Coolers
Drag racers like their engines cool and their oil hot to make best power. Endurance racers also prefer hot oil, as long as it does not exceed thermal breakdown limits. As for oil temperature recommendations, conventional oils tend to begin to break down at temperatures above 250-260 degrees F. Pure synthetics can operate at much higher levels of around 290-300 degrees F. Synthetic blended oils perform somewhere in between. These temperatures are basically oil-pan average temperatures, but keep in mind that the temperature of the oil at the bearing, for example, will be much higher. It is not unusual for a typical street engine to experience 250-plus degree oil temperatures, and a mere 20-minute session on a road course can elevate oil temperatures well above 300 degrees F for engines not equipped with an oil cooler. This is a great case for using synthetic oil.
Whether it's boosted or not, every engine should carry a high-performance oil filter. These Canton filters are rated at 8 microns with flow rates of 45 gpm.
Filters
All engines should be equipped with at least one filter in the system. The oil-pump pickup has a screen to keep out large pieces of debris, but it's the filter's job to trap unwanted solids that may enter the oil. The two most common types of filter elements are fiber and synthetic. Fiber filters cost less and should be replaced with every oil change; synthetic filters are more durable against burst pressure and moisture, and they typically filter with more accuracy.
If you use a remote oil filter, it should be plumbed into the system right after the oil pump and before any remote coolers or engine components. This will ensure only clean oil reaches the engine and dirty oil will be strained through the pump pickup and filter before being recycled through the engine.
Bolting a windage tray over the main caps keeps flying oil from costing horsepower. This small-block Ford Moroso race-type oil pan is set up on a Dart block that's expected to see 8,000-rpm blasts.
How Much Oil
The type of engine and its intended use will determine how much oil is needed. A high-performance oil pan typically holds an extra 2 or 3 quarts of oil. Some manufacturers rate their oil pan's capacity assuming a 1-quart oil filter will be used, while other manufacturers account only for the amount of oil the pan should hold. The only way to be sure your engine is equipped with the proper amount of oil is to use a dipstick or sight hole. The actual oil level is determined by the pan manufacturer, where it typically sits a minimum of 1 inch below the windage tray to allow for proper drainage. Before purchasing an oil pan, be sure to check with the manufacturer about its measuring method.
Having extra oil in a properly designed pan can have many advantages. Since high-performance engines operate at high rpm, if the oil does not drain back fast enough, the pump can starve. Another starving condition can occur in drag- or road-race situations, where extreme g-forces can cause the oil to move away from the oil pump's pickup. This is the reason for deep-sump pans and all that trap-door engineering.
If you use additional oil filters, remote coolers, and added lines, you'll need to use more oil. We contacted the engineers at Canton about this and were told to begin with the oil-pan manufacturer's recommended oil quantity. Idle the engine for a minute or two and then shut it off to check the dipstick. If a full reading is not shown, add 1/2 quart of oil and rerun the engine at idle. Repeat the procedure until the dipstick reads full.
Once the oil level is matched to the manufacturer's full dipstick reading, the engine should be run across its rpm curve. If 10 pounds of oil pressure are present for every 1,000 rpm, the engine's internals will be safe. In some applications, the dipstick will read full, but at high rpm, the oil pressure will begin to drop. Most enthusiasts will then add more oil, making the problem worse. To be safe, it is recommended that only an additional 1/2 quart of oil be added. Run the engine through its rpm curve, and if the pressure stabilizes, the engine needs more oil. However, if a drop in oil pressure continues, 1/2 quart of oil should be drained from the original oil level. Continue to drain 1/2 quarts until the oil pressure stabilizes. It's not uncommon to see too much oil in the pan. This causes the crankshaft to churn up the oil and create air pockets that reduce oil pressure at high rpm.
Don't forget to use a high-performance oil pump driveshaft. This ARP piece is constructed from top-quality steel to make sure it won't twist or break under heavy loads. | 
When an engine's oil galleries are drilled at the factory, the ends are often sealed with press-in core plugs, such as these on a small Ford. If you forget to install these during a rebuild, there will be a huge loss in oil pressure due to an internal leak. |
Some of today's top-end racers are using oiling valve covers. These Comp Cams valve covers are fitted with an oil rail to spray the valvesprings in an attempt to keep them cool for durability. | |