Oil pan and vent baffles

[Glenn Stephens]

I am having a small issue. In hard right or left turns, my oil
pressure (at the gauge) drops below 10psi. Normally it runs about
70psi. As far as I have noticed, there is no issue under braking or
acceleration.

This is due to the oil sloshing left or right in the pan away from the
pickup. The classic way to fix this is to build an oil baffle into the
pan to keep the oil near the pickup. Has anyone done this?

The other and possibly main contributing factor is that my engine will
eject any oil above the 4/10 line on the dipstick. I believe this is
because the oil sloshes into the filler tube under hard cornering and
the pressure in the crankcase forces it up into the overflow tube.
After I fill the crankcase, I do not have pressure loss problems until
the oil level gets down below 1/2.

If I could keep the crankcase full, I would probably not need an oil
pan baffle so that is my first goal. I am thinking of mesh or spiral
baffles for the oil filler tube that would allow the air to escape but
retain the oil. Has anyone done this? Recommendations?

Glenn

[Peter Yeomans]

Sorry Glenn can't help-don't suffer either issue although my engine doesn't
leak or use oil and seldom needs much top up although I keep it near the
maximum each meeting- I have never had problems with drop off in oil
pressure like you mention- perhaps your issue may be pick up or pump related
rather than standard sump/baffle problem as I can not recall ever reading
about issue in any of the many HLR magazines produced -perhaps Vic may have
some ideas/answers-I have been running a modern type of oil pump system
supplied by Mike Brotherwood around 10 years back-it is a pity that some
more of the UK owners do not subscribe to this groupas they would have vast
experiences we could all draw upon-I think at the time Mike said mine was
the 2nd he had sold-only had one hick up with it in that one of internal the
connection pipes came a bit loose at outset and quickly fixed without any
damage- perhaps you could discuss with him-UK phone number is
1249760739-nice to see that you have the ability to observe the gauge during
hard cornering!
Yeoey
Ps the chassis modifications on the 42 car I thought may have been in the
cockpit area where it looked like there were additional rails on the base of
the tunnel and probably internal and a cross section bar as well at the base
of the seat area or the like, not the rear of the car as you mention-too
many copies of HLR to look over to recheck but seemed at the time by me as a
way of significantly strengthening the chassis albeit not historic

[belde...@sbcglobal.net]

Glenn,
I have the same sort of situation with the FWA in my IX. I use 6800-7K max
revs and if the dipstick shows more than half full the last half quart comes
out and all over every time. I scratched my head a few time and decided to
baffle the oil fill tube. We cut four slots in the fill tube; two on either
side a bit more than half way across the width of the tube and facing down
towards the sump at a 45 degree or greater angle. The slots are spaced maybe
a half inch apart, or a bit more than an inch on one side. We then cut some
blanks out of .032" mild steel and brazed these into the tube in the slots
making sort of a series of step baffles. All to no avail; if the sump was
filled more than half way between the two lines on the dipstick the oil
puked out. And still does so I always fill it only "halfway".

I also see very low oil pressure in long turns; especially right handers.
The "oval" type turn on the new Lightning track in New Jersey is especially
bad. I have solved the problem by conciously not looking at the guage there
or in similar turns like Big bend at Lime Rock. Ignorance is BLISS.
Dave Belden
Woodstock,CT

----- Original Message -----
From: "Glenn Stephens" <gaste...@track-systems.com>
To: "Lotus History" <lotus-...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, August 22, 2009 10:53 AM
Subject: Oil pan and vent baffles


>

[Roger Sieling]

Glenn and David,

I'll have to make you one of my devices to solve this problem. I too suffered from oil coming out the oil fill tube and solved the problem long ago.

Roger

[Stewart Smith]

Too much oil will cause the crank to rotate through the oil and force around in the sump/oil gallery. Will cause pressure increase in the crankcase and force oil out. My oil fill tube has one baffle at 45 degrees installed near the bottom. A scraper installed on the girdle or the stock baffle will eliminate part of the problem.

