Ever since Corvette C6 Z06 came about in 2006, +General Motors marketing department has been making sure to remind everyone that Corvette is the cheapest car around to come with a dry sump engine oil system to allow those tireless AARP belonging Corvette buyers to conquer the high g forces on their way to next cars and coffee event.
Generally speaking, a true dry sump system is an overkill for a regular street car since the conditions warranting having one would result in a certain arrest on the grounds of very reckless driving. Thus, there are very few cars on the market that come with one. Typically, these cars are of the true exotic variety, commanding very high prices, considerably higher than any of the current or past Corvettes.
Fortunately, there is the great Corvette, a fairly affordable high performance car that supposedly has a "dry sump oiling system". Well, does it?
What does a real dry sump system include? Belt driven scavenging oil pumps (multiple) and a pressure pump. The scavenging (vacuum based) of oil takes place from the bottom of the oil pan and employs scraping and scavenging zones to increase the efficiency of oil and air collecting that is being sent to the external tank.
How does the +General Motors version compare?
Multiple and belt driven scavenging pumps? NO!!! (Corvette "dry sump" system uses a dual stage single pump and thus, single pressure and scavenging phases.
Bottom located scavengers and scrapers? NO!!! (Corvette uses a traditional wet sump pick up suspended over the bottom of the oil pan).
Is this cheapo system better than wet sump? Absolutely!!! since something is better than nothing.
Is this cheapo system as effective as actual dry sump system? Absolutely NOT!!! This half ass system is not capable of efficiently scavenging oil and air from the entire engine and loses its efficiency very fast the further the distance is from the pump. This shortcoming was very well illustrated by self destructing LS7 motors of first C6 Z06 Corvettes that were put on the track.
Unfortunately, and this is where that chief "engineer" can claim at least a partial credit, the typical cheap GM way, the external oil tank capacity was increased offering less than sensible solution.
There is no surprise at all that this sham continues with the latest generation of Corvette and without any doubt, will be used in the top of the line Z06 version.
Of course Tadge will never admit anything and claim instead that like with leaf springs, phaser based VVT, faster than DCT A8 and single piece "2 piece brake rotors", he and rest of GM came up with a great solution that not only works better but costs less than higher priced competition offerings.
Well, guess what Tadge, being cheap and deceitful does not equal ingenuity. The newest Corvette does not break away from the past, it is still the same poorly executed COST DRIVEN COMPROMISE as ever.
It is truly a shame that someone who claims to be an engineer supports marketing schemes but apparently lying to people is easier than doing automotive engineering work.
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