MY OIL LEVEL FOR DRIFTING

[delmeekc]

Just some information on what I do, upto you if you leave it as it is.

I fill my oil to the max on the dipstick and then add a measured 1 litre on top, this is now my mark for normal oil level.

I do this in the hope that the oil pickup will always pick up oil and not starve the engine. Was recommended to me and i can understand the logic as the centrifugal force is quite high when going sideways and the oil is probably all on one side of the sump, maybe.

[FinallyVXRed]

I was always told never overfil. Causes increased oil pressure that can damage seals etc? I have no idea if this is correct or applies to modern engines maybe not as the chap who gave me this advice retired when the old Rover 2000 was the "in family car"

[delmeekc]

won't increase oil pressure (pump does that), not had any adverse effects (oil blowing off anywhere or anything) from doing this at all. If a remember correctly there is a slight delay in the light coming on if the oil pressure drops (not sure about the ls1 but on a bike the oil pressure switch is the first thing the oil hits after going through the pump, it's the delay that worries me and I won't be looking at the dash at the time, probably looking out the side window). If the oil all moves to the side away from the oil pickup then air goes through and not oil and air don't lube too good. Could be too late when the light comes on. just my views, works for me.

[ringram]

Quite a few forums recommend an extra litre. Mine needs to be over the full mark else I get low oil light now and again under "spirited" driving.

[simonb9]

I would have thought that if it is something that you were going to do on a regulary occurence would it not be better to get a baffled sump ?? Be better than taking a risk everytime you went out..........

[GreenV8S]

The big danger is that you get oil surge into the crank case, it gets whipped up by the crank and then you are in a vicious spiral which gives you more and more hot aerated oil being whipped around in the crank case and eventually carried out of the breather. Breather systems in modern cars are normally connected up to the intake and designed to cope with lots of gas with just the hint of oil mist. Throw clouds of oil down there and it will get through into the intake instead of being separated, and you can find yourself with a sudden hydraulic lock. Different engines have different tolerances for overfilling and I have no idea what yours is like, but I'd be surprised if any engine was so fussy that one or two litres extra put the engine at risk. I routinely overfill my V8 by half a gallon when it goes on track and have never had an excess oil blown out. My theory is that once it's running there's probably a liter or so of oil stuck up in the rocker covers waiting for the G to come off so it can drain down anyway!

[SS HSV]

Don't forget the our cars are tested in the most vigarous manner and all but the most sadistic driving will not harm an engine.

If you are really concerned about oil starvation due to 'antics' then dry-sump is the way to go. I used this approach when building my SBC race engine and the total cost was fairly steep at £1000. This was money well spent as it gave me a faultless 4.5 bar which did not move - ever - regardless of how the car was thrown around the circuit. The only downside is that you are then required to check the drive belt regularly as if it snaps you have no oil pressure

I have tonight topped up the oil and also thought about fitting a big-winged, baffled sump. Has anyone else any experience of this on a Holden/Monaro?

[greens vauxhall]

delmeekc said:

Just some information on what I do, upto you if you leave it as it is.

I fill my oil to the max on the dipstick and then add a measured 1 litre on top, this is now my mark for normal oil level.

I do this in the hope that the oil pickup will always pick up oil and not starve the engine. Was recommended to me and i can understand the logic as the centrifugal force is quite high when going sideways and the oil is probably all on one side of the sump, maybe.

Wise words indeed!! Its not worth the risk, top it up.

[V8HSV]

Have a baffled sump fitted, after s/c conversion this led to the oil light coming on on standing starts, never seen oil light come on whilst on track or road & no longer over-fill by 1 litre.

[ringram]

A search will show that early engines had replacement dip sticks with the oil fill raised due to starvation. The oil pump is at the front of the engine, so oil can shift away under acceleration. The sump has a windage tray so only the more insane overfill will cause issues like aeration etc.

[FinallyVXRed]

Would you guys also recommend the 1 litre overfill for drivers of the more enthusiatic nature or is this really only something for track and drift?

[ringram]

I fill mine 500ml over the limit all the time. I have to else I get a warning light. I think mine might be pre the adjusted dip stick. That would suggest I should really have 1ltr extra in. Which I will for the drift day next monday

[308mate]

Eh?

Drifting is a point after the maximum level of grip has been reached or has been overcome. Therefore, the car cannot be taking the corner with as much lateral G or contrifugal force than if it was at its limit of grip going round the same corner. Otherwise, Alonso would be doing it. The car actually spreads its weight more evenly across its suspension when sideways I would say too.

I personally think you run LESS risk of oil starvation drifting than you do by upping the grip levels with tyres and suspension and then doing a normal track day. Could be wrong though...

Regardless of the chances of starvation, one thing drift cars DO do is hang on to big revs for extended periods. And you want to put an extra 1 LITRE of oil in, OVER full?

Surely a baffled sump as an initial investment is cheaper than new seals throughout...



PB

[ringram]

"In addition to the ventilation changes listed above, aeration of the oil and windage were reduced by the use of a crankshaft deflector (mounted on the main bearing caps) and a stamped steel baffle in the sump. The shallow sump's capacity was increased by the presence of ears which were added either side. The 356-T6 allow sump also had dams cast into its floor, slowing the movement of oil both fore-aft and laterally.

The oil pump was capable of flowing 22.7 litres per minute at an engine speed of 6000 rpm."

www.ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=608805&highlight=oil+level

Stock fill is 5.5qts, around 5L I think. Sump is baffled with windage tray, by all accounts most road race guys run 7L without any issue and in fact recommend it. Do some searching the info is out there from people who have raced with ls1's way more than us. Then make your own choice how much oil you will run.

More here www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=54189&highlight=oil+level

www.ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=621524&highlight=oil+level

[FinallyVXRed]

308mate said:

Regardless of the chances of starvation, one thing drift cars DO do is hang on to big revs for extended periods. And you want to put an extra 1 LITRE of oil in, OVER full?

Surely a baffled sump as an initial investment is cheaper than new seals throughout...



PB

Is this another vote for the "seals can be damaged by overfilling" camp?

Also would I be right in assuming that the info advice from those racing LS1's is irrelevant or complimentary to those with LS2's?