Happens when oil is climbing the back of the pan due to G forces, also can happen if the oil's not returning to the sump quickly enough. Incorrect baffling can cause this, too. Under acceleration, oil returning from the top can be collected on top of a baffle like a shelf, momentarily preventing it from getting to the sump where it's needed. Wish I could find a video I remember seeing showing real time happenings inside the pan...pretty wild. Devon
When air gets in the system, it becomes compressible and thats why it lowers the pressure. As long as the pickup is still pulling oil you will still have volume going through the system. Pressure is just the measure of resistance. As per TA, their high volume pan and pickup calls for 5/8" clearance between them. We feel that it is too much and close this down to between 3/8" -1/2". This was the situation on one of our customers motors that he put together and followed their instructions.
I Want to thank everyone for the input on this thread and the PM's about the motor, took the car out to the track last night since the changes and the oil pressure concern is no more. I changed from the 10w/30 synthetic oil to the Bradd-Penn 20w/50 racing oil, went from 9 quarts in the pan to running 7 and half quarts, and adjusted the pressure slightly on the timing cover. At an idle hot the car has 30 psi and at the end of the track is has 70 psi. Thanks again
Denny, did you do these three changes one at a time to see what the contributor(s) was/were, or did you make all three changes at once? I'm hoping for the former, because it would have been really informative to see which variables played what role. If you did one at a time, can you comment on the effects? Devon
Devon I did all the changes at one time. I had been trying to get the car out for the past 2 weeks, but between work and rain, last night was the first time out since the changes. On the first run the oil pressure was a little higher than what i liked, so i did bump it down after the first run and that is where it is set now. I feel that the major thing was like these guys said earlier in the post that taking the oil down to 7 and half quarts instead of 9 made the biggest difference.
