arrow k series engine

[KeithO]

How about just letting the engine do a few turns on the starter before connecting the ignition or gas circuit .

[slowspeed]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXX2GBHoeuo&feature=related
Lister running on Wood Gas,If you fed it LPG and had the $20 k to get it approved

[Apogee]

Don't disregard running synthetic oil.  

Startup is where it really shines as often it's cold viscosity is significantly lower (pump gets it to where it's needed more quickly) and it maintains its film better.

Negative is they are detergent oils so the detergent won't allow the junk in the oil to settle out into the sump.  Without a decent filter, it will increase engine wear because of the junk continuously circulating through the engine.

Intent is not to start a discussion on what is the "best" oil to use.  Simply to point out that cold starts are one place where synthetics shine.

Food for thought.

Steve

[veggie]

If startup causes 90% of the engine wear, how much improvement could be obtained by running up the oil pump and establishing oil film on the crankshaft and camshaft prior to cranking over the engine.  ?

There is a lot to be gained from adding a pre-lube pressure pump to an engine.
A company where I used to work sold hundreds of small electric driven pre-lube gear pumps to the large engine suppliers for use in industrial applications. I'm talking 500 HP and up for pipeline compressor engines.
The gear pumps were placed on a timer which ran the pumps for 1 to 2 minutes before cranking. This would charge the galleries to 30+ psi.
Some systems even kept the oil and coolant pre-heated so that the engines could take of at full rpm/load when needed.
(like hospital backup generators where they don't have time for a warm up cycle).
Wear is reduced substantially.

veggie

[mobile_bob]

i bought a couple of the 24v gear pumps, mil spec and plan on using one of them to precharge the oil system of the 195 before startup

with a microcontroller its easy to provide power to the pump for a programmed length of time before the starter engages
the hope would be to reduce engine wear at startup.

i am also fitting a 1000 watt block heater element into the coolant blockoff plate, and plan on providing for coolant preheat should the temps
be below what i feel is a reasonable level before startup.

heat the water, pressure up the lube system  ought to have some benefit to longevity of the engine.

bob g

[spencer1885]

I would think your engine would out last you as it is with out going to the hassle of adding a priming pump.
How many hours have clocked up on it in the time you have owned it.