Anyone use crank to prime prior to starting engine after changing the oil?

[RonM_TX]

I guess I'm missing something here. What is the point of doing this? It's not like everything in the engine goes dry instantly when you shut it off and turning the engine over with the starter for however long you're doing it is adding wear to the starter and circulating oil in the same fashion that starting the engine does.

If there is any benefit, I'm guessing its so minimal over the life of an engine that its barely worth discussing.

I can see doing this on a new engine, but one that's just been run and had the oil changed would still have residual lubricant in the top end.

Cranking without start pressurizes the oiling system. This forces oil into the cam phasers so they don't rattle on start up. Not sure if this extends the life of the phasers or not. My Escape rattles on start up and has for the last 200,000 miles. I rarely do a long crack start, only when I'm annoyed by the clatter.
No cam phasers issues since new other than the sound. Guess it is personal preference.

Sponsored

 

[Stumpm2]

That was an attempt to mask an issue, not to fix it.

Agreed, but is also cannot hurt and was probably an attempt to get most vehicles past warranty coverage without issues. If I could find the delay ignition in Forscan I change it on my Raptor.

 

[jeffers]

Push the gas pedal to the floor and it will crank and not fire until to let the pedal up.

who knew?

 

[jeffers]

I guess I'm missing something here. What is the point of doing this? It's not like everything in the engine goes dry instantly when you shut it off and turning the engine over with the starter for however long you're doing it is adding wear to the starter and circulating oil in the same fashion that starting the engine does.

If there is any benefit, I'm guessing its so minimal over the life of an engine that its barely worth discussing.

I can see doing this on a new engine, but one that's just been run and had the oil changed would still have residual lubricant in the top end.

I've heard of some people installing an electric oil pump to start pumping oil before the starter even engages. Thats pretty crazy.

 

[RonM_TX]

I've heard of some people installing an electric oil pump to start pumping oil before the starter even engages. Thats pretty crazy.

There is a system that uses engine vacuum to pressurize a canister full engine oil which releases the oil through out the engine on start up. Simple system

 

[ShadeTree]

The feature is not Crank to Prime, it is Flood mode. It was designed to clear fuel from a flooded engine, much like is done on a carbureted engine. I don't see how it could be a benefit to oiled parts, since those parts are all turning, whether it starts or not, and it takes just as much turning to get oil pressure as it does when actually started.

 

[Lion77]

The purpose is to primarily to reduce wear on first start after an oil change. Because the system is not primed and relying only on the residual film, wear rates are much higher during that short period (equivalent to dozens of normal cold starts).

However, if you consider how many times a vehicle is started up and shut down over its life, it's a rather small component of the overall picture. However, since the feature can be implemented in software for a one-time development cost by the manufacturer (i.e., Ford)....why not use what YOU already paid for and is there regardless of weather you want it or not? It is beneficial, even if it's minor.

It's just another tool in the toolbox. Neither of my Mazda's have that feature, nor has any other car I've owned prior. Never primed filters either and I've had several cars at 200k that I sold while they still ran fine (engine wise), other ones were traded in for something else, not due to issues. GF-6 oils out now are also considerably more robust than GF-5 oils that those cars used as well and I've also been using In Situ DLC films on all my vehicles powertrains since 2019, so it's really not an issue now.

I didn't do the prime on my last RR oil chance because I didn't know it had that feature until after, but now that I know how it has that feature I'll use it after every oil change just because it costs me only 10 seconds of my time and I already paid for it when I bought the truck AND it's beneficial even if moderately so...so why would not use it for reduced wear given how easily it is to use?

It's one of those things you don't HAVE to use, but you are benefitting from using it so there's no reason not to unless your just super lazy...

 

[ColeTrainsRR]

Yes

 

[jgruben1134]

It's one of those things you don't HAVE to use, but you are benefitting from using it so there's no reason not to unless your just super lazy...

I was listening until you called those of us who don't do it lazy. I don't think there is a wrong answer here. Modern oils are so good, I'd wager it would be difficult, if not impossible, to even measure the wear caused by not doing this. But, if it makes you happy, go on with your bad self, your honor. And keep judging away.

 

[Aemonn]

The feature is not Crank to Prime, it is Flood mode. It was designed to clear fuel from a flooded engine, much like is done on a carbureted engine. I don't see how it could be a benefit to oiled parts, since those parts are all turning, whether it starts or not, and it takes just as much turning to get oil pressure as it does when actually started.

When you start the engine normally it will temporarily idle quite high. Somewhere around 2k RPM.

When you perform this task, it's cranking much, much slower. Not sure how many RPM but I would expect 500 RPM or less.

I think that's where the benefit lies. The oil gets distributed at a much lower and more controlled RPM on those rotating parts.

 

[got3fords]

When you start the engine normally it will temporarily idle quite high. Somewhere around 2k RPM.

Should prime in no time then.

 

[Lion77]

I was listening until you called those of us who don't do it lazy. I don't think there is a wrong answer here. Modern oils are so good, I'd wager it would be difficult, if not impossible, to even measure the wear caused by not doing this. But, if it makes you happy, go on with your bad self, your honor. And keep judging away.

I meant that in about as non-chalant off-handed sarcastic way possible and you're all offended...good grief Charley Brown!

I don't disagree that there isn't a wrong answer, and I do cede the point that your opinion is that it's not actually helping or it makes so little difference it was pointless in the first place so there's no reason to use the feature vs. being lazy.

 

[Lion77]

When you start the engine normally it will temporarily idle quite high. Somewhere around 2k RPM.

When you perform this task, it's cranking much, much slower. Not sure how many RPM but I would expect 500 RPM or less.

I think that's where the benefit lies. The oil gets distributed at a much lower and more controlled RPM on those rotating parts.

Not only that but you're not firing the engine. There's no ignition energy to drive the pistons down which is MUCH higher even during start-up than the energy delivered by the starter motor rotating the crank / cylinder group.

But that's got me thinking that I"ve misunderstood the nature of the thread. The question I have is, is the feature intended for priming or clearing or both? What does the service manual say?

Ford Flood Mode to prevent dry starts post oil change | Page 2 | Ford Tremor Forum | Ford Super Duty

It would appear this feature is not intended for "priming the engine" after oil change but rather Flood Mode to clear a flooded engine during trouble shooting. Good to know and given that it's intended use case is not priming, I'll continue to do it the old-fashioned way and forgo this step instead, so based on the evidence, I'm back in the "don't do it camp", plus it allows me to be a bit lazier...

Sponsored