engine prestart lubrication pumps or systems (picture)

Ronald Mears · Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 13 Location: cardiff south wales

Has anybody had any experience or knowledge of engine prelube systems that can be used on an R type engine. I have recently searched the internet and found quite a few products on offer being both pump systems and accumilator systems. However I have not be able to find any in the UK. There appear to be plenty of sites in America. Any information would be most grateful Kind regards Ron

Laurie Fox · Guest

Ron

I have no experience of prelubrication arrangements but you might be interested in my solution to avoiding undue engine wear on starting up. The need to do something arises since I am 92 and have to look after an invalid wife who is also nearly the same age. This means that our MK VI is now only used for shopping and goes down to the car park to wait for me to return with all the stuff - about 3/4 mile each way. Total mileage between the last MOT and the one before was only just over 200 miles. The car has a full flow filter like the R Type.

But the lower radiator hose has an electric heater (250 watt) and if it is a shopping day this gets turned on for about 3 hours with the result that the coolant is warmed to about 30 deg C above ambient and everything under the bonnet is dry. So there is no such thing as a start from dead cold. The engine fires after the starter has turned the crankshaft for about one turn with minimal choke and the choke can be returned to the unchoked position instantly. Oil pressure rises to 30 lb/sq in in about 15 seconds or so. The car is on it's second engine which had now done 108,000 miles, the head has never been removed and compression is still perfect on all cylinders.

The oil does syphon back through the main pipes to some extent when the car is put away and also through the smaller pipes which feed the rocker shaft etc. So there is some air in the system when the engine is started up for the day. Where it is and how it gets out I don't know but the filter chamber must remain full all the time since both the inlet and outlet connections are at the top. It is noticeable that the pressure gauge rises very quickly to 4 lb/sq in when the feed to the rocket shaft picks up and then rises a little more slowly to the 30 lb/sq in level.

I know that this does not answer your question but it does get over my problem. I particularly like the fact that virtually no choke is needed and that all six cylinders are in action straight away so there can't be much neat petrol going into cylinders.

Regards

Laurie

Ronald Mears · Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 13 Location: cardiff south wales

Thankyou Laurie for your reply. Regarding your cooling water heating system I seem to remember they were quite popular some years ago but havent seen any advertised recently. This solution to cut engine wear is also something I would like to fit if they are still available. Regarding the prelube system I was particularly thinking about the first start up of my rebuilt engine which I have almost finished and also the fact that this car is a fifth vehicle and therefore will be left for periods of non usage. I have found a site that advertises pre lube systems in America that appear reasonably straight forward. One in particular which looks interesting is an accumilator system whereby when the engine is running trhe accumilator is filled with pressurised oil ready to be released to pressurise the system upon the next startup controlled by valves and switches. However as I have stated I am very surprised that there does not appear to be any manufacturers in this country. Once again many thanks and all the best for the new year. Regards Ron

Laurie Fox · Guest

Ron

The heater in the radiator lower hose was probably one of the means of getting over cold, sticky and thick oil problems in the old days before viscosity improvers came in. Bray were the people who made mine many years ago and I was lucky enough to pick up a spare more recently. This is what the spare looks like.

I did a quick look at Google (world wide) which suggests that these things are quite popular in countries where they have colder winters than we do

Regards

Laurie

Alan Padgett · Guest

Ron,

On standard car engines the oil does not drain away critically from the lube system in my understanding. Keeping the car warm with safe heating is a good idea. What we shouldn't do is drive away fast on cold engines as so many people do. Though not so, with the caring people.

The methods used to pre-lube all engine parts when rebuilding is vital and special oils are available. I'm straying from the point here.

I use full synthetic Shell Oil on my R Type Bentley and the oil pressure shows on the gauge immediately the engine is turning over.

The racing people do have pre-lube systems that use the oil gallery and other sources to plug in large electric pumps. I have used this way on Bentley racing engines and it is good, but you soon find saturation point until the engine is turning. I have never had problems with bearings or any parts that could be down to lack of lubrication. As I said the initial pre-lubing on the engine building, is the critical one.

If you want more info I will have to look it up as I do not do this work daily now.

Alan.

James Costa · Joined: 04 Dec 2015 Posts: 16

Ronald

Thanks for your reply
I found your post most interesting
I probably will implement the idea

Jim

Christopher Carnley · Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2016 10:37 am Post subject:

James,

Ronald Mears reply was in 2007.

James Costa · Joined: 04 Dec 2015 Posts: 16

Christopher,

Got it thx

Christopher Carnley · Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2016 9:38 am Post subject:

James,

Only yesterday I was commiserating with Jeremy Padgett regarding the passing of his father, Alan. See above.