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Air pump instead of vacuum to Optispark

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Old Dec 21, 2021 | 12:40 AM
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Default Air pump instead of vacuum to Optispark

Anybody heard of someone using a small continuous duty air pump hooked up to a vented Optispark. Seems logical to me. Positive pressure would keep moisture out of the Optispark, unlike a vacuum system. I’ve been researching pumps & am thinking of trying it.
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Old Dec 21, 2021 | 01:48 AM
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Why wouldn't the vacuum system keep moisture out of the opti?
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Old Dec 21, 2021 | 06:52 AM
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When you compress air, you will get moisture accumulation, at least in certain parts of the country. That is why air compressors have drain plugs on the bottom. You should see how much water blows out of mine when I drain it. If you look at the air systems in body/paint shops, you will see water/oil traps.

You would need a continuous source of dry air to pressurize it. The vacuum system is continually sucking the moisture out. Compressed air also heats up. So you would be introducing even more heat into the unit.
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Old Dec 21, 2021 | 08:59 AM
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Originally Posted by LukeMook
Why wouldn't the vacuum system keep moisture out of the opti?
Because when there is a vacuum, the pressure is always trying to equilize. Moisture & oil can be drawn into the distributor at any void.
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Old Dec 21, 2021 | 09:07 AM
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Originally Posted by drcook
When you compress air, you will get moisture accumulation, at least in certain parts of the country. That is why air compressors have drain plugs on the bottom. You should see how much water blows out of mine when I drain it. If you look at the air systems in body/paint shops, you will see water/oil traps.

You would need a continuous source of dry air to pressurize it. The vacuum system is continually sucking the moisture out. Compressed air also heats up. So you would be introducing even more heat into the unit.
The pumps I’m looking at have an inlet and an outlet. The inlet would be plumbed to the filtered air at the intake boot. The outlet would be plumbed to the distributor cap. Air would then exit the distributor at the 3 holes at the bottom (92-94) and the port (95-96).
These pumps move air (not compressed) and are used in the medical field. No heat or moisture is formed.
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Old Dec 21, 2021 | 11:02 AM
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If you're going to use a pump, it is best if the air going into the distributor is colder than the distributor. That way water won't condense in the dist. The pump will raise the temp of the air some but, if it's not building a lot of pressure, the temp rise will be small. If you have a cold air intake, I expect the low pressure pump should work OK.

The vacuum in the distributor lowers the boiling point of any water in the dist, keeps it dry, and seems like a simpler solution.
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