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OK scroungers, I need your help. | 15 comments (15 topical, editorial)

Re: OK scroungers, I need your help. (none / 0) (#8)
by BT Humble (bt_humble@bigpond.com) on Wed Jun 11th, 2003 at 11:02:49 PM MST
(User Info) http://www.humbletown.org

Mate, most people I've known with Subies get 320,000km out of them without going to such lengths[1]. Just the usual things like cleaning the radiator and replacing the alternator when they wear out at the 10-year mark. ;-)

Toyota Corollas are pretty good good too, I sold mine at 260,000km to buy a truck[2], my aunt was very disappointed when she "only" got 495,000km out of hers.

Incidentally, my truck is a 1989 2 litre Ford Econovan/Mazda E2000 with 380,000km on the clock. Not too bad for a buzz box, hmm? ;-)

BTH
[1] Althought it *does* sound like fun! ;-)
[2] There was nothing wrong with it, but I needed a cargo vehicle.

Re: OK scroungers, I need your help. (none / 0) (#9)
by troy on Fri Jun 13th, 2003 at 08:20:47 AM MST
(User Info)

Excellent comments and suggestions. Yes, subi's have a reputation for being as durable as an anvil. And my ultimate goal is 300,000 miles (I'll be sick of it by then and want a new Mini or something for my midlife crisis.). But 200,000 miles seems reasonable and it is a fun project as well. I find it interesting that this type of equipment is not standard from the manufacturer. Of course it's not in their best interest to double the life of their engines, so I can't entirely blame them... Best Regards, troy

[ Parent ]

Re: OK scroungers, I need your help. (none / 0) (#10)
by Brian on Fri Jun 13th, 2003 at 04:57:40 PM MST
(User Info)

LOL, good point!!

Regarding your air compressor system you're trying to set up.....why not get rid of the air tank altogether? Use the engine's oil pump while it's running to charge the tank with oil under pressure at 30 psi or so depending on your oil pressure at idle. Just use an electronically actuated valve that you can open up while driving around to pressurize the tank. Before you shut the engine off, close the valve.

Then then next time you're going to go for a drive, just open up the valve before you start the engine and the oil under pressure will flow back into the engine and pressurize it. You'll probably have to run an extra quart or so to allow for the storage depending on the size of the tank you choose and it should take care of your problems.

Just an idea! Brian

[ Parent ]

Re: OK scroungers, I need your help. (none / 0) (#11)
by troy on Sat Jun 14th, 2003 at 09:33:35 AM MST
(User Info)

Actually, the engine's oil pump does replenish the pre-oiler tank. I have a valve that I open manually, then start the engine and close the valve. But there's a check valve that allows the now pressurized oil from the engine to refill the pre-oiler and repressurize the air. The difficulty is that the oil absorbs the pressurized air in the tank over the span of a week or two, thus requiring a recharge from an air compressor. Anyway, it'll be fun to build a pump from scratch, including winding the compression springs and building the integral check valves.

Best Regards,

troy

[ Parent ]

Re: OK scroungers, I need your help. (none / 0) (#12)
by troy on Sat Jun 14th, 2003 at 09:35:49 AM MST
(User Info)

Sorry I didn't make this part clear, the new pump is an oil pump, and I'm scrapping the original system entirely. A fitting will take oil from the oil pan, run it through the electrically driven pump and into the oil galleries, so no worries about any compressed air at all.

Keep having fun out there!

troy

[ Parent ]

OK scroungers, I need your help. | 15 comments (15 topical, 0 editorial)

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