On high performance engines, like a built 3.4L v6... , Is a oil pan windage tray worth the effort and money?

This is taken from the Fiero Store:

85-88 V6 WINDAGE TRAY

When a V6 motor reaches 4000 RPM's it typically generates a 30 MPH wind that throws oil against the side of the oil pan. This starves the oil pump and decreases upper engine oil pressure. The Fiero Store V6 windage tray keeps oil at the oil pump pick-up by restricting oil movement. The windage tray will allow a steady supply of oil even under the harshest conditions.


$60 plus S&H

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Nelson Autos
Click the Link to see my Fieros!
Bottle-Fed Silver 1986 Custom GT
Blue 1984 2m4

2005 Osage Beach CFOGi Car Show Video

I've considered a lot of things from the Fiero Store but their descriptions are sorely lacking... most descriptions copied and pasted from one to the next (with no explanation of the differences, like Performance Heads vs the standard heads), and the tiny thumbnails kinda suck.

Fiero Store dudes, how about a details/comments/etc. page for products?

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'87 Fiero GT, Automatic, 153k miles, stock everything, just trying to make it all work again.

The idea of a windage tray doesnt have too much to do with keeping the oil pump filled with oil, the idea is to keep the oil in the pan out of the way of the pistons. V8 guys put little screens that act like windage trays in to try to emulate the dry sump effect.

I`m adding one to a 3.2 stroked build --because it`s apart. Here`s some more for the pile.
http://www.calgaryfieros.com/OSGdocs/mod.windage-tray.html

The whole idea of a windage tray is to keep the oil from blowing up the sides of the oil pan starving the oil pickup of the pump.
If your going to do any constant high speed revoultions above say 4300RPMs a windage tray is good insurance to insure constant oil availability for proper lubrication of rotating internal parts. It also helps reduce the possibility of oil foaming resulting in lower oil pressures.

I hope this helps with your decision of to do, or not to do.

yes - along with a high volume oil pump
both are good things for a high rpm motor

Every article I have just looked up says the windage tray is to stop power loss from oil splashing on the crank.

http://www.circletrack.com/techarticles/76818/

Don't know myself, but none mention oil starvation prevention....

ive got a windage tray in my 3.4L and i drive the crap outta that car with 100k plus on it and dont have any problems, the windage tray came stock on the 3.4L DOHC car's ive got one in my basement sitting somewhere, it needs sand-blasted clean, but i think you can get them pretty cheap from GM when ordering it for the DOHC motor, but i think some main cap bolts may need to be replaced with some with longer studs.


edit:

by the way fierostore gets them from GM, they just grind the part # off so you dont know what they did.

matthew

[This message has been edited by m0sh_man (edited 11-29-2006).]

This one mentions aeration.
A quote from:http://www.homestead.com/performanceanalysis/HighSpeedArt.html

Windage is internal engine drag caused by moving engine components having to pull along and cut through oil "ropes" and clouds. Much time and energy has been spent on understanding and trying to reduce windage in modern race engines. One of the easiest ways to reduce windage is to get oil to collect in larger amounts and remain low in the pan. Windage trays were the first devices that were designed to strip oil from the crank and rod assemblies. These trays and strippers conform closely to the rotating assemblies and remove oil ropes from the components. On wet sump systems the next option to reduce windage was the use of deeper oil pans. The deeper oil pans can keep the oil from being "whipped" up and aerated. More recently, oil-shedding coatings have made the scene to reduce the total volume of oil that would need to be stripped. All of these options have provided increased horsepower, reduced drag for internal components, and increased protection for oil lubricated components

This write up mentions almost everything: (sales pitch rom Porsche)
http://www.paragon-products.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=944-2.0L-CRANK-SCRAPER

Read the complete write up from Circle Track HERE:
http://www.circletrack.com/techarticles/ctrp_0603_oil_pan_design_windage_tech/index.html

In which the plainly state the following:
"For our tests, we are only concerned with how oil control in the engine affects horsepower. Although it can be manipulated to create power, in this instance we aren't experimenting with oil viscosity or quality."

A decent read here also that is more food for thought. (pros and cons from Engine tips forum)
http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=17016

Scrapers and windage tray differences:
http://www.crank-scrapers.com/

NHRA words here:
http://www.nhra.com/dragster/1999/issue14/tech_speaking.html

OK, I'll stop now.

[This message has been edited by Indiana_resto_guy (edited 11-29-2006).]

thanks for all the great info! Plus's have been passed out for the help, I really appreciate it and after all the research you've put in front of me I've decided to go with one. The Fiero Store is having a 15% off sale tomorrow, so I'm going to order it then.

Thanks!

quote Originally posted by m0sh_man: ive got a windage tray in my 3.4L and i drive the crap outta that car with 100k plus on it and dont have any problems, the windage tray came stock on the 3.4L DOHC car's ive got one in my basement sitting somewhere, it needs sand-blasted clean, but i think you can get them pretty cheap from GM when ordering it for the DOHC motor, but i think some main cap bolts may need to be replaced with some with longer studs.

Would you be willing to part with your extra windage tray that I could use for my 3.4L pushrod swap? The Fiero Store has discontinued their sale of them so I'm trying to figure out how to get my hands on them without their help...

Yes, it is worth it as it help keep your crankshaft journals/lower con rods from hitting the oil. If your using one of our intakes and thus reving it to 6 - 7k it will be even more useful.

You could also get a windage tray that has a cranks craper on it for a SBC and modify it for our application.

yes i would add a windage tray, i did on my v8 builds and my 2.8. you have to watch the combo of a high volume oil pump and high RPM's...if you keep the revs up high, the pump can suck your pan dry. to eliminate this, you would need a deeper pan but to be honest, a standard volume/pressure good quality pump is more than enough. the tray keeps the oil in the pan and not flying around and splashing up on the rotating assembly and losing small amount of HP. it also keeps the oil from aerating and eliminates the possibilty of oil pump cavitation

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Keith
Topsail Beach,NC
86&87 Fiero GT
86&96 Corvette
04 Harley Davidson Softail
73 Lotus Europa Twin Cam
86 Lotus Turbo Esprit

"He who dies with the most toys wins!!!"

Let me say this, I just put together a $7000 toyota tundra v-8 that had such a large windage tray, it covered the entire opening for the oil pan. With only a small hole for the oil pick-up to go thru.