The Benefits of a Dry Sump Oil System

A dry sump oil system delivers consistent oil pressure under extreme conditions, reduces power-robbing windage, allows a lower engine position for better handling, improves oil cooling and de-aeration, and enhances overall reliability. Used widely in motorsport, off-road, and aviation, it separates oil storage from the engine’s sump and uses external pumps to scavenge and supply oil, ensuring stable lubrication where conventional wet-sump systems can struggle.

How a Dry Sump System Works

Unlike a wet sump that stores oil in the pan beneath the crankshaft, a dry sump stores oil in a separate reservoir. Multiple scavenge stages pull oil and blow-by vapors from the crankcase, sending oil to the external tank where air separates out before a pressure stage feeds the engine. This architecture keeps the crankcase “dry,” stabilizes pressure, and supports high loads, high RPM, and high-G maneuvers.

Core Performance Benefits

The following performance advantages explain why dry sump systems are standard in top-tier racing and high-output engines:

• Consistent oil pressure at high G-loads: Prevents oil pickup starvation during hard cornering, acceleration, braking, or steep grades.
• Reduced windage losses: Keeps oil away from the spinning crank, cutting drag and aeration for measurable horsepower gains, especially at high RPM.
• Controlled crankcase vacuum: External scavenge stages can pull vacuum (often 5–15 inHg), improving ring seal, reducing blow-by, and increasing power and efficiency.
• Improved de-aeration: Remote tanks separate air from oil, delivering more stable, bubble-free lubrication to bearings and valvetrain.
• More consistent oil temperature: Larger capacity and external coolers help maintain tighter temperature control under sustained load.
• Stable pressure at high RPM: Dedicated pressure stages maintain target pressure without the aeration and cavitation risks common to wet sumps at the limit.

Together, these enhancements translate into stronger, more repeatable performance, particularly where sustained lateral or longitudinal forces would overwhelm a traditional wet sump.

Reliability and Longevity Advantages

Beyond outright performance, dry sump systems address the common failure modes that shorten engine life under high stress:

• Prevents oil starvation: Reliable pickup in any attitude protects bearings and cam surfaces during track use, off-road angles, or long sweepers.
• Lower oil aeration: Better oil/air separation reduces foam, ensuring a protective film at critical interfaces.
• Cooler, cleaner oil: Greater capacity and remote filtration help keep oil within its optimal temperature and cleanliness range.
• Redundancy with multiple scavenge stages: If one area aerates, others continue pulling, maintaining overall scavenging effectiveness.
• Reduced oil degradation: Controlled temperatures and aeration slow oxidation and shear, helping oil retain viscosity and protection for longer intervals.

These factors collectively reduce wear, minimize catastrophic failures from pressure drop, and extend service life in engines that see repeated high-load cycles.

Packaging and Vehicle Dynamics Gains

Dry sump layouts offer meaningful packaging flexibility and dynamic benefits for vehicle design and setup:

• Lower engine height: A shallower pan allows the engine to sit lower, dropping the center of gravity for improved handling and turn-in.
• Better ground clearance: Slim pans reduce the risk of oil pan impacts on curbs, ruts, or debris.
• Flexible reservoir placement: The external tank can be positioned for optimal weight distribution and service access.
• Chassis and aero freedom: More space around the engine bay aids crossmember design, underbody airflow, and accessory routing.

These packaging advantages support both performance and practicality, enabling lower-profile installations and safer operation in demanding environments.

Who Benefits Most

While any high-performance application can gain from a dry sump, certain use cases see outsized returns:

• Road racing and track events: Sustained lateral G and long-duration high RPM work the system’s pressure stability and cooling strengths.
• Rally and off-road: Steep pitches, jumps, and rough terrain demand reliable oil pickup and robust de-aeration.
• Drag racing: Reduced windage and controlled crankcase vacuum improve ring seal and top-end power.
• Aerobatic and light aircraft: Reliable lubrication across varying attitudes and G-loads is essential for safety.
• High-performance street builds: Added reliability, thermal control, and packaging flexibility benefit engines pushed beyond stock limits.

In these scenarios, the system’s ability to maintain clean, cool, and consistently pressurized oil often justifies its complexity and cost.

Summary

A dry sump oil system delivers stable lubrication under extreme G-forces, reduces windage for added power, enables crankcase vacuum for better ring seal, improves oil cooling and de-aeration, and unlocks packaging gains that lower the center of gravity and increase ground clearance. For motorsports, off-road, aviation, and high-output builds, those combined benefits translate to faster laps, stronger reliability, and longer engine life.

How much horsepower does a dry sump add?

Depending on the application, the resulting reduction in internal crankcase windage and drag may increase the engine’s power output 5 to 15 hp or more. But to realize these gains, the dry sump oil system has to pull at least 8 to 10 inches Hg or more of vacuum.

Why use a dry sump oil system?

A dry sump system is used to increase engine reliability and performance, especially in high-G applications like racing. Key benefits include more consistent oil pressure, preventing oil starvation during hard cornering or braking, lower engine placement for improved vehicle handling, and more horsepower due to reduced crankcase windage and improved ring seal.
 
Reliability and Protection

• Consistent Oil Supply: Opens in new tabUnlike wet sump systems where oil can slosh away from the pickup during high G-forces, a dry sump system scavenges oil from the sump and ensures a constant supply to the engine, preventing oil starvation and damage. 
• Increased Oil Capacity: Opens in new tabA separate external oil reservoir allows for a larger oil capacity, which provides better lubrication and cooling, especially under high-stress conditions like track driving. 

This video explains the benefits of dry sump systems, including improved oil pressure and protection from oil starvation: 1mEFI UniversityYouTube · Jun 21, 2019
Performance Enhancements

• Lower Center of Gravity: Opens in new tabThe dry sump system allows the engine’s oil pan to be significantly shallower, enabling the engine to be mounted much lower in the chassis. This lowers the vehicle’s center of gravity, improving handling and stability. 
• Increased Horsepower: Opens in new tabBy creating a vacuum within the crankcase, the dry sump pump allows the crankshaft to spin more freely (reduced windage) and helps improve the seal of the piston rings, which translates to increased power. 

Design and Cooling Advantages

• Improved Cooling: The enhanced oil control and larger oil capacity contribute to better control of both oil and engine temperatures, which is crucial for performance engines operating under heavy loads. 
• Design Flexibility: The external reservoir can be placed strategically, and the use of remote oil coolers is easily facilitated, offering more design flexibility for cooling and oil management. 

You can watch this video to learn more about the design advantages of dry sump oiling systems: 42sThat Engine GuyYouTube · Sep 14, 2022

Is dry sump worth it?

A dry sump tends to hold more oil than a wet sump in an extra reservoir, so that means it works better for sustained cornering since it’s harder to starve the engine of oil. It also allows you to mount the engine lower since it has a shallower oil pan, that improves the center of gravity.

What are the disadvantages of a dry sump system?

Dry sump systems require additional components, such as an external oil pump, oil lines, and a separate oil tank. This can make installation and maintenance more challenging, as well as increase the overall cost of the system.