines, and Turbo; the 24-volt system retails for US$649. With a turbo-charged diesel engine, the turbo bearing is the last critical part to receive oil. The Pre-Turboluber (US$599) incorporates a cool-down cycle to lubricate the engine and prevent heat "spikes" after shutdown. With the engine off, the pump continues to run oil through the engine for 30 seconds to five minutes, the recommended minimum time being three minutes. This provides engine and oil cooling, reduces condensation and engine warping, cools turbo bearings and apparently doubles the life of the turbo charger.