A dry sump oiling system has many advantages over a conventional wet sump oil pan system. It increases usable horsepower by eliminating a high oil level, which causes the crankshaft to rotate through or against the pressure of the oil. It will give a much more stable oil pressure with no fluctuation, whereas the conventional system can fluctuate in hard turns or braking, since all the oil will move to one side of the oil pan, thereby uncovering the oil pump pickup momentarily. The dry sump system can also carry as much oil as desired, unlike the conventional system. The engine can even be inverted and still maintain the same pressure. Another major advantage is the ability to install the system much lower in the chassis due to its lower profile. It has a lower profile, as it lacks a large oil pan. This gives a distinct advantage in center of gravity and aerodynamics with lower front ends.
In a conventional system, the large oil pan contains from 4 to 10 quarts of oil or more. The oil pump is attached to the bottom of the engine and uses a pickup tube with a strainer to pick up the oil. The dry sump does not use an oil pan. It uses a flat cover called the scavenger pan. The pan has several hoses attached that are used to scavenge the oil from the engine and for returning the oil under pressure.
The system generally uses two pumps--one for scavenging and one for pressure. These pumps are belt driven. The oil is filtered and transported to a remote pressurized oil tank. This can contain as much oil as desired or that there is room for. Dry sump systems are used in all aircraft and allow them to maneuver in an erratic manner with no loss of pressure. They are also used in all NASCAR series cars. They are costly to a small degree but well worth the extra dollars for the dependability and increased performance.
