Baffled sumps?

[J4CKO]

I have a Fiesta ST, have done one track day in it at Anglesey and came away wanting more but decided that the brakes werent up to the job, so have ordered an EBC 330 mm and going to order some AR1s rather than killing the PS5s that are on it.

The other mod before the next TD (not booked yet) was a baffled sump so will fit that when I do the oil change, I did pick up on a comment on another forum that said can do more harm than good in a Daily Driven car, it doesnt do many miles and eventually will become mainly a track day car but can anyone expand on that or is it just someone spouting nonsense ? Said unless regularly pulling 1.2 G in the corners its not needed and will do more harm than good ?

But guess with a set of AR1s on, its probably best to have it fitted ?

[Cambs_Stuart]

I've not got any experience with this engine, but I can't see it causing any harm on a road car, assuming you're not running it really low on oil.
Have you got an oil pressure gauge? Have you seen any issues mid corner with oil pressure?

[RazerSauber]

The baffles in the sump are designed to keep oil around the pick up tube under high-g scenarios. Whether you're tearing arsing around a track flat out or pottering to the shops, oil near the pick up is a good thing. I'm struggling to see any situation where a baffled sump would be a deficit. Nonsense as far as I'm aware.

[CKY]

RazerSauber said:

The baffles in the sump are designed to keep oil around the pick up tube under high-g scenarios. Whether you're tearing arsing around a track flat out or pottering to the shops, oil near the pick up is a good thing. I'm struggling to see any situation where a baffled sump would be a deficit. Nonsense as far as I'm aware.

This, having a properly baffled sump is not a bad thing under any circumstance as far as i'm aware. I've seen instances previously where poorly-installed baffles have come loose from the sump, thereby cracking some of the weld used to secure it, and the weld fragments have then been sucked up through the oil pick up - this small instance aside I would get one for track use.

[Kaveney]

I ran one for many years on my old Fiesta ST and did a many road miles with zero issues .

I would also look at an oil cooler if doing more track work to go along with the baffled sump .

[E-bmw]

J4CKO said:

a baffled sump so will fit that when I do the oil change, I did pick up on a comment on another forum that said can do more harm than good in a Daily Driven car,

I would be asking for an explanation of this as all a baffled sump does is help to keep oil around the pick-up tube so it will make no difference to a daily.

[GAjon]

A baffled sump just works as a normal sump in daily driving.
I’ve had mine on my TVR road car for 30years with no issues.

I made and fitted it after spinning my bearings after a Mallory track day without a baffled sump.

[mintmansam]

I was at a Fiesta track day last year, and have a fiesta ST myself would 100% recommend a sump baffle and watching your oil level like a hawk. I think two fiestas came off with rod knock due to surging of the oil.

Completely manageable and reliable if you take precautions

[QBee]

I have one on my TVR too.
The old Rover V8 engine doesn't like oil starvation, and on track days and sticky tyres there are a lot of higher than normal G forces in every direction.
Road conditions wouldn't cause a problem, the baffles are there to stop all the oil ending up in one part of the sump away from the pickup in extreme conditions.

[QBee]

There is a more scientific solution - it's called Accusump.

A guy by the forum name Whoosher does endless track days at the Ring.
He has written a very god article on how they work, and it is pinned at the top of the track days page, ie just above this thread listing.

[Panamax]

There's more to this than just pressure and dry sump is the definitive solution. If oil is sloshing about in the sump there's a risk of the crank dipping into it and whipping air bubbles into the oil - which is a bad thing, because the oil pump will pump aerated oil into places that need 100% liquid oil.

[Fonzey]

QBee said:

There is a more scientific solution - it's called Accusump.

A guy by the forum name Whoosher does endless track days at the Ring.
He has written a very god article on how they work, and it is pinned at the top of the track days page, ie just above this thread listing.

They're also one of the lost failure prone components I've ever known on a car!

I have one, so I'm not a hater... But I'd never run one without a baffled sump in addition, and also wouldn't fit one without monitoring and alerts on its internal pressure...

[Krikkit]

mintmansam said:

I was at a Fiesta track day last year, and have a fiesta ST myself would 100% recommend a sump baffle and watching your oil level like a hawk. I think two fiestas came off with rod knock due to surging of the oil.

Completely manageable and reliable if you take precautions

Wasn't that the ST150 with the Duratec? Well known - I keep a very close eye on oil levels on track and haven't had an issue yet, even on semi slicks. That said, baffled sump is next on my list of mods.