sump/vaccum
08-04-2002, 01:54 PM
#2
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Lewiston, ID
Posts: 133
wet sump - typical automotive oiling system. The oil pan serves as a resivoir for the oil. Oil pump sucks oil directly out of the sump (deep part at back of oil pan) and into the engine. the oil then seeps out the bearing clearances in the engine, and drains back to the sump...
dry sump - oil still draims back to the sump, but it just serves as a catch. from there it is pumped to an oil tank that then serves as a resivoir for the pressure pump that sends oil back into the engine for the bearings. The advantage here is that the oil pump is virtually guaranteed to have oil at it's pickup, as opposed to a wet sump, where the oil can slosh away from the pickup in heavy cornering and starve the engine. This is usually a race-only thing, because most street cars can't generate enough turning force to cause problems, and it's pretty expensive.
As for a vacuum pump, it pulls a vacuum on the crankcase to aid in piston ring sealing. again, it is effective, but really a racecar thing (the pump alone is ~$300! - easier ways to make the same power for less on a street car)
dry sump - oil still draims back to the sump, but it just serves as a catch. from there it is pumped to an oil tank that then serves as a resivoir for the pressure pump that sends oil back into the engine for the bearings. The advantage here is that the oil pump is virtually guaranteed to have oil at it's pickup, as opposed to a wet sump, where the oil can slosh away from the pickup in heavy cornering and starve the engine. This is usually a race-only thing, because most street cars can't generate enough turning force to cause problems, and it's pretty expensive.
As for a vacuum pump, it pulls a vacuum on the crankcase to aid in piston ring sealing. again, it is effective, but really a racecar thing (the pump alone is ~$300! - easier ways to make the same power for less on a street car)