Seeking help selecting a Pre-Luber...
Discussion
Hi all,
I have decided to purchase and install a pre-luber on my '85 Esprit Turbo to protect and prolong the engine rebuild I did last summer.
I have researched a couple of available units, they range from $200-$600USD. There are at least two types of pre-luber on the market. My knowledge & experience is limited about these, so I am asking anyone who has one, has used one in the past, knows of a model/make of pre-luber (preferably with a link) please let me know.
Information on a Make/Model (Especially any UK models), installation, price, and general impressions of having used one would be very helpful and much appreciated. TIA...Jim '85TE
I have decided to purchase and install a pre-luber on my '85 Esprit Turbo to protect and prolong the engine rebuild I did last summer.
I have researched a couple of available units, they range from $200-$600USD. There are at least two types of pre-luber on the market. My knowledge & experience is limited about these, so I am asking anyone who has one, has used one in the past, knows of a model/make of pre-luber (preferably with a link) please let me know.
Information on a Make/Model (Especially any UK models), installation, price, and general impressions of having used one would be very helpful and much appreciated. TIA...Jim '85TE
Hey Jim,
I was going to do the same thing. Space consideration is a main thing with me as it will be in your case too. I think I going with a Canton device marketed under the name accusump. They have been around for a long time and I have used them before. It will even cut in when going around sharp turns or when ever it detects low oil pressure it will fire the accumilator. I have heard of people hitting an object and losing the contents of the sump and the unit provided enough oil pressure to pull over without engine damage.
www.accusump.com/
Let me know if you find another that is better.
Calvin
I was going to do the same thing. Space consideration is a main thing with me as it will be in your case too. I think I going with a Canton device marketed under the name accusump. They have been around for a long time and I have used them before. It will even cut in when going around sharp turns or when ever it detects low oil pressure it will fire the accumilator. I have heard of people hitting an object and losing the contents of the sump and the unit provided enough oil pressure to pull over without engine damage.
www.accusump.com/
Let me know if you find another that is better.
Calvin
Calvin,
I agree with you that accusump makes a good unit. Problem is that they are somewhat bulky, the need to scavenge oil on tight turns is really unecessary for a street car and it provides no shut-off capability to cool the turbo. Still, they are on my short list.
Some others I have found are the Pre-Luber®
www.enginelube.com/
and the AutoengineLube Kit
www.autoenginelube.com/pages/903473/index.htm
I am particularly interested in any information on models coming from the UK or beyond that we don't see here in the States.
The Pre-luber is by far the best unit and the most expensive, but affords a timer (turbo model) which runs the oil pump for up to 5 minutes after turning off the ignition.
The Accusump and the AutoengineLube Kit rely on the engine's oil pump and I have concerns about adequate oil flow and pressure (since the unit robs pressure from the pump). Add to that the Accusump must be pressurised with a remote air source to work... increasingly difficult to find at today's convenience stations.
Let's work together on this and perhaps even get a group discount should we be able to agree on a particular model...Jim '85TE
>> Edited by lotusguy on Friday 3rd January 15:56
I agree with you that accusump makes a good unit. Problem is that they are somewhat bulky, the need to scavenge oil on tight turns is really unecessary for a street car and it provides no shut-off capability to cool the turbo. Still, they are on my short list.
Some others I have found are the Pre-Luber®
www.enginelube.com/
and the AutoengineLube Kit
www.autoenginelube.com/pages/903473/index.htm
I am particularly interested in any information on models coming from the UK or beyond that we don't see here in the States.
The Pre-luber is by far the best unit and the most expensive, but affords a timer (turbo model) which runs the oil pump for up to 5 minutes after turning off the ignition.
The Accusump and the AutoengineLube Kit rely on the engine's oil pump and I have concerns about adequate oil flow and pressure (since the unit robs pressure from the pump). Add to that the Accusump must be pressurised with a remote air source to work... increasingly difficult to find at today's convenience stations.
