Oil Pan
The oil pan or sump is a large metal pan mounted to the underside of the engine. It holds engine oil, to be drawn up by the oil pump via the oil pickup tube.
Differences
The NA and TT oil pans are virtually identical, carrying the same capacities and featuring the same internal baffling. The only difference is that the TT oil pan has ports for the turbo and oil cooler return hoses. The NA oil pan does not have these ports.
Design & Faults
The inside of the oil pan was well designed for its time and application, and it features extensive internal baffling to prevent oil from sploshing around, as well as help channel it back to the main portion of the sump so it can be picked up by the oil pickup tube.
However, to make the VG30DE(TT) fit under the Z32's low hood, some compromises had to be made. Notably here, the oil pan capacity was significantly reduced. This meant that the VG30DE(TT) only held about 3 5/8qts of oil in the pan, a very small amount for it's size and displacement. While this is a non-issue for ordinary driving, sustained high RPM can lead to reduced oil in the pan, and high lateral G-force can slosh oil towards the sides of the pan, away from the pickup tube. Some recommend filling exactly 4qts, but others advise that overfilling the pan can be dangerous, as it increases the possibility of the crankshaft churning up oil, mixing in air and reducing it's lubricity.
Alternatives & Solutions
There are a few aftermarket oil pan solutions available. Both SpecialtyZ and EP Racing produce high-capacity oil pans with trap doors and added baffling. To someone road racing or drifting their Z, these are an invaluable upgrade to help protect the engine and prevent oil starvation.
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SpecialtyZ 6qt Oil Pan. Click for full size. |
EP Racing 8qt Oil Pan. Click for full size. |
A more extreme alternative is to convert the system to a dry sump setup. A dry-sump system features a scavenger pump, and often an external oil supply, to provide adequate oil pressure at any RPM and situation. Currently, 30 DETT.htm Dailey Engineering produces a belt-driven dry-sump setup that takes the place of the A/C compressor.
