effect of sump capacity on OCI?

[Pantdino]

I'm sorry if this has been discussed in the past, but a quick search did not come up with anything.

This seems pretty obvious, but how does sump capacity affect OCI?
Is it reasonable to think that if a car with a 4 qt capacity should have its oil changed every 3000 miles a car with an 8 qt sump could probably go 5000 miles?

I'm thinking of my 1995 BMW M3 and my son's 1995 Lexus ES300-- both cars have 3 liter engines and get similar use but I think the sump capacity of the BMW is like twice that of the Lexus.

Jim

 

[Petrou]

well.. you bring up a goo point. really that is the way i look at things sometimes. If the smaller sump spends more time highway driving then sure go longer in town, shorter like 3 and 3 oci. I go off my OLM in my Chevy but the motor also holds approx 7 quarts and sees alot of highway and consistent speed driving. My nissan holds close to 6 quarts bu with being nothing but in town driving i keep it short intervals

 

[Eddie]

Interesting. A large sump wnrms up slower so bad for short drives than a small sump. However; a large sump gives the oil more cooling down time on HS highway drives so that is a good thing. JMO. Ed

 

[crinkles]

this page may shed some light on sump capacity effect

http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/stories/interval.html

 

[Rand]

IMHO depends alot on the engine also.

Cant look at just the sump capacity in more than a general way.

More oil = longer OCI if its the same exact engine.

 

[Rand]

IMHO depends alot on the engine also.

Cant look at just the sump capacity in more than a general way.

More oil = longer OCI if its the same exact engine.

 

[Doug Hillary]

Hi,
Rand _ I agree with you. Combustion efficiency and other issues of engine design carry much weight