Engine hours vs Age

[Marin]

RickB wrote:At "finished with engines" the*fuel lever was pulled to shutoff the fuel and that is how the engine was stopped.

This is the system used on the Ford Lehman 120.* I don't know about the FL135 as I've never run one of these engines.

*

[C lectric]

I used an old hydraulic pump from a 12V hydraulic pallet jack to make a preluber.

I installed a relief valve to ensure pressure never gets too high. These things are capable of producing far more pressure than the engine needs or likes. The pump delivery rate was low enough that I really didn't expect a high pressure problem but I wanted to be sure.

I also installed a check valve so the engine cannot backfeed oil to the pan through the prelube, just to be sure.

The thing will produce about 20-30PSI on the dash guage, takes about 20-25 seconds on a dead cold engine. It really shines at oil change time since it fills the filters and galleries before starting instead of starting and grittting my teeth while waiting.


I got a working pump for free and added about 150.00 worth of parts and a few evenings to clean, paint and assemble the thing. It's been about 15 years now.

Do I think it was needed - No. I did it because I had the pump and wanted a project. Many other engines the same age as mine are still around and working well without them.

If you do it, make sure you don't forget to turn the thing off. I forgot and cooked the upper motor bushing. Use a spring return mom. on switch and a relay. The motor draws about 70A.

There are commercially available ones for ~500.00 on up that are limited to about 40psi or you can fiddle one together if you can scrounge a working pump unit.

[Marin]

Just curious--- what kind of engine do you have, and where did you plumb the pump into the engine's oil system?

[C lectric]

The engine is a Cummins V555M - 33 years old now, ~5500 hours.

I plumbed in at the full flow filter head. The oil must pass through the filter before reaching the engine. I also have a bypass filter and it fills that filter also.

[FF]

Actually the use of an accumulator for pre start lube goes way baCK TO CAR RACING , 1950'S OR SO.

And Rick is indeed correct , the throttrle on my DD at least is simply pulled from slow idle (400rpm) to stop., the last detent.

A gallon or two of oil will lube most of the tractor or truck transplants , the oil pressure will read at the mechanical pressure dial, and during cranking the low oil pressure alarm does not go off..

On a newer engine it will put a bit up to the turbo bearings , just losten the feed line to see the oil.

My USN DD book recommends a minuet or so of warm up at 700rpm then "modest" throttle till the water circ temp is over 160F.