DeTomaso Mailing List: May 99, Message #153

In a message dated 5/5/99 10:16:36 PM AST, itbewild@gte.net writes:

<< 
 Opinions are like A-holes. . .but wots everyone's take on adding an "extra" 
quart
 of oil at race time? >>

Dennis....

I don't know if you've ever watched an engine with a poorly designed oil pan, 
run on a dyno. Here's basically what happens...The first pull seems to be ok. 
Then you really put the throttle to it and the fuel numbers go from .50 to 
65 or .75 (really rich) and the HP drops and keeps going down, and the 
engine  starts lugging. The oil temp goes up really quick and you start 
getting a fluctuation in the oil pressure. It happens more often than you 
would think, and even from super baffled trap doored "Name Brand" 
manufacturers...$600 or $700 oil pans. 

What happens is the crank starts flinging the oil all over, turns it to a 
mist, but your pump keep on sucking the well dry. Once it starts, all it 
takes is about 20 or 25 seconds, to completely suck a 20 quart dry sump tank 
dry.

Once it starts, it goes very quickly...I'm not saying running an extra quart 
is bad, but you should check to make sure that the oil level is well below 
the baffling. play it by ear...or run the engine on a dyno, with the extra 
quart. It can't be a chassis dyno, because you need all of the electronic 
hook ups to get really accurate readings.

Regards.............Gary