well? does it matter or not? daily driver with an occasional trip to the track....bout 350HP....dont' know if that affects oil needs....7qt pans are 80$ more....whats the deal with windage trays, and pickups....

 

A larger oil capacity will keep the oil cooler (because there's more of it to suck up the heat) and cleaner (because there's more to dilute the contaminants.) It's not really necessary in a typical car, but a little extra protection never hurt anybody. Your oil changes will cost a couple bucks more though.

Some oilpans have a deeper than stock sump, and therefore require a longer pickup to reach all the way to the bottom of the pan. If they say the pan requires a certain pickup then you better get it.

A windage tray is just a piece of sheetmetal (or sometimes screen) between the crank and the bottom of the pan. When an engine is running, oil from the main and crank bearings will drip onto the crankshaft and be slung off due to centrifugal force. A windage tray basically keeps this oil from splashing into the oil in the pan which helps prevent small air bubbles in the oil and therefore helps protect the engine better.

 

Hey don't forget the power gains....the wind the last guy was talking about also slows the crank down costing horsepower....A windage tray cuts this significantly and therefore ups your horsepower....Just something to think about