A dry sump is a lubrication system where oil is actively scavenged from a shallow oil pan at the bottom of the engine and pumped into a remote reservoir. This prevents oil starvation during high-G cornering and allows the engine to be mounted lower in the chassis for a better center of gravity. It requires multiple oil pumps and complex plumbing compared to a standard setup.
We need to check the oil level on the dry sump tank while the engine is running and up to temperature.
Checking the oil on a dry sump engine usually requires the engine to be warm and idling, unlike a wet sump where the engine must be off.
Do not mix it up with
- Wet sump: A wet sump stores oil directly in the pan under the engine, while a dry sump pumps it to an external tank.
Related terms
Wet sump
An engine lubrication design where the entire oil supply pools in a pan directly beneath the crankcase.
Oil change
The routine maintenance process of draining degraded engine lubricant and replacing it with fresh fluid.
Windage
The parasitic aerodynamic drag created by a spinning crankshaft churning through oil vapor in the crankcase.