 

As far as losing pressure in the turns...do you still have the stock oil pick-up? Angled pan? Some rebuilders just leave a 1/2" tube in the pan. Should have a hooded pick-up with its mesh screen about 1/4" above the bottom of the pan. I don't go as fast as Glenn, (wimpy 1220 cc's vs 1460 cc's) cornering forces are the approx. same and I haven't ever had a problem.

 

Doctors differ patients die....Cheers,

 

Stewart

[Stewart Smith]

A low oil pressure light would be a good thing to keep you from having to
look at the gauge whilst cornering. I have a light that comes on at 25 lbs
(advertised as 20lbs but when checked was 25) and an low oil ignition cut
out at 10 lbs. The car came with the cut out and I don't know if it would be
a good thing to have the ignition turn off in the heat of battle...just
haven't changed it out.

Stewart

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Peter Yeomans" <ye...@three.com.au>
Sent: Saturday, August 22, 2009 4:12 PM
To: <lotus-...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: RE: Oil pan and vent baffles

[Gearhead]

Roger,

I would be very pleased if you would either make me a baffle or share
the secret so I could have one fabricated. As much as I try to ignore
that pesky oil pressure gauge like Dave, I can't quite do it!
Obviously I would be happy to pay for it.

I have a fuel-pump cutoff if the oil pressure drops but that would
only be effective if starved for quite some time as there is fuel in
the float bowls. That is intended for a problem like a spun bearing
where the pressure drops and I don't notice it right away. Hopefully
that would shut me down before the engine seizes and throws a rod.

My oil pump is the stock mesh type mounted in the stock location.
There is a windage tray but no scraper and no baffles in the pan. I
still can't seem to insert a picture so here is a link to a picture of
my oil pan from when I first opened the engine to restore.

http://traqmate.com/Events/Monterey09/oilpump.jpg

Glenn

[Roger Sieling]

I'll look see if I have any appropriate bar stock. I made mine 20 years ago, I think.

Roger

> Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:00:28 -0700
> Subject: Re: Oil pan and vent baffles
> From: gaste...@track-systems.com
> To: lotus-...@googlegroups.com

[Gearhead]

Roger,

Can you share the general approach with me? I have been dreaming up
all types of gadgets so I am curious what might actually have worked.

Glenn

On Aug 24, 5:11 pm, Roger Sieling <sar...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I'll look see if I have any appropriate bar stock. I made mine 20 years ago, I think.
>
> Roger
>
>
>
> > Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:00:28 -0700
> > Subject: Re: Oil pan and vent baffles

> > From: gasteph...@track-systems.com

> _________________________________________________________________
> Get back to school stuff for them and cashback for you.http://www.bing.com/cashback?form=MSHYCB&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MSHYC...

[Vic Thomas]

Firstly you don`t nees to strengthen the chassis of an Eleven.
Secondly, logitudinal or transverse tubes do not "strengthen ".
Tubes must be in tension and complete a triangulation for this to
be effective.
Regards
VFT

[Gearhead]

Regarding the strengthening, I don't really know if there is extra
tubing added to #42 in the cockpit area.

[Lyndsay Wood]

Hello All,

This has been an interesting discussion...Can anyone tell me if a similar modification was made to the Ford engined cars?

GratefulRegards
Lyndsay


--- On Mon, 24/8/09, Vic Thomas <victor...@virgin.net> wrote:

> From: Vic Thomas <victor...@virgin.net>
> Subject: Re: Oil pan and vent baffles

[Gearhead]

Lyndsay,

Do you mean engine mods or chassis mods?

Glenn

[Lyndsay Wood]

----- Original Message ----
From: Gearhead <gaste...@track-systems.com>
To: Lotus History <lotus-...@googlegroups.com>

Sent: Saturday, 29 August, 2009 23:08:11
Subject: Re: Oil pan and vent baffles

[Stewart Smith]

Yes Lyndsay,

Dave Bean makes a baffle pan for Ford pre-crossflow headed engines...and
crossflows I guess. Dave used to sell a swinging pick-up. I think his pan
is baffled and has swinging gates.

Dave Vehger (spell) makes "dry sump in the pan" for those who really want to
save their bearings. Not legal for some vintage race groups.

Stewart

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Lyndsay Wood" <lyn_l...@yahoo.co.uk>
Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 9:58 AM
To: <lotus-...@googlegroups.com>