Omsk designer Andrey Kozlov has patented a system designed to facilitate the starting of a diesel engine at low temperatures by supplying heated engine oil to the cylinders.
Unlike the common approach of pre-heating the engine or using additional starting fluids, this development uses oil from the standard lubrication system: before starting, it is heated and directed into the combustion chambers via the air start circuit.
The calculation is not based on oil ignition, but on changing the compression conditions. According to the author's idea, a portion of heated oil should reduce fresh air leaks through the gaps between the cylinder liner, piston, and piston rings. This increases compression and air temperature in the cylinder at the moment of fuel injection, which should facilitate mixture ignition in a cold engine.
The system integrates an electronic control unit, coolant and ambient air temperature sensors, an electromagnetic valve, an oil pipeline, and an electric heater. The valve is installed directly into the standard oil line, so a separate reservoir for engine oil is not required.
After the command is given, the automation opens the valve for 2–3 seconds, and oil under pressure enters a special device installed in the air start circuit. There it is heated, and when the starter is engaged, compressed air displaces the prepared portion into the cylinders.