Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) prelube with starter

[ROADWARRIOR]

Does running the starter actually prelube the engine? I've read where pulling fuse #9 or #10 and then running the starter for 15 seconds or until the gauge shows pressure will prelube the engine. I've tried it a few different times over the last few years and never had any luck getting my gauge to read anything. This has included like five 15 second cycles in a row with no luck. My gauge doesn't have the 40psi TSB Dodge calibration fix either. lol



Thanks,

Dan

 

[Supermod56]

Yeah, it will "pre-lube" the motor somewhat, but it's not good on the old starter!!



Tom

 

[2-ND TIME]

Would be a start to do that but the rpm required to do that and with the starter be iffy ? Someone a number of years ago was advertising the Pre-luber pump have forgotten about it with all the stuff with this truck going on. If you want good engine protection use synthetic oils they flow faster and take heat and cold better. That is what I use. Just changed to oil filter the other day. 3984

 

[todt061458]

Is this what you are looking for? www.amsoil.com/storefront/amk.aspx or something kike it?

 

[WestTN]

Do yourself a favor and find any kind of old engine that has not been run in at least 6 months and disassemble it. You will find oil in the bearings. There have been a few trucks in the TDR documented with over a million miles on the engine. I can't recall any of them mentioning a pre-oiler. Most, if not all, did'nt have synthetic oil either.



You probably won't gain much, if anything, to offset the cost of any pre-oiler system. However, new starters do cost somwhere around $800 at the dealer.

 

[todt061458]

Sometimes it's more a piece of mind than actual value. If it makes him feel better who's he hurting? his pocket book?. I agree about the preluber but not about syn oil. And please no oil war. :-{}

 

[ROADWARRIOR]

Unlike the million mile trucks, mine is not run daily. Mine will have sat for almost 3 months without being started. I am more worried about the turbos than anything, and I'd rather be safe than have to tear the bottom turbo off prematurely because of no oil after sitting for a while. I really didn't want to break the oil supply lines if I could do it with the starter. Cummins recommends this procedure and I was wondering if anybody has done it and actually seen a pressure reading.



Thanks,

Dan

 

[rweis]

Have someone else start it for you every so often, sort of like "house" sitting, but is "truck" sitting. Buy them a 6 pack twice a month to crank it and run it 15 minutes every week.



Bob Weis

 

[ROADWARRIOR]

Bob,



I see my truck everyday. I just don't drive it in the heavy salt. I could start it myself, but I figured one dry start in the spring would be better than one or two a month. Besides that, my neighbors already frown on my truck. I couldn't imagine they'd like it any more if I let it idle for a half hour in the driveway. lol



Still wondering if anyone has seen a pressure reading on the gauge with using the starter prelube method.



Thanks,

Dan

 

[Mariner]

Pre-lube engine

Hi,



Thought I would comment on your concerns regarding pre-lubing your engine using the starter.



I went through this ten or twelve years ago on my 86 F250. I looked at the cost of a pre-lube pump and the cost of either/both turbocharger and starter. I decided the cheapest and most cost effective way was to install the pre-lube pump system. It cost me around $350 then and has paid me back handsomely since then ( a long story involving engine oil pump pick up tube cracked and sucking air!).



My Dodge 3500 dually is an 02 and is used almost daily. I expect I will install the pre-lube pump system on it in the near future too.



In my opinion, in your case it would be well worth the four hundred bucks to install the prelube pump on your truck.



HTH



Mariner

 

[TnLRacing]

http://www.accusump.com/



Very effective Pre-Oiler, and also some added protection in case of a temporary Oil pressure loss

 

[WestTN]

Here is something you might not have thought of. If your truck is going to sit for 3 months it would probably be a good idea to put a biocide additive in the fuel tank before your last drive. This will assure it gets into every place in the fuel system to prevent algae growth. That stuff is nasty to get rid of.

 

[jtisdale]

Have someone else start it for you every so often, sort of like "house" sitting, but is "truck" sitting. Buy them a 6 pack twice a month to crank it and run it 15 minutes every week.



Bob Weis

ME, ME, ME!!! I'll do it for a sixer! :-laf