Pre-Oil, Just The Ticket or Just Wrong?

[Bezrek]

I was talking to a colleague about the Cam Cover + pre-oiler option for the Speed 6. He has a fair knowledge of all things mechanical and asked if anyone had tried fitting an isolator switch the the fuel pump so you could "turn the engine over" and build some oil pressure without ignition. To me it seems a good idea so long as you have a strong battery but I know very little about such things. BTW.... 6 days away from becoming a Tuscan owner!!!! Will be sorry to see the Cerb go but all things must change etc etc etc....

[dvs_dave]

When I used to install big diesel generator sets, when new/not been run for a while, we were told by the manufacturers (Cummins) to disconnect the fuel solenoid and crank the engine until an oil pressure registered on the gauge. It was then safe to start the engine normally.

Putting some sort of delay (say 5 seconds) on the fuel injection system to get the oil flowing sounds like a good idea to me.

[satman]

Still means metal on metal for a few seconds irrespecive of wether the engine fires or not...my understanding is that the Raceproved Cam cover does the lubricating even before the engine turns over, so must surely be the optimum option?

[Stu R]

could always go for something like this..

http://www.accusump.com/

[custardkid]

Stu R said:

could always go for something like this..

http://www.accusump.com/

stu do you know anyone that has fitted one?

seems like a simple system

custard

[Speed eight]

I have used them for many years.
Just fit it and forget it. It could not be easier.

Regards,
Speedeight.

[Whitey]

Raceproved should just release some hard facts about their product, it would save all this speculation.

[D14 AYS]

Speed eight said:

I have used them for many years.
Just fit it and forget it. It could not be easier.

How easy is it to fit ?

[goon1001]

Just been reading the accusump web blub, does sound very good and relatively easy to fit, which option would you choose speed eight? the sandwich plate or T into the dry sump to scavenger pump pipe?

[Stu R]

custardkid said:

Stu R said:

could always go for something like this..

http://www.accusump.com/

stu do you know anyone that has fitted one?

seems like a simple system

custard

Yep, know a couple of folks who have them fitted to different cars, and I've got one waiting to be fitted to mine. Heard nothing but good things about them!

[custardkid]

Stu,

did you buy it direct from the states or is there a UK supplier?

am i correct in thinking that you have to open and close the valve, rather than it being fit an forget? run engine, open valve so canister fills under pressure. close valve. stop engine. system un presurised. open valve to squirt oil round engine. start engine and repeat procedure.

????

custard

[plasticman]

Speedeight , were you using it as a pre-oiler ?

[goon1001]

Loking at the systems web site you can fit an electronic valve that opens when you turn the ign on, seems best way to me to do it. The kits via the states are about £150 i have sourced them for, would still need to get a sandwich plate and take off pipe if you decided to fit it that way. Maybe a group buy is in order if a few of us wanted them ,would save on postage and haggle down the price some?

[goon1001]

custardkid said:

Stu,

did you buy it direct from the states or is there a UK supplier?

am i correct in thinking that you have to open and close the valve, rather than it being fit an forget? run engine, open valve so canister fills under pressure. close valve. stop engine. system un presurised. open valve to squirt oil round engine. start engine and repeat procedure.

????

custard

I would think going straight from the states would prove a lot cheaper and maybe we could do a group buy if people are interested?? As for the valves, you can get and electronic on that opens it on ign switch on.

[ceejay]

I used an accusump on my twin turbo race car to alleviate oil surge problems when pulling high G in corners. In this application it worked very well, i.e. oil requirement for short periods of time. I wonder if an accusump would have sufficient capacity to pre-oil the top end of a speed 6 engine.

The accusump is quite large to so you'll need to find somewhere safe to mount it and you have to be careful not to distort the body otherwise the piston will stick. To keep pressure in the accusump you need a solenoid type valve which closes when the engine is turned off. When you do this you'll need good pressure to fill the accusump so normally you have to rev the engine whilst shutting down. The only other difficulty I had was judging oil levels which will depend on the pressure (and volume) of the oil in the accusump.

ceejay

[custardkid]

goon1001 said:

............maybe we could do a group buy if people are interested?? ............

i'll second that

custard

[Stu R]

goon1001 said:

custardkid said:

Stu,

did you buy it direct from the states or is there a UK supplier?

am i correct in thinking that you have to open and close the valve, rather than it being fit an forget? run engine, open valve so canister fills under pressure. close valve. stop engine. system un presurised. open valve to squirt oil round engine. start engine and repeat procedure.

????

custard

I would think going straight from the states would prove a lot cheaper and maybe we could do a group buy if people are interested?? As for the valves, you can get and electronic on that opens it on ign switch on.

spot on. Got mine from the states and it worked out much cheaper. There is a UK supplier, but I forget who they are. As mentioned there's electronics available to make it fully automated when you turn the key. Very simple system, but it works brilliantly as a pre-oiler and in terms of maintaining oil pressure whilst driving.

[Leadfoot]

Bezrek said:

so you could "turn the engine over" and build some oil pressure without ignition....

Pulling out the ignition & injector fuses lets you turn the engine over without starting it.
Makes about 8psi as it spins over IIRC.
I'm sure you could wire a switch into the wiring for these fuses without too much trouble.

[nelly1]

Stu R said:

There is a UK supplier, but I forget who they are...

Et Voila...