Re: ihc-digest V5 #56 Engine oiling

[Steve Stegmann <stegmann@domain.elided>]

The crankshaft definitely does *not* touch the oil in the oil pan.  If it 
does it will whip the oil into foam and you loose your lube.  Foamed oil 
won't effectively lube the engine.  The pump will pump the foam but not 
enough actual oil gets moved.  The oil film in the journal bearings will 
fail followed shortly by the crank, rods, cam, etc.  This foaming is the 
chief danger with overfilling the crankcase.  Fill to your hearts content 
but don't let the oil level get up to where the cranshaft touches it.

On some older (pre 54 Chevy six) splash lubed engines the oil pump filled
(among other things) a little trough below each crank journal.  Each
connecting rod had a little scoop on it which scooped oil from the trough
and this lubed the crankshaft and connecting rod.  top end was lubed in 
the conventional manner.  To get the crankshaft dipping into the oil sump 
itself you'll have to go back to WWI engine.

Steve

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Steven A. Stegmann
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