In the September issue in the road test of the Mercedes Benz SLS AMG you talk about drysump lubrication. Can you explain what that entails?
GEORGE – Windhoek
A dry sump is one that is not used to store oil. It only catches the oil that drips from the crankshaft and other parts. An engine equipped with such a sump needs at least two oil pumps. The first one pumps oil from the sump to an oil tank and the second pumps oil from the tank to the oil galleries from where the lubricant reaches the bearings.
The advantages are that a greater amount of oil can be carried and the sump can be made shallower so that the engine will sit lower in the frame. There is also less risk that fast cornering or braking will starve the bearings of oil.