I thought I would open a prelube topic. Bob the M11 doesn't need oil pressure to start but it needs information from one of the
sensors before it will start. I built my own preluber and I just have a switch on the dash to make it work. I press the switch until I
have oil pressure and then turn the engine over. I put it in as it is a big engine saver.
Thanks
Do you have any more specifics...source, cost, install, etc??? I had them on my Cummins VT-903 boat motors and it was a definite plus for peace of mind.
The began on the thread 39MT Starter Installation after I pointed out the Cummins makes a starter that doubles as a pre-lube pump.
According to Cummins "Only three basic Prelub models fit virtually all Cummins, Caterpillar, Detroit Diesel and other heavy duty diesel applications. Air start applications can also be accommodated."
For me, if you need to replace your starter, you have a choice between one type of economy and the other. Since the pre-lube option is from Cummins, I imaging we should sit down before asking the price, but this is a Cummins solution.
My Cummins 12V 5.9 fires off disturbingly quickly after sitting.
Cummins Prelub™ Starters (https://quickserve.cummins.com/info/qsol/products/cummins_recon_parts/prelub.html)
Seems like you could do this with something like a Facet pump and an intake line.
Main things you need to know is where to get the oil from and where to put it so it gets to the bearings.
I bought a pump on Amazon and the fittings locally. The pump I got is too small and I'm looking for another one. As John said,
I got the oil out of a plug on the side of my pan and the oil goes into the filter housing so it is filter. You need a check valve and the
rest of the fittings and hose to go from the pan to the pump and from the pump to the check valve and into the filter housing.
I got a spring switch and used a relay near the pump. I need at least a 5 gal per minute pump and a larger would be preferable.
The only thing that wears out on these engines are the rings. If you can prelube the rings you have something. Just a big money changer paranoid type thing.
Our no-cost Pre-Luber . . .
Our mechanical Cummins C-8.3 engine's fuel shut-off solenoid has two 12-volt internal coils. Ignition powered coil holds fuel flow valve open, AFTER the starter-crank powered stronger coil PULLS-UP the coil.
Starter-crank power is a wire connected to Aux-Start solenoid terminal that powers the starter's coil. This wire now is connected through a normally-closed 12,volt relay terminal.
The relay coil is powered from a dash 12-volt ignition source through a normally-open push button switch.
We hold down the push button switch to NOT open fuel shut off solenoid, then crank engine for a few moments, before releasing (opening) push button to open fuel flow, while continuing to crank. Our engine normally fires on first crank after fuel is flowing.
Idea is to get engine oil flowing before engine is firing.
Is not the same as a prelube,engine is still turning over with no oil pressure,with a prelube you have oil pressure before the engine moves.
Something similar to this?
Accusump Accumulator (https://www.cantonracingproducts.com/accusump)
If I were fabricating something for a pre-oiler this would be my choice. Only one hose needed and would get the bearings oiled. Our big engines would need a lot of oil.
And keep in mind wherever you are putting it into the engine, it can go both ways, only thing keeping it from going back into the pan are the oil pump gears and maybe the oil filter.
Were we seeing even a small percent of engine failures due to WEAR, I can see the desire for a pre-lube system.
But, unless dusted, coolant totally neglected, etc, I don't recall a case where rings, etc wore to the point of needing repair.
DSD here bought a m11 ECU for his new to him coach. The ECU showed 800k miles. In a truck. His engine restarted after a 12 year park without incident....
Bob I think that is his replacement ECM mileage. The original one didn't function.
The idea is that an m11 went 800k miles in a truck probably without a preluber
There is a post in another thread where a member had a truck with m-11 with 1.3 million miles.
I hope to verify that... in about 1.2 million miles. ;D
My preluber installed 1996. Cost $400. The company who made these no longer in business. Here how it works. Turn the key to the on position and luber comes on. You can hear it. Runs about a minute as it builds up pressure, you can hear the pump slow down. When pump stops, hit ignition and you are on your way. On shutdown when key turned off pump comes on and runs for a good 3 minutes. To be honest I have not researched how the timing is accomplished. Think it may be from ECM? Get lots of comments in campgrounds. Hooking up electricity it's " whats that noise? ". Further a very simple fix if you want to use the luber to drain your oil at oil change time.
I didn't install the hose at the bottom of the pan so can't use it to drain the oil but the last owner put in a drain system so I'm good.