Mike Mavrigian Dry Sump Oil Systems Offer a Number of Advantages Over
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Performance Perspectives Dry sump oil systems offer a number of advantages over conventional oiling systems. They also are finding their way into more and more high-end performance engine builds. riginal equipment engines, as A dry sump oil system (so-called because well as a large number of race the oil pan does not store the oil) provides a engines, feature what’s called more efficient and direct approach. An exter- a wet sump oil system that de- nally mounted oil pump takes advantage of ex- livers pressurized oil to the ternal plumbing to directly deliver oil to the Mike main oil gallery. Oil is stored engine. The dry sump pan serves only as a Mavrigian in the oil pan sump and is picked up by a me- containment cover and as a location from Ochanically driven oil pump. The pump fea- which oil can be returned to the reservoir. The [email protected] tures a screened pickup that’s submerged in oil reservoir (the oil supply) is a remote con- the sump’s oil reservoir. The pump is mechan- tainer that can be mounted in the cockpit, en- ically driven by either the camshaft-driven dis- gine bay or other convenient location in a race tributor, by the cam itself or by the crank vehicle. In basic terms, the external pump snout, depending on the engine type. The pulls oil from the remote reservoir, then push- pump pressurizes the oil, sending it through es it (under pressure) to wherever directed by the main gallery, and subsequently to all bear- the plumbing. In this manner, oil can be di- ing surfaces, the valvetrain, etc. Although this rectly sent to the main bearings through a system does deliver oil to all required areas, block port, and oil can be delivered directly to the oil must be pushed through all of these the valvetrain with one or two plumbed hoses passages to eventually route to the upper end (depending on the application), oil can be di- of the engine. The delivered oil then is free to rectly delivered to a turbocharger, etc. In ad- drain back to the sump, with delivery and dition, oil pressure is adjustable and the oil ca- drainback serving as an ongoing cycle during pacity is increased (based on the size of the re- engine operation. mote reservoir). Photos: Mike Mavrigian Mike Photos: This photo shows a typical dry sump system, including oil Dry sump systems allow oil injection to specific locations reservoir tank, dry sump pan, multistage dry sump pump, on the engine, per the engine builder’s requirements. crank snout drive pulley and toothed drive belt. Tidy and colorful hoses add a measure of eye appeal. 28 May 2007 Performance Perspectives Dry sump pumps are available A dry sump oil pan features cial adapters. Typically, if an adapter with varying numbers of stages, de- threaded bungs to accept suction is needed to feed oil to the block’s pending on how many direct-delivery (scavenge) line fittings. The installa- main gallery (at the stock oil filter lo- and return (scavenge) routes are re- tion of oil feed plumbing to the block cation, for example), aftermarket quired. The advantages include im- or other areas may require drilling adapters are readily available for all mediate oil delivery to specific areas and tapping or the purchase of spe- popular blocks. If the block’s original and elimination of oil starvation continued on page 30 caused by angle and centrifugal forces (when the race car accelerates, brakes or turns), which may momen- tarily expose an in-the-pan oil pump pickup, allowing air (not oil) to travel throughout the block. In other words, the potential for oil aeration is eliminated. Since the scavenge sec- tion(s) of the dry sump pump pull oil from the dry sump pan, this creates a vacuum, pulling excess oil from the surfaces of the crank and rods and reducing parasitic drag (which means more efficient use of engine power). Dry sump pumps are built in stages, with one pressure section and one or more scavenge sections. The additional scavenge sections (as many as six) allow oil to be scavenged more quickly and efficiently from specific areas of the engine, instead of wait- ing for the oil to be drawn down into the pan for a scavenge pickup. A typical two-stage dry sump pump features one pressure section and one scavenge section. A typical three-stage dry sump pump features one pressure section and two scav- enge sections. A typical four-stage dry sump pump features one pres- sure section and three scavenge sec- tions. A typical five-stage dry sump pump features two pressure sections and three scavenge sections. A