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The discussion about the oil pressure gauge got me thinking again about installing a pre-luber (also known as a pre-oiler) when I finish the rebuild on my T245A. I'm familiar with these devices on larger applications (railroad diesel prime movers), but not on automotive engines.

Anyone here install one on their M37? Any experiences with specific brand(s) and/or vendor(s)?

For those not familiar with a pre-luber, it's basically a reservoir tank for engine oil combined with a valve (either manual or solenoid) that allows the tank to fill with oil under pressure when the engine is running, and then shuts the feed line when the engine stops, holding the oil under pressure. Before starting the engine again (which is when most bearing wear occurs), the valve is opened, allowing oil to pressurize the engine's lubrication system, and most importantly, filling the clearance between plain bearings. There are systems that use an electric pump instead of a reservoir tank, but simpler is usually better, especially since (most) of our M37s don't run turbos (the electric pump allows pressurized oil to the hot turbo bearings after engine shutdown).

If your engine is in good running order and you are running good quality friction additives it is not needed for this type of engine at all, no damage will be done on startup. Huge engines are a different story, they run the pre-lubers to get a good coating of oil on the crank and other assemblies, the crank will actually be "floated" on the oil pre-startup. Whatck some Wynns friction modifier or similar in there and all will be good

MM

Its a neat idea but not sure worth all the effort or needed. I know this engine is an old design but I work on a fleet that has over 2000 vehicles [mostly trucks] and all we use is oil. Many go over 200K miles of a very hard life. No friction modifiers or additives just plain old oil. Whatever viscosity /API/C-ratings for diesel , the manufacture calls for is it.
I've seen some of the pre-lubers your talking about on big GM locomotive diesel power plants [peaking units]. Also we have some Onan/Cummins 100 kw generators that start at wide open throttle and they don't even have pre-lubers just block heaters. . Nothing like a diesel starting on a cold day at wide open throttle, makes me cringe. You probably wont ever start your M37 at wide open throttle.