Top Cylinder Lubricator Adds Life To Engines

Top Cylinder Lubricator Adds Life To Engines ENGINES Engines 26-6-39 The concept of top cylinder lubrication has been around for years, but for older engines, it may be more important now than ever, says Floyd Andrus, Florence, Mass., who sells an add-on lubrication kit. "Today's gasoline fuels don't contain the amount of lubrication that fuels had prior to the days of unleaded gasoline," he says. Couple that with the growing interest in vintage cars, truck, tractors and farm equipment. "All of those older engines can benefit from top cylinder lubrication, " he says. Andrus got into the lube business when he bought out the remaining inventory of Ampco Automotive and Marine. The lubricators work by atomizing small quantities of oil into the fuel-air mix in the intake manifold. "The oil has a higher flash point than fuel, so it doesn't burn," he explains. "Instead, it rides into the cylinder with the fuel and clings to the valves, valve guides, valve seats and rings." In cars, pickups and trucks, the lubricator mounts under the hood on the firewall. It consists of a reservoir to hold the oil, a copper line from the reservoir to the intake manifold, and an atomizer to inject oil into the manifold. There's also a needle valve to regulate the flow of oil. Most of his customers install them on restored vehicles and tractors. "I sell a lot of lubricators to farm people in the far North who need engines to turn over easier and start in very cold conditions. Also, I find that the antique and collectible engines do better with them. Flat head Fords, in particular, really need the extra lubrication. During WWII, Ford Motor Company endorsed it. In fact, it was one of the few aftermarket add-ones that Ford ever allowed," he says. Andrus says besides vintage car, truck and tractor owners, he also sells top cylinder lubricators for engines fueled with LP or compressed natural gas (CNG). "These fuels burn cleaner than gasoline, but they burn hotter, too. They have a lot of valve problems as a result. In a car, top cylinder lubricators will use about a quart of oil for every 1,000 miles driven, depending on how one drives and how much of the time the engine is idling. Andrus still has about 26,000 top cylinder lubricators for sale, in three sizes. The 1-quart model sells for $49.95. A 2-quart model sells for $59.95. Contact: FARM SHOW Follow-up, Floyd Andrus, Ampco Top Cylinder Lubricators, Box 60006, Florence, Mass. 01062 (ph 413 586-0978; fax 413 586-1020; E-mail: ampcolubes@rcn.com; Website: www.ampcolubes.com).

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