Dry Sump System
A high-performance engine lubrication system that uses an external reservoir and scavenge pumps rather than a deep oil pan.
A dry sump system is a specialized engine lubrication setup commonly found in high-performance sports cars, race cars, and heavy-duty off-road vehicles. Unlike a standard 'wet sump' engine—which stores its oil supply in a deep oil pan at the bottom of the block—a dry sump system uses a shallow oil pan and pumps the oil to an external reservoir tank.
The system relies on a multi-stage oil pump. One or more 'scavenge' stages pull oil and air bubbles from the shallow oil pan and send it to the external tank, where the oil is de-aerated and cooled. A pressure stage then pumps the clean oil from the tank back into the engine block to lubricate the bearings. This design ensures consistent oil pressure during hard cornering, acceleration, and braking, when centrifugal forces would pull oil away from the pickup tube in a standard pan.
By eliminating the deep oil pan, a dry sump system allows the engine to be mounted lower in the chassis, lowering the vehicle's center of gravity and improving handling. It also increases oil capacity and cooling. However, dry sump systems are complex, expensive, and require checking the oil level using specific manufacturer procedures, often while the engine is running and warm.