Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting oil stravation cause..right here!

I have a question. How much clearance from the bottom of the pickup to the bottom of the pan? Also how high would 1/2 a pint of oil fill in the pan? If the return rate is constant at 5000+ RPM and the crest of the oil is above the bottom of the pickup then I don't see why it would fail at that amount. I'm not saying that I have the answer just trying to find one.

Lee, your kinda whoopin a dead horse here, If you think that that is enough oil in the pan then call some of guy's like Roushe,Penske just to name a few.[they do have websites you know] and run this theory past them, and be prepaired to be laughed off the phone! But hey, you may brighten there day with that little bit of humor.

I'm gonna disagree on this on using plain logic. That extra quart will give you much more of a safety blanket. The heads are not going to warp themselves so more oil can be pulled up there!
I think adding another quart is the solution, we just need to know when enough is enough due to airation of the oil.

You lost me. My point is if there's a drainback restriction such that at higher rpms the oil pump pumps oil out of the pan faster than it can drain back in (it's not PUMPED in, it drains back), then adding another quart to the pan just means another quart that gets pumped up top and can't get back when running at high rpms. I don't see the logic flaw with that and meanwhile I can't figure out what you said at all.

so aren't there aftermarket pans that hold more than 6 qts??

What I mean is, the oil coming up into the heads will push the oil that was up their back down into the pan. Only so much oil can fit up there, if the heads devour as much oil as testified, we have to assume that their is prolly not much extra space for oil. Therefor, an extra quart should not be swallowed up too!
I'm just using logic here, if I'm way off base, someone please correct me!

Hell no, my point is as long as the pickup is covered, it should be okay. So when you're turning, with only that much oil in the pan, it obviously isn't covered. Therefore that may be enough on a dyno, but not in a real worl situation where the oil is moving side to side.

Now, I have to admit my whole assumption is that half a pint is enough to cover the pickup when the car is standing still.

I want to know how much more to add so it is good in everyday driving (hard or not)?

From now on, I'll be putting in a solid 6 liters (my manual says 5.5L ) in the engine, damn the diptstick, and maybe put in more as the information comes in.

My point (fairly obvious) MUST KEEP PICKUP COVERED AT ALL TIMES.

I do my own oil change and my SVT oil dip stick is correct. Its my GTP that is off by 1/2 quart. But my WRX is just not possible to check!

OK Joe and 97TourSE, I'll tell you how solve it once and for all! Since neither one of you have very much mechanical knowledge,and I'm not trying to be an ******* to you at all, your coments and statements prove this out. I am not trying to flame you! Now with that said why dont you boys preform this experiment and satisfy yourselfs, and share what you learn on the board with the rest of us. The experiment is this. Have a friend start your engine hold the RPM to 5000 then take off the oil fill cap in the valve cover and see what you find. If your uncomfortable doing this at that RPM just let the engine idle and remove the cap then have your friend ease the RPM higher gradually so you can see what goes on in there. If you realy beleive that there is 51/2 qts. of oil up there when you do this experiment you will soon see that that is a load of ****. Again I dont mean to offend you guy's, and before you get all pissed do the experiment and prove me wrong.

For now my new fill level is between the M & A. Oh yeah my PCM won't let the the revs above 4000 in neutral. MTX will???
Paul
Lincoln LS is even lower 2800-3000rpm in neutral.