Engines are easily the most expensive and
probably most complex component on a coach. Experts agree that the
greatest wear and tear on an engine takes place when it is started
dry, without oil pressure. This particular engine was one of two
experimental turbo charged Detroit Diesels installed in new
Greyhound buses at MCI in Winnipeg in 1979. ROBERT
REDDEN, REDDEN ARCHIVES
Engine experts, including those at McDonnell Douglas and the Society
of Automotive Engineers have demonstrated that the majority of engine
wear occurs during engine startup. Some SAE studies show that up to 90
percent of this wear occurs during this time. Experts believe that one
start is equivalent to 500 miles of normal driving. Regular oil
changes and preventative maintenance can help reduce wear, but there
is one problem that has always caused headaches - dry starting.
Dry starting refers to the time between your engine start and the
introduction of oil into your engine, or oil pressure. It is during
this time that most of the engine wear occurs. The problem is metal
against metal waiting for oil to lubricate the surfaces. You can
imagine engine parts in their dry state after sitting through the
weekend, or in between trips, or even each morning. The abrasive metal
particles that are rubbed off in these dry-starts accelerate engine
wear. How can this be prevented?
What about oil pressure? You would not dream of driving your bus
without oil pressure. In fact if your oil pressure drops, you know
what the consequences could be. So why then, do we start our engines
without oil pressure?
Many people will pull their distributors and hook a drill up to the
mechanical oil pump to lube their engines before startup. Others turn
their engines over until the oil "idiot light" goes off.
This would be a good idea for all of us, but it obviously is not
practical.
Well, now it is possible to pre-lubricate and pre-pressurize your
engine before starting. A device on the market in the automotive and
marine industries since 1986 and 1990 respectively, is a patented pump
and motor assembly called the Pre-Luber. The mechanism is designed to
pump oil from the oil pan into the oil sending unit, or a main oil
galley, prior to engaging the engine. It achieves up to 55 psi of
pressure, depending on the size of the engine, and completely bathes
the engine in oil to prevent dry-starts, oil starvation and the
destructive metal to metal contact before oil pressure is achieved.
Yes, it is another one of those, "Why didn't I think of
that?" inventions that is so obvious in its application and need
that we all wonder why we did not do it first. Not only will this pump
automatically prime and pressurize the engine before starting, it
makes oil changes a lot easier, and will continue to run after an
engine is shut down to cool off critical engine parts and turbo
bearings to prevent coking.
Independent tests show the application of the Pre-Luber to an
engine significantly reduces friction at engine start up and is shown
to reduce bearing wear by as much as 53 percent. That means nearly
double your engine life.
The Pre-Luber can be activated by the opening of a door or more
commonly when the key is turned to the "on" or
"accessory" position. A small electronic control module
automates all the functions via signal from the ignition sensing wire.
There are no switches or buttons to fool with on the dash or control
panel. Turning the key to the on position starts the 60 second
pre-lubrication cycle. At once, the friction prone surfaces throughout
the engine are coated in oil; the rods, main cam, turbo, bearings,
chains, etc. are quickly covered with slippery protection.
Post lubrication can be advantageous for buses with turbos. Turbo
bearings remain extremely hot after engine shut off and create coking
of oil. This can also be eliminated with the Pre-Luber. The turbo
version provides a post-lubrication cycle, of up to five minutes, to
provide continual oil flow through the engine and turbo. This
facilitates engine and oil cool down. The oil circulates through the
turbo charger thereby preventing coking of the turbo and warping of
the engine.
Another advantage of the Pre-Luber is the simple and easy oil
change. The hose connected to the outlet side of the pump can be
fitted with a quick disconnect coupling, and allows you to run that
hose to a container where the oil can be eliminated from the oil pan.
Turn the key to the "accessory" position and pump the oil.
Most oil can be discarded in about two minutes.
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