Windage Tray
A metal shield mounted below the crankshaft to prevent rotating parts from whipping engine oil into a parasitic froth.
A windage tray is a sheet metal or plastic shield mounted inside the engine oil pan, positioned just below the spinning crankshaft counterweights. Its primary function is to isolate the oil in the sump from the windage—the high-velocity air currents generated by the rotating crankshaft and pistons.
Without a windage tray, the spinning crankshaft counterweights act like a blender, whipping the engine oil in the pan into a frothy, aerated foam. Aerated oil contains air bubbles, which reduces oil film strength and can cause bearing damage when pumped through the engine. The windage tray also prevents oil from sloshing up into the crankshaft during hard cornering or braking, reducing parasitic drag (windage loss) and freeing up horsepower.
A damaged, loose, or bent windage tray can contact the spinning crankshaft counterweights, producing a loud metallic scraping or ticking sound. During engine rebuilds, technicians inspect the windage tray for cracks and verify clearances to the crankshaft. High-performance oil pans often feature integrated windage trays and baffles to optimize oil control.