Anyone using one of these? I went round and round with the Canton Rep about why I "need" one. I have a two-qt Accusump with electric valve, and in their literature they say it's only good for pre-oiling the engine, not for oil surge control.

In their words, the EPC "speeds up charging and discharging", but I'm on the edge of calling BS on that. Their EPC pressure sensor merely changes when the electric valve is opened. This is the same electric valve that limits how fast the Accusump is charged and how fast it can discharge. Since they don't give you a new, higher flow, valve with this "upgrade", there's no way the flow can actually be increased. I think they're playing games with words, hoping to get another $62 off me. What say you?

 

I'm looking at an ep autox car that has an accusump with the electric valve. They were having valve cover issues with oil all over the place last year. They finally figured out the electric valve did not let the oil back into the accsump during normal engine operation. With a 3 qt one, the engine had about 75% too much oil after a run. The solution was to put in a simple manual valve. Do they claim this other electric valve allows oil back in during normal operation? Could it allow the valve to open when the oil pressure in the engine is high enough to recharge the accusump? I find this interesting as it could change my mind on plumbing changes to make.

 

The EPC is just a fancy pressure sensor used to open the existing valve at certain times, rather then just leaving it open all the time. During operation the valve is always open and oil is free to flow to and from the engine depending where the higher oil pressure is. Here's their explanation of why we need the EPC:

Our E.P.C. valving has the convenience of an electric valve and the rapid refill rate of a manual valve. The E.P.C. valving allows the Accusump to quickly charge with oil when the engine's oil pressure is above a predetermined level and discharge when the engine's oil pressure drops below that level.

"...the rapid refill rate..." and "... quickly charge..." is what bugs me. Since the same restrictive valve is used, how can flow possibly be increased?

 

regardless of marketing BS, here is what is important, IMO:

1- from what you are saying, the electric valve opens when you turn on the ignition and closes back up when the engine is running?
2- the "EPC" changes to stay open whenever the ignition in on?

if I understand the above correctly, you have exactly two options:
1- buy an EPC and call it done
2- ditch the electric valve and mount a manual one (either with a remote actuator of some sort, or by running oil lines all the way to where you can get to it from the driver seat)

At that point, whether or not they are doing marketing spin to sell their more expensive valve "system" or not is really immaterial.
as far as I am concerned, everything I buy is caveat emptor, especially online, and I never rely on the manufacturer/dealer's propaganda.

HTH.
Sebastien.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SJR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">At that point, whether or not they are doing marketing spin to sell their more expensive valve "system" or not is really immaterial.
as far as I am concerned, everything I buy is caveat emptor, especially online, and I never rely on the manufacturer/dealer's propaganda.

HTH.
Sebastien.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Exactly, which is why I posted this.

 

Not to beat up a dead horse but ill clarify this as i am the Accusump Expert at Canton.


The EPC is a pressure based switch which has 2 terminals inside. When the pressure is above the rating of the switch(lets say 35-40 psi) the 2 terminals are pushed away from each other. Once the pressure drops below the rating, the terminals touch and send power to the valve it self.

Now, to get into the valve.

It is a one way style diaphragm valve. If installed correctly, it will allow oil to pass into the accusump and not let that out until the EPC reads a pressure drop and sends power to the valve.

The reason the EPC fills faster than the standard electric valve is because with the valve closed, the oil inside of the accusump is not going right back into the system as if it was just the electric valve, the valve would stay on and would have to fight positive oil pressure to fill completely.

In simplest words possible.

If the pressure is above the threshold of the switch, oil flows into but not out of the accusump until the EPC pressure switch senses a pressure drop, thus opening the valve to discharge clean oil into the mains to maintain lubrication to prevent damage to the engine.

It is by far the simplest system used today for these and it functions flawlessly.

I have had several hundred customers tell me and thank our EPC for saving their engine.