Re: oil pressure / starting a car

[Robert Verde <Robert_Verde@pgn.com>]

I used to see ads for a Accusump (sp?) oil accumulator.  It was described as 
holding a quart or two of engine oil upon engine shutdown, which oil was 
released upon starting to oil the valve train/rocker arm assemblies during the 
first few seconds.  I have also seen pictures of it installed on some featured 
(American) hot rods in Car Craft and similar publications.

Has anyone used a unit like this?

Robert Verde 

>>> Joe Curry <spitlist@gte.net> 02/19 9:28 AM >>>
Romano,
Your hypothesis appears to be correct.  That is why all the new items
are showing up on the shelves of the auto parts stores.  Things like
"Slick 50", etc.

I had a '79 Buick Riviera that has an Air Research turbocharger mounted
on a V6.  Since the turbo ws oiled by engine oil, it was dry after
sitting all night.  My wife had a habit of getting in, starting up and
taking off.  Needless to say, I had to rebuild the turbo after 30,000
miles.  The guy at the shop who rebuilt it said they make a gravity
oiler that cures the problem.  It pumps oil into a reservoir above the
turbo unit and after the engine is turned off, the oil drips down into
the turbo and keeps the bearings wet.  Maybe we need something like that
for LBC engines that sit idle for long periods.

Romano Kroemer wrote:
> 
> Atwell-
> 
> >
> >At 11:12 AM 2/17/98 +0000, Romano Kroemer wrote:
> >>Listers,
> >>
> >>after the recent threads about oil-filters with drain-back valves and
> >>  starting cars after long storage, I thought I would share my car-starting
> >>  method with this list:
> >
> ><snip>
> >
> >My understanding of the wear incurred at start-up is thus:
> >
> >It is the strain of engine compression on the pistons, pressing on the
> >cylinder walls and crankshaft, that are bad.   Cycling the engine without
> >starting it does nothing to reduce this wear.
> >
> 
> .. but this compression is always there, also when the engine is running.
> 
> My understanding of wear at start-up is that there is no oil where it should
>   be for some seconds, while the engine is revving already at 1000+ rpm. Then
>   the oil-pump has done enough work to distribute the oil and the oil-pressure
>   has come up.
> 
> So, if I cycle/revv the engine at a lower rpm (with the starter motor only),
>   until I have distributed the oil/built up oil-pressure, I should induce
>   less wear.
> 
> Am I missing something here? Enlightment please!
> 
> - Romano
> 
> >This is the rationalization behind the practice of some folks who, before
> >starting an engine that has been sitting a long time, REMOVE THE SPARK
> >PLUGS and crank the starter long enough to generate oil pressure.
> >
> >"Pre-oilers" that use small electric pumps provide oil pressure independant
> >of the engine.  Some use a pressure system instead of a pump.   Drawback:
> >these pre-oilers can cost several hundred dollars.
> >
> >Speed shops such as Jegs or Summit (in the USA) can provide exact info.
> >
> >my .02 ...
> >
> >BTW, I have also heard that the oil film inside an engine will protect the
> >cylinders for two weeks to a month.  Can anyone verify this?
> >
> >
> >
> >Atwell Haines
> >'79 Spitfire  FM96062 UO
> >
> >"47.5% of all statistics are made up on the spot."
> >
> 
> --
> 
>===============================================================================
> Dr. Romano T. Kroemer
> Phys. & Theoret. Chem. Lab.
> University of Oxford
> South Parks Rd.                       | Tel:     ++44-1865-275475
> Oxford OX1 3QZ                        | Fax:     ++44-1865-275410
> England, U.K.                         | Email:   
>romano@bellatrix.pcl.ox.ac.uk 
> 
>===============================================================================

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