V8 wet sump pan level
V8 wet sump pan level
(OP)
On a car enthusiast forum, a recent discussion on the dipstick indication got me to thinking about “How is the sump level designed”. I had no luck with Google and from discussions on other forums it appears there is a lot of myth intermixed with reasoning.
For example, my illustration shows where someone measured to their dipstick FULL mark (with the pan off) and was 5.5” below the crank centerline. Thus with that as FULL, the shown advertised 9 quart pan would only need less than 5.5 quarts to show full.
So does anyone know if there is any design criteria the industry uses to set FULL on the dipstick.
https://res.cloudinary.com/engineering-com/image/upload/v1495827643/tips/oil_pan_qh42vp.bmp

For example, my illustration shows where someone measured to their dipstick FULL mark (with the pan off) and was 5.5” below the crank centerline. Thus with that as FULL, the shown advertised 9 quart pan would only need less than 5.5 quarts to show full.
So does anyone know if there is any design criteria the industry uses to set FULL on the dipstick.
https://res.cloudinary.com/engineering-com/image/upload/v1495827643/tips/oil_pan_qh42vp.bmp






RE: V8 wet sump pan level
Then they select an oil pan depth based on space available, crank clearance, and some amount of slosh freeboard.
The fact that the gross capacity of the pan is 9qt and it reads full at 5.5 sounds perfectly sensible.
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P.E. Metallurgy, Plymouth Tube
RE: V8 wet sump pan level
The one thing you want to avoid is having something moving at crank speed contact the oil pool.
... except for engines without oil pumps, which may have 'dippers' on the rod caps, or other oddities intended to splash oil where it needs to go.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: V8 wet sump pan level
CR
"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." [Proverbs 27:17, NIV]
RE: V8 wet sump pan level
The problem with sloppy work is that the supply FAR EXCEEDS the demand
RE: V8 wet sump pan level
All of those have varying and unknown drainback times. So, the only way to know how much is really in there is to have all the drainable things kept full, by having it actually running and pumping.
Most automotive engines have a pretty quick and predictable drainback time. For them it makes sense to check with engine off.
Maybe the biggest reason is - engines throw oil around when running - pull the dipstick with your motor running sometime! There will not be a visible "oil level".
Jay Maechtlen
http://www.laserpubs.com/techcomm
RE: V8 wet sump pan level
5.5 qt, and long drainback time.
It was always being overfilled because mechanics couldn't wait another 10 min to actually check the oil level.
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P.E. Metallurgy, Plymouth Tube
RE: V8 wet sump pan level
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