I noticed that the new Ford GT has a dry sump lubrication type engine. This is the type that top fuel dragster runs too. Can someone explain to me how it works? I did talk with one of the salesmen at the display booth at a drag race one time and he told me that they are not real practical for street cars because of the drawn out procedure for putting it into service prior to starting the engine. Surely the new GT is not going to have something that prevents a person fron getting in, turning the key and driving away. I think the engine in the GT would be a good one for the W123 chassis car seeing as how it is a dry sump engine. You eliminate the interference issue with the oil pan and frame cross support.
thanks

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Jim

Jim, Ferrari has been using dry sump on almost all of it's cars since 1980, even a few in the 60's.

I can tell you with the 360 Modena you turn the key wait for the OK light and fire it up.

Thanks Jeff.

It uses an electric oil pump?

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Jim

Dry sump holds the oil in a seperate tank and uses scavenger pump(s) to suck the oil out of the pan and keep it in the remote tank. Porsche uses it as well as the BMW M cars. It is superior in that it allows increased oil capacity and ensures a constant supply of oil no matter what the lateral acceleration is. It also allows a smaller pan and lower engine mounting due to the oil not being help in the sump. It is more expensive, however.

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Ali Al-Chalabi

2001 CLK55
1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel
2002 Harley-Davidson Fatboy
Merlin Extralight w/ Campy Record

Yes I think thats what was killing my battery:p

The ones I've seen are mechanical such as in the M198 (gullwing). I don't know how it starts before the engine catches.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

Virtually all racecars and a lot of motorcycles use dry sump. The benefits are
more oil in system
less splash in crankcase (horsepower loss and cavitation)
oil stays cooler (away from hot engine)
oil not affected by centrifical force

They generally use two pumps for pressure and scavenging and those pumps can be mechanical or electrical.

Just a guess but I would think they are used in aviation engines. For those times when you want to fly upside down!!

The 450SEL 6.9 had dry sump too.