Proper oil level in oil pan with engine running.

[Loves302Chevy]

SHOP CAREFULLY , WHEN YOU GO TO BUY AN OIL PAN<AND ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WILL FIT YOUR CAR CORRECTLY AND ASK FOR SUGGESTIONS ON MATCHING COMPONENTS OR PARTS THAT WON,T FIT

MILODON,
http://www.milodon.com/

CHAMP
http://www.champpans.com/products/c/oil-pans/

CANTON,
https://www.cantonracingproducts.com/category/1501/Chevy-SS--Road-Race-Oil-Pans/1.html

MOROSO
http://www.moroso.com/

AVIAID
http://aviaid.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/ws_oilpns_sbc.html

STEFS
http://www.stefs.com/products/oilpans/circletrackwetsump.htm

HAMBURGERPERFORMANCE
http://www.hamburgersperformance.com/

KEVKO
https://kevko.myshopify.com/

IF you've wondered why I suggest buying and using a well designed BAFFLED oil pan with 7-8 quart capacity its to prevent the oil from uncovering the oil pump pick-up under performance use.
without control baffles oil sloshes away from the oil pump pick-up

keep in mind both engine oil temps and trans fluid temps seldom reach operational temps,fluid
and stabilize , for semi consistent data,in under 12-15 minutes of drive time,temps have a huge effect on lubricant viscosity and durability. .
Here is the inside of my pan (upside down). Full is where the full mark on the dipstick comes to. 4 is where 4 quarts comes to. WT is where the oil would be up to the bottom of the windage tray. And Main Cap would be the top of the main cap.
The windage tray and slosh tray end up only about 1/4" from each other.
Unfortunately, I cannot use a better aftermarket pan (clearance issues) and if I modified this pan for more capacity, I would probably gain only 1 quart at best, so I will run it as is. On the plus side, I am using an oil cooler, a preluber, and the longer oil filter, all of which adds some capacity. I can run the preluber to fill the oil galleries and be able to read the oil level in the pan. Yes, I know, not quite the same as the engine actually running, but better than nothing. Mike.

 

[Grumpy]

Oil control is more important than oil pan volume alone ,thus a decent windage tray may be helpful, and 4 -5 quarts is probably ok on a street car its not going to be ideal under higher acceleration or hard braking inertia loads , its a bit less than ideal ,Id throw about 4.5 quarts in it and use the longest oil filter that easily fits the application filling that separately , so theres no delay in pressurized oil reaching the bearings while oil fills the filter , keep in mind about 2 quarts will be in the upper engine areas like the valve covers,lifter gallery,oil passages etc. while the engines running., Id also point out that you do have the option of running a remote oil filter(s) or an oil cooler to increase oil volume without increasing oil pan capacity, while this diagram may look like theres plenty of oil over the oil pump pick-up a running engine with a 4 quart pan design would likely have far less over the oil pump pick-up under hard braking or
acceleration

look up your fluid capacity
http://www.amsoil.com/lookup/auto-and-light-truck/?zo=531421&page=/products/application_guide.aspx

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/oil-filters-related-info.2080/#post-22579

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...l-cooler-increases-durability.176/#post-48374

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/whats-a-windage-tray-do.64/

obviously check which longer oil filter will fit your particular application
Purolator number is 4631
(Fram PH8A or Wix 51515

don,t forget that oil flow rates, and reducing the transmission fluid temp in the lower radiator on cars equipped with an automatic transmission, have a big effect on engine cooling so adding a trans or oil cooler helps engine durability
Loves302Chevy posted these diagrams that will be helpful