Bigger oil pan = more HP !?!?!
 

I saw in every MM&FF magazine that a Canton
oil pan could give 10 more HP.

Is it possible or how is it possible???

Thanks for helping

SC





:eek: :confused: :eek: :confused:

Two things here:

1) A bigger oil pan will essentially 'move' oil away from the crank. Therefore at higer rpms when the crank is really spinning, it is hitting less oil - less resistance. That's one way to look at it.

2) Oil control (baffles, etc) work by keeping the oil from getting sucked up by the crank and therefore pushing oil up on the sides of the block at high rpms. Without an oil control plate/baffle the fast spinning crank creates a 'parting of the Red Sea' effect on the oil. This all takes energy - possibly 10 hp on a decent performance motor.

Basically, you want to adequately oil all of the engine, but without over doing it. The more the oil 'is in the way' the more horsepower it is robbing. Kind of a fine line, but hopefully you get the idea.

There was a post a while back on reducing the amount of oil you put into an engine to have similar effects, but I wouldn't recommend going too low.

E

Did they install a windage tray with that Canton pan or was the benefit just coming from the fact that the pan is baffled and deeper?

yah, I've actually heard from numerous people that they still only run 5qts of oil even in their bigger 7qt oilpan.

My old motor used to use a good amount of oil, and one day at a dragstrip the check oil light came on. I checked it and it was only about 1qt low. I didn't have any oil with me, and I knew I would have a fresh motor soon anway, so I decided to keep on running it. A few passes later, I had my best pass ever at the time, which was also my 1st 12second pass. So I believe the talk about it adding a small amount of horsepower by not being slung around by the crank, but it sure makes me nervous running it low:)

When I bought my 331 from Keith Craft I was told not to waste my money on a windage tray. He said they weren't worth the money.

First I ever heard anybody say that windage trays are a waste. Wierd. The fastest I ever ran in my mustang was also a liter down. I had oil with me,toped it up and bam, a tenth slower. But I dont run that way. I've heard that super stocks on record runs will run with about 5 pounds of pressure. maybe faster, but I don't like the thought of rebuilding it after 2 runs.