Some simple best practices for protecting critical components in the dry sump oiling system on your race car.

I learnt the hard way some time ago there are some simple and inexpensive components that can be added to your dry sump oiling system to protect the more expensive components from debris which could lead to failure of the oiling system. This article won’t tell you how to plumb the system, there are plenty of articles and opinions you can access on that subject, but it will give you a couple simple recommendations that will protect your system, no matter how it is plumbed.

The scavenge outlets of your Dry Sump Oil Pan are connected via AN Hoses to the External Oil Pump. The Oil pump is typically a gear pump with close mesh between the gears to efficiently pump the oil from the pan back to the Oil Reservoir. It only takes a very small piece of debris scavenged from the pan to damage or completely lock the oil pump (ask me how I know). These Scavenge Screens from Peterson connect directly to the pan before the scavenge hose and will capture debris before it damages the pump. Peterson also make several other Scavenge Screens depending on your specific application. The screens can be checked and cleaned easily during your pre-race weekend maintenance routine.

The Oil Cooler is another component which can be effectively protected from debris which can render a cooler junk if the debris is significant enough, say from catastrophic engine failure (ask me again how I know). These 16AN Inline Oil Filters from Peterson are easy to install and will protect your cooler and pump from damaging debris. There are plenty of Other Inline Oil Filter options available also depending on your specific application. Just like the scavenge screens, the filter can be inspected and cleaned easily as part of your race car maintenance program.

These simple additions to your dry sump oiling system are cheap insurance against debris and well worth the effort for your race car. A couple hours work to install will see your race car ready for race weekends. Figure a few hours of your time and a couple hundred of your hard earned bucks.