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Ignition sequence and oil pressure light

1779 Views 5 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  2k5GTC
Heard this from a guy several years ago, and it may be a complete old wives' tale, but I'm so ate up with my baby girl that I want her to get the very best treatment possible...

He said that it's never good for an engine if you hop in and immediate fire up the ignition. What he did was to move the key to the ACC position and wait for a few seconds, so that (supposedly) the car's power system will get the oil pressure up before ignition -- and save wear and tear on the engine.

I'm sorta sure (?) that instruction was contained in the owner's manual for my previous ride (XTerra) but can't find anything to that effect in the Stanger manual. So, what I'm currently doing is:

1) Move the key to ACC
2) The oil pressure light is off to begin with, then comes on after 2-3 seconds
3) Then I fire my baby up

I've actually let the car sit in ACC for close to a minute, thinking that the oil pressure light might go back off and that would be my signal to ignite -- but it just stays on.

Would anyone care to opine or instruct on this matter? Thanks in advance...
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How will the oil pressure come up without the engine running?
Fleg said:
How will the oil pressure come up without the engine running?
Magic:shrug
I'm by no means a mechanic but doesn't oil get circulated via the oil pump which is actuated by the drive belt? The only component, I can think of, that might benefit from the ACC position before starting the car is the fuel pump, in which case if it aint' working, the car ain't starting so no harm, no foul.

Maybe the guy who gave you that suggestion was talking about a real old car?? I can't think of any benefit to this starting procedure.
StangOwner2B said:
I'm by no means a mechanic but doesn't oil get circulated via the oil pump which is actuated by the drive belt? The only component, I can think of, that might benefit from the ACC position before starting the car is the fuel pump, in which case if it aint' working, the car ain't starting so no harm, no foul.

Maybe the guy who gave you that suggestion was talking about a real old car?? I can't think of any benefit to this starting procedure.
Engine oil pump is driven internally to the engine. Currently they are driven off the front of the crank, using a 'gerator' style gear. Oil pumps in the recent past, back to the 50's, were generally driven off the distributor via an oil pump drive.
zregime said:
Heard this from a guy several years ago, and it may be a complete old wives' tale, but I'm so ate up with my baby girl that I want her to get the very best treatment possible...

He said that it's never good for an engine if you hop in and immediate fire up the ignition. What he did was to move the key to the ACC position and wait for a few seconds, so that (supposedly) the car's power system will get the oil pressure up before ignition -- and save wear and tear on the engine.

I'm sorta sure (?) that instruction was contained in the owner's manual for my previous ride (XTerra) but can't find anything to that effect in the Stanger manual. So, what I'm currently doing is:

1) Move the key to ACC
2) The oil pressure light is off to begin with, then comes on after 2-3 seconds
3) Then I fire my baby up

I've actually let the car sit in ACC for close to a minute, thinking that the oil pressure light might go back off and that would be my signal to ignite -- but it just stays on.

Would anyone care to opine or instruct on this matter? Thanks in advance...
Ok. Here is an opinion. Your friend doesn't have a clue what he is talking about. :sterb: Placing the ignition in the ACC position does nothing more than test the indicator lamps and related systems. Take a look at all the little indicators that come on when you place the switch to ACC. If the systems are working properly, the BRAKE, ABS, etc will go off after a few seconds. The ENGINE, CHARGE etc will stay illuminated due to the fact that the engine is NOT running. The oil pump is mechanically driven, not electrically as your friend is so mistakenly telling you. You could sit there till heck freezes over and your oil pressure will not increase with the key in ACC. So, go ahead. JUMP IN. START HER UP. ENJOY! :wavey
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