bbc oil level help

Ron Gusack · 04-20-2010, 04:15 PM

How much oil should I run in my 7400 rpm bbc with an HV pump and a stock type pan that's 8.5 inches deep?
I've been running 7 qts. but I'm thinking it might be too much.

SGSST109E · 04-20-2010, 04:53 PM

If you have the pan off the motor, put 7 qts. in to it. Sounds like the oil level is into the crank.

Ron Gusack · 04-20-2010, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGSST109E

If you have the pan off the motor, put 7 qts. in to it. Sounds like the oil level is into the crank.

I do have the pan off, but where should the oil level be? How far from the crank should the level be in a static engine?

SGSST109E · 04-20-2010, 09:48 PM

The farther from the crank the better. If there is a windage tray the oil must be below it. I can't give you a dimension in inches.

Ron Gusack · 04-21-2010, 07:58 AM

I would think the killer stockers or super stockers would know this stuff. I just need one to share his knowledge.

mannymen · 04-21-2010, 08:26 AM

Running 5 qts plus 1/2 qt of Lucas Oil Stabilizer in a Moroso 21047 BBC pan. That doesn't include what is in the oil filter. I have no problems with huge pressure drops at the finish line, since adding the oil stabilizer.

Ron Gusack · 04-21-2010, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mannymen

Running 5 qts plus 1/2 qt of Lucas Oil Stabilizer in a Moroso 21047 BBC pan. That doesn't include what is in the oil filter. I have no problems with huge pressure drops at the finish line, since adding the oil stabilizer.

Manny, is yours a bbc and about 7400 at the stripe?

Jim Cimarolli · 04-21-2010, 01:09 PM

IMO you don't need the HV pump, but just drop a quart and see how the oil pressure looks when you slow down from a run. When you get it to the sweet spot you will know. You will start to see the pressure drop on the shutdown way before you take a chance of damaging the motor on the top end due to lack of oil. So many pans act differently there is no real standard formula. Also, if your car does big wheelie's you might want to be careful of that when lowering the oil level. I have gotten by with as little as 3 1/2 quarts in the pan, and of course one in the filter for a total of 4 1/2 quarts with a pan similar to yours, but you have to kill the engine after you cross the finish line.
Hope this helps.

Dave Casey · 04-21-2010, 01:48 PM

Jim is a BBC expert, I am just learning, but everything Jim said has proven correct in my experiances. 7 quarts is fine if you are just in bracket mode, does the 7 include the filter ? I don't think you need the hv pump, and the rpm doesn't play much of a roll here. keep plenty in it until you are qualifying or setting the record or running for class. What class are you in ?

Ron Gusack · 04-21-2010, 03:17 PM

Thank you for the advice Jim and Dave. This is just a bracket car, but I was down on power so I'm looking for reasons and thought I might be running too much oil.
The car doesn't wheel stand.

The 7 qts includes the filter, which used to be an Oberg.

I've thought about getting rid of the HV, but the pump I have has billet gears (old) and the new PM gear pumps scare me a little.

I've got oil restrictors in the push rods to help keep too much oil from the top side.

Thanks again for your help and ideas.

04-20-2010, 04:15 PM	#1
Ron Gusack Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 244 Likes: 1 Liked 7 Times in 6 Posts	bbc oil level help How much oil should I run in my 7400 rpm bbc with an HV pump and a stock type pan that's 8.5 inches deep? I've been running 7 qts. but I'm thinking it might be too much.

04-20-2010, 04:53 PM	#2
SGSST109E Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 351 Likes: 62 Liked 126 Times in 61 Posts	Re: bbc oil level help If you have the pan off the motor, put 7 qts. in to it. Sounds like the oil level is into the crank.

04-20-2010, 09:48 PM	#4
SGSST109E Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 351 Likes: 62 Liked 126 Times in 61 Posts	Re: bbc oil level help The farther from the crank the better. If there is a windage tray the oil must be below it. I can't give you a dimension in inches.

04-21-2010, 07:58 AM	#5
Ron Gusack Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 244 Likes: 1 Liked 7 Times in 6 Posts	Re: bbc oil level help I would think the killer stockers or super stockers would know this stuff. I just need one to share his knowledge.

04-21-2010, 08:26 AM	#6
mannymen Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 728 Likes: 5 Liked 13 Times in 7 Posts	Re: bbc oil level help Running 5 qts plus 1/2 qt of Lucas Oil Stabilizer in a Moroso 21047 BBC pan. That doesn't include what is in the oil filter. I have no problems with huge pressure drops at the finish line, since adding the oil stabilizer. __________________ N/A

04-21-2010, 01:09 PM	#8
Jim Cimarolli Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Sulphur Springs Texas Posts: 743 Likes: 146 Liked 166 Times in 46 Posts	Re: bbc oil level help IMO you don't need the HV pump, but just drop a quart and see how the oil pressure looks when you slow down from a run. When you get it to the sweet spot you will know. You will start to see the pressure drop on the shutdown way before you take a chance of damaging the motor on the top end due to lack of oil. So many pans act differently there is no real standard formula. Also, if your car does big wheelie's you might want to be careful of that when lowering the oil level. I have gotten by with as little as 3 1/2 quarts in the pan, and of course one in the filter for a total of 4 1/2 quarts with a pan similar to yours, but you have to kill the engine after you cross the finish line. Hope this helps.

04-21-2010, 01:48 PM	#9
Dave Casey VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hampden, MA Posts: 1,201 Likes: 233 Liked 774 Times in 164 Posts	Re: bbc oil level help Jim is a BBC expert, I am just learning, but everything Jim said has proven correct in my experiances. 7 quarts is fine if you are just in bracket mode, does the 7 include the filter ? I don't think you need the hv pump, and the rpm doesn't play much of a roll here. keep plenty in it until you are qualifying or setting the record or running for class. What class are you in ? __________________ Dave Casey 1330 STK

04-21-2010, 03:17 PM	#10
Ron Gusack Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 244 Likes: 1 Liked 7 Times in 6 Posts	Re: bbc oil level help Thank you for the advice Jim and Dave. This is just a bracket car, but I was down on power so I'm looking for reasons and thought I might be running too much oil. The car doesn't wheel stand. The 7 qts includes the filter, which used to be an Oberg. I've thought about getting rid of the HV, but the pump I have has billet gears (old) and the new PM gear pumps scare me a little. I've got oil restrictors in the push rods to help keep too much oil from the top side. Thanks again for your help and ideas.