Oil Level

[LM5]

Hey guys,

Ive just changed the oil for the first time in my car, how far up the window should the oil be sitting. At the moment I have it to half way when the engine isnt running and when the engine runs it drops below the window. I read somewhere 2/3 up when not running and 1/3 when running. Is that right?

Thanks.

[IraceLegends77]

I run mine 1/3 in the window when running. when it is not running it covers the window or full. I know there are about as many opinions about this as there is about oil. You do not want the low light to come on when in the corner.

[LM5]

Thanks

[Winterracing]

i have mine normally anywhere 1/2 to 3/4 way up the glass with the motor COLD

Dan
www.winterracing.net

[igotmylegend]

Thats the way I run it Dan.

[Vern Houseman]

We run our 1/4 way up cold ,if not motor blows oil.....

[racerrad8]

Engine & oil warmed up & running; bottom of the sight glass.

Randy - RPM

[VMS Motorsports]

Just remember, while neither is recommended, too little oil is better than too much, at least in my opinion.
I keep my cars, when warmed up and engine running,  about 1/4 of the way up the sight glass

[LM5]

Thanks guys I'll pop a little more in and run it at 1/4 when warm and running.

[racerrad8]

Also, when the oil is above the bottom of the window level, it is being beat up by the clutch basket. The bottom of the window is the bottom of the clutch basket.

Randy - RPM

[IraceLegends77]

I told you that their is a lot opinions on this....................

[Vern Houseman]

Actualy when we where at the million dollar race Chapman said keep it around 1/4 or a hair lower so it dosnt rob horse power.

[LM5]

Haha i knew an oil question would bring up a few posts.

Randy where does your oil sit when cold and not running? Im happy to go with what the team of the year does.

[Legends57x]

I agree with Randy 100%, especially  if you're racing asphalt.  I intially starting racing Legends on dirt before purchasing a car for asphalt racing.   Found out towards the end of the season and after filling my breather tank completely full of oil several times that I was running oil level too high, being 1/2-3/4 full on sight window cold at the time.  After speaking with engine builder Hank Scott, found out I was running oil level too high.  Backed off to about 1/4 full cold with oil barely in window at idle and problem basically went away.  Oil temps actually dropped too due to oil not be whipped up inside of clutch basket as Randy pointed out.   One thing to keep in mind is that on asphalt you're running the engine much harder along with running the car much harder into the corners while on dirt you're nof off and on the throttle as much and sliding car thru the corners.  On dirt, we were able to run at little more oil in the engine, thus racers like Jim who races dirt, can run more oil.

Hope this helps!

[rickmiller48]

Also, (and if someone has been in the bottom end more recently than I, please chime in) I recall that the low oil sensor sits at the left front of the oil pan (left rear as it is positioned in the car) and the pick up for the oil pump is in the rear of the engine (right side as it sits in the car).  So, if I'm remembering that right, the low oil light coming on in a turn would not mean it is starving for oil since the oil all moved to the side of the engine with the pick up.  Again, it would be nice if someone else that has had a pan off more recently would chime in and either verify this or verify that I'm full of bs.