🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <72800003@hpfcla.UUCP> ajs@hpfcla.UUCP writes:
>> 99% of your total lifetime engine wear occurs during the first 0 to 10
>> seconds of operation, when the oil is drained off the parts and you have
>> pretty much raw metal rubbing against raw metal.

	Close. Also, most engine wear occurs before it is fully warmed
up (about 3 to 14 miles of driving). The engine is designed so that all
the clearances and fit of parts is right when the engine is at normal
operating temperature.

>1.  Why aren't engines designed differently (somehow) so that isn't
>    true?  Or why isn't there some mechanism which, when you turn on the
>    starter, first pumps up some oil for 2-3 seconds before kicking over
>    the engine?  Granted, we're talking about added complexity, but it
>    sounds justified in this case.

	It would only partially work. Rotating bearings are designed to
'fly' on a film of oil so that there is no actual metal-to-metal contact.
The flying cannot occur until the engine is brought up to speed. Also,
the motion of the engine itself is necessary to get the oil everywhere, not
just the fuel pump.

>2.  What, if anything, can you do with a standard engine to reduce or
>    avoid such damage?  Is there any easy way to get the oil to the
>    parts before they need it?

Drive the car at least once a week. Oil takes quite a while to drain off
surfaces.

Change the oil and filter every 3000 miles. I know the owner's manual says
7000. Doing this cheap and simple thing will do more to extend your engine
life than anything else.

Do not rev the engine immediately upon startup.

Go easy on the gas pedal until you've driven a few miles.

Don't let the engine warm up at idle. The engine isn't turning fast enough
to oil itself properly.

If you live in a very cold area, buy an engine block heater.