Let's work together on this and perhaps even get a group discount should we be able to agree on a particular model...Jim '85TE
>> Edited by lotusguy on Friday 3rd January 15:56
They have a compact design in various sizes and the holding tank can be mounted in any orientation. It does not require the use of outside air compressors. Just pressure from the oil pump. 2 qt. Accusump (#24-026) are recommended for surge control on Small Block V-8, V-6, and 4 cylinder engines as well as pre-oiling all size engines.Ideal for applications where mounting space is restricted. This unit is 12" long 4.25" in diameter without valve or gauge.With the gauge installed the length ncreases 2.5" and the valve installed adds another 3.25". Both the valve and gauge can be mounted away from the unit if necessary. It maybe a larger than one with an electric pump tied in to the sump, thats the price you pay for the pressure loss feature.
This what is said to about other designs:
The bottle design must be mounted vertically to effectively hold and discharge any measurable amount of oil. Vertical mounting is a major installation problem in most applications because of the amount of available room. Because of the lack of a bladder or a piston seperating the air against the oil, they can become mixed through typical automotive vibrations and movements allowing air to escape into the engine. As the air escapes into the engine the unit becomes less and less effective. Without a means to seperate the air and oil the unit cannot be precharged with air. This lack of a precharge makes the operating pressure range very low. Many units use a smaller connections which cannot provide enough of a flow needed for surge control. While the bottle design is available in the manual and electric versions we have found them to be less than effective.
Electric motor driven pre-oiler
This design is overcomplicated which means more parts to fail and more maintenance. Some of these designs draw unfiltered oil straight from the bottom of the pan, usually through the drainplug to use for pre-oil. These units are only designed for pre-oiling and do not provide surge protection. In comparison, our design is simple and provides more by it's pre-oiling and surge protection capabilities.
Accusump imitations
Our original design has been upgraded over the years to provide the most reliable unit on the market.
We use screw in end caps with safety clamps to prevent failure.
Our unit comes with a safety high pressure blow-off valve.
Heavy wall aluminum tubing.
Double o-ring sealed piston.
Air pressure gauge.
Schrader type air precharge valve.
Although a rare occurance I will opt for the accumilator that will supply oil incase of pressure loss instead of just a pre oiler. The fact that it does not continue to oil the turbo on shut off does not bother me that much.
Calvin
This what is said to about other designs:
The bottle design must be mounted vertically to effectively hold and discharge any measurable amount of oil. Vertical mounting is a major installation problem in most applications because of the amount of available room. Because of the lack of a bladder or a piston seperating the air against the oil, they can become mixed through typical automotive vibrations and movements allowing air to escape into the engine. As the air escapes into the engine the unit becomes less and less effective. Without a means to seperate the air and oil the unit cannot be precharged with air. This lack of a precharge makes the operating pressure range very low. Many units use a smaller connections which cannot provide enough of a flow needed for surge control. While the bottle design is available in the manual and electric versions we have found them to be less than effective.
Electric motor driven pre-oiler
This design is overcomplicated which means more parts to fail and more maintenance. Some of these designs draw unfiltered oil straight from the bottom of the pan, usually through the drainplug to use for pre-oil. These units are only designed for pre-oiling and do not provide surge protection. In comparison, our design is simple and provides more by it's pre-oiling and surge protection capabilities.
Accusump imitations
Our original design has been upgraded over the years to provide the most reliable unit on the market.
We use screw in end caps with safety clamps to prevent failure.
Our unit comes with a safety high pressure blow-off valve.
Heavy wall aluminum tubing.
Double o-ring sealed piston.
Air pressure gauge.
Schrader type air precharge valve.
Although a rare occurance I will opt for the accumilator that will supply oil incase of pressure loss instead of just a pre oiler. The fact that it does not continue to oil the turbo on shut off does not bother me that much.
Calvin
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