Pre-luber

[mental floss]

I have a friend with a Chebby diesel and he had a preluber put on his truck that he can set for one minute before he starts the truck and will run fo up to six minutes after shut down. Do I need to look into getting one of these for the CTD? OPINIONS?

 

[CAW440]

Had one on my 94 for awhile, two failed control modules, then the pump itself failed and then caught fire, I think I'd pass on it , I'll never have another one.

 

[Peter Campbell]

INHO external oil plumbing is to be avoided. With the normal oil system and oil the engine will outlast the truck. If you really want it- by all means. But this is pretty far off the cost benefit curve. Turbo life saver ( delayed shutoff) might be better. At work the emergency generators have prelube pumps running. They are rated to energize the buss in 10 seconds and be full loaded 30 seconds later. Even in this far edge application they are only "nice to haves" and are not needed for the engines to fullfill its design function.

 

[Chief USA]

Preluber for sale

I have a preluber for sale still new in the box. Comes with fittings and hoses but it was for a Chevy but a few fittings or adapter should make it work for anything. I bought it and never got around to installing it my Chevy Suburban. When I bought the Dodge, I plum forgot about the preluber in the closet. I don't think one is needed with the Cummins. If anyone is interested PM or email me (rfrazier@compu.net).



Randy

 

[Kyle]

Had one for a while

My experience:



Took forever to get it hooked up -- tons of adapters, connectors, hoses, etc. -- all potential leaks. Plus had to build a custom bracket.



Intake went into the oil pan plug so it was always screaming, "Drag this off on a rock somewhere!"



When it ran it was nearly as loud as the engine but a lot more annoying (more the frequency than the volume). Took it off and remounted on a second custom-built bracket that had rubber grommets to keep the sound out of the frame -- only a little better.



The pump leaked all the time -- constant drip right out of the pump itself, not the fittings. Remounted it so the leak wouln't run into the motor -- really got tired of cleaning that up.



Oil analysis before & after indicated the pump added more iron to the oil than the engine did -- sure made it hard to identify any benefit.



Took it off first chance I got -- threw it in the trash -- wouldn't even give it away, much less try to sell it.



Kept the timer module -- might be nice if I ever need to power a circuit for a time after another circuit shuts off -- still can't think of what that might be.



It's a good idea. I just haven't seen anyone implement it well.

 

[illflem]

I've thought of getting this preluber http://www.autoenginelube.com/pages/903473/index.htm It's very simple, stores oil pressurized by your engine's oil pump in an air blatter tank similar to a well tank, releasing it when you click the key on. No pumps and only one connection to make. $199.



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[LSMITH]

I look at it this way: my engine will last 300K miles even if I hammer it constantly and maintain it just enough to get by. Why the heck would I want it to go farther? I don't hammer it all the time, and I take good care of it. The engine will last 3 trucks worth of miles the way I use and treat it. To add a pre-luber would be of little benefit in reality and no use in practical terms. If I am still driving it in 10 years with 500K+ on it I have done soething wrong, I want a new ride before then. "Fixing what is not broken or even slightly worn" is the category I put the pre-luber in.

 

[illflem]

Main reason I was considering one is that since I've moved closer to town I don't use my truck as much. Sometimes it dosen't get started for two weeks or more, plenty of time for all the oil to drain into the pan for a dry start. Otherwise LS is right, there's no real need for a preluber.

 

[JWhitcomb]

So with the accumulator tank style there is some period of time when your pan is overfilled with one or two quarts???

 

[illflem]

It must overfull in the time while you are prelubing until the tank is refilled. Don't think much oil will end up back in the pan (where it matters) in that short amount of time, think about how long it takes to get a good reading on your dipstick right after shutting down.

 

[JWhitcomb]

I guess as soon as the oil pump starts working the pre lube tank will start taking oil out of the system.