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Don't Dry Start your Engine

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Lee Schaumberg

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2003
Messages
215
Location
Northern Wisconsin
Hello

Engines require oil to lubricate and cool like the body uses blood to do. About 50% of the wear occurs during start up. Stationary engines have a prelube pump to use Before start up. These engines can run 20,000 hours at full load between overhauls.

Starting a dry and cold engine causes lots of wear. So what can we do? A prelube system for mobile equipment does exist but planes don't normally do this. 20,000 to 30,000 for a zero time engine that can last 2,000 hours is what it costs. Warmng a cold engine for starting is good for the OH time but what to do about the lack of oil?
Planes must use lite and trouble free stytems. The system has to be simple and easy to build. With that said here is a system that works.
A container to store the oil and pressure. Size can be about 2 quarts. The pressure can come from the oil pump just before shut down. Its design can use a compressable device to maximize content and pressure. The engine can be run at max rpm just before shut down for max pressure.
The container can be made out of carbon fiber. An aluminum container would be too heavy. The mounting bracket could be part of the container.
The oil and preesure could be gotten from same point that you get oil pressure. If the pilot suspects a low oil level at shut down stop the engine and top off the oil first. Using two more quarts when the engine is down three quarts is not good.
The source has to be equiped with a switch acuated valve. If it doesn'twork or if you forget nothing will be broken. When using the prelube the oil pressure gauge will confirm operation.
Knowing this you will need a storage tank, a valve, a switch, an indicator light, and lines to hook it up. After designing details, building, photographing, and running it you can sell plans to the no time home builder.

Bye and have fun
 
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