typi- cal six-stage dry sump pump features two pressure sections and four scav- enge sections. In terms of plumbing, a general rule of thumb is to use –10, –12 and –16 hose, fittings and hose end sizes. (In order to feed some supercharger or turbo applications, a –6 hose size may be recommended, with a larger diame- ter hose needed for oil drainback.) Circle #18 Generally, a larger size is required for the return hose that runs from the pump to the remote oil reservoir. For example, if –12 hoses are used for all feeds, a –16 hose would be used for oil return to the reservoir. May 2007 29 Performance Perspectives oil filter location is being used for oil the crankshaft snout (a pulley is in- feed, the oil filter must then be re- stalled on the crank, with the belt Dry Sump mote-mounted. A spin-on oil filter connecting the crank pulley to the System Sources may be remote-mounted, or special pump pulley). Dry sump pumps, via ARE Dry Sump Systems in-line filters may be installed. the proper pulley diameters, are gen- 916-987-7629 The dry sump pump is driven by a erally driven at about half crankshaft www.drysump.com notched belt (a common style is the speed. However, dry sump pumps toothed Gilmer belt) directly from may also be driven by the nose of the Auto Verdi Racing Oil Pumps 714-557-1506 www.autoverdi.com Aviaid Oil Systems 818-998-8991 www.aviaid.com Barnes Dry Sump Oil Systems 310-534-3844 www.barnessystems.com Billet Fabrication 877-424-5538; 805-584-0428 www.billetfab.com Canton Racing Products 203-481-9460 www.cantonracingproducts.com Champ Pans/JR Manufacturing Circle #19 715-834-7748 www.champpans.com Dan Olson Racing Products 559-292-7267 www.olsonmotorsports.com Johnson’s High Tech Performance Circle #20 800-788-7867 www.johnsonsoilpumps.com Milodon 805-577-5950 www.milodon.com Circle #21 Moroso Performance Products 203-453-6571 www.moroso.com Patterson Enterprises 818-781-1421 Circle #22 www.pattersonent.com Peterson Fluid Systems 800-926-7867 www.petersonfluidsys.com Stef’s Performance Products 732-367-8700 www.stefs.com 30 May 2007 camshaft, with the pump mounted on flushed). If there’s any doubt regard- only recourse is to simply replace the the face of a special timing cover. Dry ing hose contamination, the hose cooler. This may mean trashing an ex- sump system makers offer both types should be replaced, since it’s possible pensive cooler, but it’s better to be of drive systems. for contaminants to lodge in the safe. Metal debris that’s trapped in- Dry sump systems are selected by hose’s inner wall surface. side a cooler can easily dislodge at a many race engine builders both to Note: If an external oil cooler is later time, killing an expensive per- provide more efficient and reliable oil suspected of being contaminated, the formance engine in the process. control and to obtain valuable ground clearance, since a dry sump pan is not as deep as a wet sump pan (remem- ber, the oil supply is located in a re- mote-mounted reservoir elsewhere on the vehicle). The use of a dry sump system also promotes engine oil cooling, due to the remote reservoir (oil isn’t stored in a confined area where heat is gen- erated). Engine horsepower is also increased, since parasitic losses are minimized because the vacuum effect of the system’s scavenging process pulls clinging oil from crank counter- weights, rods, etc. The dry sump system oil tank—avail- able in capacities from 1 to 5.5 gals.— serves simply as the primary oil reser- voir. The tank receives the oil scav- enged from the outlet ports of the dry sump pump. Once the oil enters the tank’s inlet fitting, the oil hits an inter- nal “splitter” that directs the oil in a specific stream. After hitting the rolled inner tank wall (this softens the impact of the oil), it rolls onto an upper baffle, allowing the oil to flow out in a thin sheet, which promotes the release of air that might be trapped in the oil. The oil then falls into the reservoir, waiting to be pulled out and recycled through the engine. A large portion of the tank volume is air, which exceeds the volume of oil that’s being pulled from the pump. To allow air to escape, the tank must be vented, which also benefits in lower- ing atmospheric pressure in the crankcase. In the case of engine failure be- cause metal debris entered the oiling system, the dry sump pump must be disassembled and cleaned. If in-line oil filters are present, these must be disassembled and cleaned as well. And, the remote oil tank and all oil hoses must also be cleaned (pay par- ticular attention when cleaning hoses to make sure they’re thoroughly Circle #23 May 2007 31.