[SEL] Diesel Engine Starter With Oil Pump

[FRM8198 at aol.com]

Hi List,
While I was visiting my local magneto repair shop today, I noticed  a diesel 
starter motor with a mounted oil pump.  I was told that this  starter motor is 
designed to pressurize the engine's oil system before  engaging the bendix 
solenoid  to the flywheel and turn over the engine to  start it.  
I remember that we had to turn over our diesel tractor engine with  the pony 
engine until the oil system on the diesel was pressurized before  opening the 
diesel fuel rack.
Is this a common practice to pressurize diesel engine's internal  oil system 
prior to starting?  

Francis  Maciel
Santa Maria, CA