Question about oil pumps

[bommy261]

I was chatting with my cousin like 2 weeks ago who is a mechanic on diesel engines. We started talking about cars and shit. We got into a discussion about how startup is the worst time for your engine. Because oil sinks to the bottom of the engine when its off, the engine probably cycles 5-10 times before oil is on all the cylinder walls and pistons. So, why not just have an electric oil pump that turns on when the radio and other electronics go on and starts pumping oil. Would this not prolong the life of the engine?

Anyone care to enlighten me as to why this is not common place in cars?

 

[bruceb]

Cost is the main reason. If you want, you can add one to any car. Runs about $190 or so

http://www.autoenginelube.com/

http://www.autoenginelube.com/ordernow.html

 

[HarryLui]

Because engine can last over 200k miles without it?

 

[bruceb]

Maybe. But if you put one in, it will go almost forever. Think of all the money they would lose from repair cost.

 

[LTC8K6]

There's still a good film of oil on the parts, so an electric pump isn't really necessary.

 

[HarryLui]

Maybe. But if you put one in, it will go almost forever. Think of all the money they would lose from repair cost.

Most of the time, people get tired of their cars faster than the engine dies.

Beside, the number one killer of engine is probably due to lack of regular oil change, not minor engine wear on start up.

 

[exdeath]

It's called boundary metals. Lead, moly, zinc, etc, coats the moving parts and lubricates them in the absence of oil pressure. It's also the job of the oil filter to have a properly designed anti drain back valve so that oil flow begins immediately as soon as the pump turns.

 

[Eli]

It's just not necessary, though I won't disagree that it wouldn't help.

You have to understand that everything is still coated in oil inside the engine. It doesn't drip off, leaving clean, grease free metal surfaces.

 

[bommy261]

thanks for the info, i thought overtime it would settle to the pan and leave the important cylinders and walls bone dry

 

[boomerang]

http://treperformance.com/i-133411-canton-2-quart-accusump-oil-accumulator.htmlhttp://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/p...rce=Google&utm_medium=ShoppingUS&currency=USD

Another version of what bruceb linked to. We used to use these in the race cars to control oil pressure loss in turns due to centrifugal force moving oil away from the pickup.