3UR-FE pre-oiler setup questions

Hi all,

Member of a different tundra forum but this one has way more info/engagement so happy to be here!

Have a 2018 tundra, want it to last as long as possible, considering a pre-oiler to keep the engine running to 400k or more. My trips can be long or short, truck sometimes sits for a couple of days at a time. Maybe not necessary but a couple hundo to potentially get another 100+k out of the engine would be great.

Overall I think I have a basic pre-oiler design figured out, the biggest question I need answered is how to plumb to the oil sending galley, which I think is through/into the oil filter. On an engine with a screw on type filter, easy peasy. But the 5.7 has an oil filter housing. Haven't looked at it in detail yet but for anyone that's done this, how/where did you plumb the sending line to?

Thanks in advance!

 

In theory your approach makes sense, BUT these engines easily go over the 400K mark left stock. I think it will be more advantage to have additional oil changes than to have a pre-lube. The cylinder gap tolerances of the 3UR are pretty forgiving so I wouldn't be that concerned for lack of lubrication in start up VS long operation with dirty oil. idk my 2 cents here from my mechanical engineering background but open to discussion
Thanks

 

Fair enough, engineer here too so I can understand if I'm overthinking this. Currently changing oil every 5k with full synthetic. This my first "new"-ish vehicle and I just want it to last. If I have it still in 2050 I'll be thrilled.

 

Check out the masterlube pre oiler. Everything you need, quality and good prices. The owner is awesome and will talk your ear off with nerdy goodness.

 

I'm an engineer too and you are over thinking but that just means your an engineer lol. It's not necessary but I understand wanting to finick w the truck.

 

Yeah, hit the nail on the head there. The ABS test and brake click sounds were driving me utterly insane before I figured out what they were. Honestly I don't want to make any tweaks unless they result in a substantial functional or lifespan gain, or monetary savings. My truck won't ever be lifted, tuned, etc. If anything I'd rather lower it for better MPG but any gas savings will be a lot less than the expense of modifications. It's all about doing what I need for minimal long term cost/headaches.

 

I don't think the oiler would pay for itself. If you spent that money on changing fluids 10% more often, it would do more for less.

Yeah this truck is noisy I got used to it after 6 months. Forum helps

 

So 4500 instead of 5000 miles? Or are you just comparing the concept of "change oil more" vs "add pre oiler" as it relates to engine lifespan?

 

Both

 

Well, first OCI since acquiring is nearing completion, I'll see how it is and go from there. I'm a conservative driver so I would think 5k changes should be enough. Engine is very smooth on 0w-20 so far. I've had the dieseling sound on the highway but I don't do more than 65 so I can get better mpg. Thought it was more due to low engine speed than anything.

 

I noticed 5w 30 sounds much smoother. I'm in a hotter area though. Absolutely no mileage difference between the 2 weights.

Anything over 65 and mileage drops considerably.

 

Yup. 70 gets you 17, 80 gets you 15, thats a relatively expensive 2-5 minutes saved in travel time.

I live in Tampa, could be hotter but not by a lot. Did you lose anything significant in efficiency going to 5w-30? I considered 0w-30 after reading that big oil thread.

Edit: I'm a dummy and did not fully read your previous comment. Oops! Maybe I'll try 0w-30 and see how it goes.

 

Are you expecting to run up miles on the truck quicker than the average Joe? I'm just thinking that going through the money/time in adding a preoiler to extend the life of the engine may or may not be worth it if the engine way outlives the body. Who's to say in 20 years that 20 years of sun/rain and wear and tear takes its toll on the body and every other component of the truck other than the engine? Unless you are already planning on replacing everything needed when it happens.

I'm definitely no engineer so I don't have much input on that side of things.

 

Great point.

I would be pretty disappointed if my toyota truck rotted away in 20 years considering my 20 year old Ford escape is still running, albeit with some rust on the quarter panels, but frame is in good shape. Never undercoated it or anything, lived north of the rust belt it's whole life.

Miles.. not sure exactly. This thing's going everywhere. I want to take it to Anchorage at some point, at least once.

 

To add, yes I plan on replacing items as needed due to normal wear and tear, control arms struts steering linkages etc so on and so forth. If all else is good it's way cheaper to do that than get a new truck.

 

I've also looked at a pre-oiler and the master lube one looked like the best price/function/performance option. However after doing my "do I budget for this or not" analysis it didn't make sense. If it starts at least every coupe days a pre-oiler isn't really worth the cost on these engines, with other engines it can make a big difference like hydraulically operated timing chain tensioners. I think a pre-oiler is a good idea on a Tundra if it sits for a long period of time without starting like if you're two weeks on two weeks off, or deployed, etc.
I even looked into bypass filtration but again decided to just do more frequent oil changes, a fumoto valve (or other type) make oil changes easy.

 

Sounds like the conclusion is you'd be happy with the peace of mind. Whether or not it makes a significant difference on the engine performance/longevity.

 

Not at all, I care about getting the most out of my money/investments possible. If a pre-oiler system will yield greater longevity/performance, great. If it's not going to make a real difference, or if there's something easier/cheaper (a la shorter OCI) then that's the end of that idea. I'm much more of a function before form kinda guy.

 

Well without direct evidence, how can you decide what to do? Is there evidence that changing oil on these trucks every 4500 compared to 5k miles will make a difference? Is there evidence that a pre-oiler system will make a difference? Sounds like it's all peace of mind unless anyone can show proven results from studies.

You could study some of the million mile Tundras and see what those owners did to get to that point.

 

Most high mileage vehicles in good shape spent a lot of time on highways or drove many more miles/year than the national average. The Louisiana million mile tundra went an average 122,000 miles a year. Wasn't even 10 years old when Toyota bought it back. The average is ~16% of that, I think? Time eventually claims all.

I'm going to stick with 5k changes as planned for now, given that 3k synthetic blend changes have kept my escape's V6 running as well as when I got it 100k miles ago. 4500 vs 5000 vs 5500 OCIs, it's probably basically a wash between all of them. I think 10k vs 5k would be a much bigger difference.

Pre oiler evidence... Haven't looked at it for that long, I've got a lot of other projects that my time/money are better spent on right now but if it's a common upgrade on commercial diesels it's probably there for a reason. Having oil circulated before running the engine definitely is eliminating a lot of wear since most occurs on or immediately after start up.

 

Some good points made there. I'm curious to see what others have to say and I'll stay tuned to see how it all works out!

 

All I can say is maintenance, maintenance, maintenance. And even then its a machine that was put together by humans. I do 5k oil changes. I have done my trans oil once already and will do another at 30k. Power steering fluid change, differential, brake fluid, etc. If I remember correctly 1 of the million mile tundras did 10k oil changes. Also you also have to remember he did it in a short time span. I think a new vehicle can put on 1 million miles in 10 years and been fine. But same new vehicle probably would be able to do it over a 20-30 span.