Has anyone heard of these or ever used one?? I have a supplier that comes to see me from time to time that wants me to demo one for him. The idea is to supply oil to the turbo prior to starting the engine so the turbo doesn't spin up dry on start up and spin down dry when you shut down the engine. The concept sounds fine but I'm a little leary of letting someone put something on that could potentiolly harm my turbo.
What are your thoughts??

 

I've heard of them, but I don't remember now who it is that has one. They were crazy about it, though. If I remember right, it's pretty expensive, isn't it?

 

I didn't get the price of it, won't cost me anything since they want me to demo it. It makes sense, I just get freaked out thinking of modifying the oil system to my turbo.

 

I'd go for it, but I'd want to know how this thing taps into the system first. I wouldn't want something that's designed to keep the oil flowing before/after running the truck, but then find that it restricts flow while the truck is running.

 

EXACTLY!!
I'll be installing it. That's part of the demo, He has to take pictures of me doing the install I guess for the manufacturer to use for propaganda about the average Joe being able to install it. I'll definately read up on where it gets it's oil and how it's injected into the turbo long before install.
If I do this for him, I may get hooked up on a new exhaust and other cool go-fast goodies at no charge too!

 

Ask them if they want another guinea pig!! I'm always interested in more goodies, especially free ones!!

 

From every thing I have read about turbos it is not the pre lube that is so important as the post lube. Some people do this by using a turbo cool down that lets the engine idle until the turbo has cooled enough not to cook the oil that stops in it at shut down another way is to keep the oil flowing after engine shut down which allows the turbo to cool and won't cook the oil. I really don't think spin up is a problem unless your oil is so cold that it's like molasses.
Scott

 

I had one to demonstrate, but not on my truck. The one I had seemed too big for the pickup market. It got its oil supply while driving down the road from normal ports, much like an aux oil filter would. It held the oil inside a cannister until the engine was shut down and would feed pressurized oil to the turbo feed line using a spring inside the cannister. It would not send ALL the oil to the turbo, some would be held back for the start up procedure and would supply the oil that was left from the shutdown. The one I was working with came from Canada, I think it was in Ontario and I cant remember the name of it. Hope this helps in understanding the operation of the system.
End of transmission.

 

I saw read about one that uses a pump that would do a pre lube plus run for a couple of minutes after shut down to cool the turbo. The person that did the post had installed it vertical with the motor below the pump. The pump seal started leaking and damaged the motor. If I remember right they were also some concern about how the pump was hooked up and if it was sending the oil through the filter or bypassing the filter. I think it took the suction by replacing the drain plug with a 90 but you had to put an adapter aat the filter to pump back through the filter, the plug above it will bypass it. I think it also had a valve after the pump you could use to drain the oil without getting under the truck and pulling the plug. What I did not like about it was the tygon tubing being below the oil pan, if it hung on something and pulled lose you would lose all of your oil. It does sound like a good ideal if designed right.

 

JMorton:
Powerstroke turbos have not been failing randomly. When turbochargers do fail due to lube issues, it is typically because someone repeatedly shuts them down hot or repeatedly fails to service their oil and filter on schedule.

I see no reason to alter an excellent International turbocharger lube plumbing system (no external lines on 7.3) for a problem that does not exist. And by adding this device, you open up another source of potential leaks. I'd focus on improving one of the weak parts of the truck rather than on fixing something that has no history of problems.

That said, I think these devices are excellent where you run the risk of bad operators and on every turbocharged gen set in operation. (because they shut down from max RPM- their turbos suffer from oil starvation)

-Mike

ps- just wanted to add: some may argue that the upside to an oiler is that you can shut'er down hot. I disagree. I think it is good for the entire engine, valves, heads, pistons, to cool down before shut off.
-ms

 

mschultz,
I agree with you 100%, I just don't see turbo bearing failures at all.
The only reason I considering this thing is: 1) Its free... and 2) It will lead to more cool free stuff in the future.
I think the idea and concept behind the product is sound, I just haven't ever run into one and haven't talked with anyone who's used one. If it looks hokey I won't put it on or if it can't be removed later returning the truck to pre-install condition, I won't use it.

