Has anyone had a bearing failure event while running an Accusump?

Seems like baffled oil pans are hit and miss.

For those that run one, how if yours integrated and how do you operate it? (what oil level do you run at and how do you actuate the system?)

Seems like if you mismanage the system, dumping 2 extra quarts into a running engine would be a serious issue.

Thanks!

 

Call Bob or Don at canton. I forget but he gave me the setup and all part numbers. Anyway I have a switch that arms it on on the dash and then its a pressure thing with a built in-line switch, if you starve it automatically pumps. Also nice to pre-oil cold starts

 

Didn't run one in my s2000 but I had one in my old k20 civic and it worked well. So you put a pressure switch on the sump wired to power. Once the overall oil pressure falls below that point it will pump oil from the accusump into the system and then as oil pressure returns it pushes oil back into the sump. In terms of total oil, you run your car at the top of full, and then run the car so you fill the sump. Obviously that first time you overfill it an extra quart and then add one later. When you change oil, you end up keying on the arm switch so your oil pan gets all the extra oil.

I had mine set at 20psi oil pressure and ran the oil lines into an oil filter adapter.

 

I have never used one - but I read a criticism once - on the internet.....

I would like to add one to my current street occasional track car but I would like to ask them the following.

If you go into a sweeper at 7K RPM and the oil sloshes over, suddenly the oil intake tube is sucking air because any baffle will not hold enough oil to feed the engine for a sustained amount of time at high RPMs.

As the intake tube sucks air, the pressure drops - at 7K RPM the pressure drops very fast.

Once the sensor sees the low pressure the accusump starts to release oil. But is it too late? In this scenario the pressure does not drop gradually - it goes to zero - almost instantly.

It takes time for the Accusump to push oil back in the system. One second?

It only takes an instant of the pickup tube sucking air to damage the bearings.

How could the accusump be fast enough to help in that situation?

1000s have used them and many swear by them. The cold start benefits of the system are reason enough on an expensive engine.

I would love to see some one log oil pressure before and after and see what it shows.

 

I ran a 2qt accusump with a manual lever. If you use a manual lever instead of a sensor solenoid the accusump acts more as a oil reservoir that is always trying empty oil into the block. Since the accusump has about 10 psi of air its always pushing the oil out but in a normal system the oil psi is high enough to keep the reservoir tank from emptying. So the manual lever is more ideal IMO.

 

What level did you run your oil at with the accusump charged?

Where did you locate the unit and the control valve?

No overfilled or foaming issues with that setup?

 

With the manual set up I guess you have to remember to turn it off before you shut the car off? What if you forget? Do you have to drain the oil?

Sounds like it would work on track until the sump ran out,

How long will it take for the motor to use up 2 qts of oil? Long enough for most sweepers?

Hmm very interesting..

 

Fill the oil pan to the normal level, plus what ever your Accusump needs. I never had a problem with starting an engine that I forgot to close the Accusump valve. At idle, too much oil in the pan is not going to be a problem and the Accusump will fill quickly, so the pan will not be overfilled too long. My S had an older Accusump solenoid valve that had a one-way check valve. This allowed the Accusump to fill, without the solenoid activated. Only when I activated the solenoid would the Accusump discharge. I would typically turn the solenoid valve off on the cool down lap, thus filling the Accusump and allowing me to properly check oil level in the pan, back in the paddock.

My Miata has a manual ball valve, which I also try to shut off on the cool down lap, when revs are high to have oil pressure high. Sometimes I forget, and shut it off in the paddock. With either type of valve, I would open the valve to start the car, then shut it back off once started. I would then open the valve again on the out lap. The Accusump has a pressure gauge. Learn what the pressure level is when the Accusump is full.

As to the question of what size Accusump is big enough for long sweepers, you need to data log your oil pressure, or use a video camera aimed at an oil pressure gauge. See if it's loosing pressure. If so, need a larger Accusump. My S had a 3 quart.

An engine builder has told me that Accusumps can be a problem it you wind up with too much oil in the pan on the track, which might cause oil frothing. If the pump sucks up aerated oil, the bearings will not be properly lubricated. On the other hand, if cornering at 1g, oil in the pan will be sloshed to one side at a 45 degree angle. If the pickup sucks air, there is no bearing lubrication, thus the Accusump can save your engine. There are pros and cons, but since I use Accusumps, I think the pros out weigh the cons. If you want a great oil system, in which you don't need to be concerned about the oil pickup being uncovered, you will need to install a dry sump system.