oil capacity for dry sump vs wet sump

[Darryl S]

Hello all,

This is my very first post and i would like to say hello to all of you. My first question is also a newbie question so i hope you guys can bear with me a little as im new to all this.

In the Honda CBR600RR manual it says that the oil capacity for the stock wet sump system is about 2.6 litres. We are currently running a custom dry sump system. Does that mean we can run it with less oil compared to the wet sump, or we still need to fill the lube system up with the same about of oil as the wet sump?

Darryl

[VFR750R]

You need only as much as it takes to keep the pickup in your tank covered at all times.

The taller and slimmer your tank...the less oil.
The better your pan at collecting the oil and returning it to the tank....the less oil.

Keep in mind that your pickups in your pan are going to be your limitation. Your drysump tank may have a lower level turning in one direction then another or under braking or accel.

The easiest test I can think of is put a running system on your car and then tip your car in each direction 55 deg or so with a site tube on your tank.

Pros for more oil are less breakdown over time, slightly less temperature, better deareation of the oil and less chance the pickup goes dry. Another important parameter is oil consumption. If your running on the edge and you burn through half a quart during endurance...boom.

[Mike Flitcraft]

More oil the better. I'd try for at least 3 quarts if you don't have a consumption problem.

Hell, Chevy's LS7 dry sump runs 7 quarts. That's only 1 quart more than a LS small block motor in a truck. You're also looking at almost a 1.7 gain in displacement for the most common LS truck engine.

[Darryl S]

Thanks for the reply guys. Now im going to go a little off topic here. As VFR750R mentioned, you can tilt the engine to simulate G Gorces. Is there a direct correlation between them? For example, 60 degrees of tilt corresponding to 1.5Gs?

[VFR750R]

Yes and no. Steady state, the correlation is exact, but lets say you transition from full accel to full brake, the oil can 'overshoot' the full brake level as it itself transitions.
There is always a need for efficient baffle designs in the tank and thought should be put into your pickups in the pan.