 

Ok. Good point. I like free stuff too. But I really admire the way the turbocharger lubrication system was designed on the 7.3 engine. I know they moved the turbo on the 6.0 in order to facilitate intercooler plumbing, but I still think that it is a much cleaner design than the turbo tacked on the side of the Cummins with oil lines running out the top and bottom. And if this accessory is designed to address a problem our engines do not have, well, I have to wonder why is should be marketed to powerstroke owners. But like you said, free is cool and it might be fun to install.

I see a lot of guys bolting crap on their trucks that actually diminishes the capability of their truck- Trucks have become rolling platforms for people that have no use for them and should be driving SUVs instead. (Don't even get me started on level kits...)

I get the feeling that you know what you are doing and that you will keep a close enough eye on the system after it is installed to reduce the possibility of introducing a new problem. And this would be a great system for fleet engines or anyone who had a couple of cowboys running their trucks hard and putting them up wet.

I have a friend running a ranch at elevation above a valley. His hay lot is at the high point so winter winds keep the snow clear. All summer and fall he uses his powerstrokes to haul hay. The trucks pull 24' flatbeds with 11 1500 pound bales each trip. They pull the hill, hubs locked, wide-open in second gear, circle around the lot and then they shut the trucks down- Summer days, from max operating temp wide open, A/C on, to shut down in 10- 15 seconds. You can hear the turbos spin down as he walks to the loader tractor.

Under the hoods you can see the engines have had rough lives. Next to mine they look like they came out of a mining operation. The insulation is peeling, the stickers are cracked and faded and the engine compartment looks cooked. Every summer I say, "You know, you really ought to let those rigs cool down- maybe let them idle while you unload the trailers..." He says "yaaa, yer probably right" and then shuts her down again after the next load.

I feel kind of stupid telling him this because nothing ever goes wrong with his trucks. No glow plugs, no injectors, no cam sensors, batteries, nothing. He changes his oil and filters religiously and runs the hell out of the trucks. Each summer when I listen to those hot turbos spin dry I think that those bearings have to fail soon- But they never do.

Now you would think that if ever there was a good application for a turbocharger lubrication system, this was it. But some of these trucks have tipped past the 200k mark and they sound and run perfect.

Go figure-

I'm curious to see how a 6.0 engine cranked up to 300+hp will handle the heat and stress these guys place on them. It seems to me that the small engine is going to have to displace A LOT of heat at that hp. duty rating. I am sure they will run them wide open and I wonder if they will hang together as long as the more conservatively-tuned 7.3 motors. Perhaps, under these extreme conditions, the 6.0 engine will have more use for turbocharger lubrication system.

Good luck with the install. Keep us posted.

-Mike

 

i do have a pre luber on my truck. i have had it for about a year,

as far as the insall goes it pulls the oil out of the drain plug hole and pumps it in to an oil galley plug hole right in front of the oil filter. the sistem has a checkvalve to prevent back flow. i beleave that the oil galley leads to the oilfilter therefore oil travels through the filter first. it presurises the hole system not just the turbo.

instal note do not mount to the fire wall (very noisy in cab)

as far as how it works its ok i think i damaged the impeller when i forgot to prime the pump before i installed it. so it takes a little longer to presurize the system than it used to.

it is nice to have oil presure before i turn the key. especialy in the winter

the reson i looked at this sistem is becouse i have the 6spd and my father and brouther have a habit of leaving the trans in gear whan they park it. i did not want them to foreget that there was a turbo timer on the truck and turn off the key and dump the clutch and have the truck lurch one way or the other, or even stay running and drive off. with this system the engine is off but there is still oil runing to the turbo

 

mschultz- I don't want to sound argumentative, but what did you mean by:
Is there something wrong with a truck being level?

 

nope. level is good. but pointed uphill (level kit + load) is absurd.
-Mike