Installing an Oil Accumulator

With all the advances in automotive technology, four-wheelers have been able to conquer previously impassable trails. These trails provide obstacles that put vehicles in precarious positions and at angles extremely close to rolling. In such situations, an engine is often run without oil pressure. This is because the oil in the engine is directed by gravity, which often guides it away from the oil-pump pickup. The only time the oil isn't directed by gravity is when it's under pressure.

Drag- and circle-track racers have found many ways to maintain oil pressure under acceleration and cornering. Special oil pans, baffles, and even dry-sump systems have been conceived to keep expensive engines lubricated. The problem with these cures is the cost. Custom baffled pans often exceed $300, and a complete dry-sump system can cost more than many of the engines four-wheelers would be trying to protect. Summit Racing may have the cure for a potentially sick oiling situation: a Moroso Accumulator. It stores pressurized oil that is released when the engine’s oil pressure drops, and it can also be used as a pre-lubing device. Read on and see how we install this race-inspired unit on our rockcrawler.