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.