First of all, what it the difference between a wet sump and a dry sump? What are the advantages/disadvantages of each?

 

Rig,
Ok, the short version. The wetsump version basically means that the engine oil is returned and stored in the oil pan (bottom of the crankcase) Hence, "Wet Sump"
The dry sump is called that because the oil is stored in an external oil tank. There are too many variations on the basic principles to list or try and explain. On drag race engines, dry sump works best IF its set up properly... Trying to contain a gallon or two of oil and pulling 5G's off the line is hard to do. The oil will climb the back of the pan, get on the crankshaft, and rob horsepower..... NOT GOOD!!...

 

RigBoy

Just to add to Mudmachines comments, you will often see the dry sump systems at race tracks. Dirt Late models and Nascars use a dry sump system for two basic reasons. First, they can put larger oil tanks in that allow them to use more oil. The larger oil capacity allows the oil to cool before being recycled into the engine. Second, as Mudmachine mentioned, when the cars are accelerating hard in the corners, the oil in an oil pan would all be pulled to the right rear of the oil pan. Thus causing pickup problems and getting oil into the crankshaft. I would guess that the dry sump system is used on atvs for the same type of reasons.

 

Thanks guys. I appreciate your comments. They make perfect sence to me and now that I read your comments, I knew even before I asked. My father is looking at a new quad this fall. He debating between the Sportsman 500 H.O. and the Rubicon. The Sportsman has a dry sump, while the Rubicon has a wet sump. Thanks again

 

I notice the external oil tank on the Sportsman has cooling fins on it, would this make it act as some sort of oil cooler also?

 

....and true 4wd,selectable 2wd 4wd,smoother riding suspension,more ground clearance and because your looking at the H.O alot more kick when you hit the gas.

 

A properly set up wet sump engine will make more power, with a deep enough sump and windage tray. The additional pumps ( scavenge and pressure pumps ) in a dry sump engine cost a few more horsepower than the single oil pump in a wet sump.
The main advantages in a dry sump is better oil slosh control, greater oil capacity, cooling and the ability to mount the engine lower in the chassis.
BTW, the dragsters and funny cars use wet sumps, as there is enough room to fit the larger pan, the system is simpler and easier to work with between runs, and cooling isn't critical when the engine runs less than a couple of minutes at a time.

 

Rigboy, I don't think wet-sump vs. dry sump will ever be an issue in your ownership of either machine. Just a side note, I changed the oil in my Rubicon and my brother-in-laws SP500 this weekend. The Ruby took nearly 6 qts of oil, the SP, 2 1/4 qts.

I like machinery that takes alot of oil.

 

Bis

No it isn't a factor in deciding between the two machines. My father was just curious as to what they meant by dry/wet sump and the reasons for both. Deciding factors will be full time 4wd w/ locking front differential (Rubicon) vs. part-time 4wd (SP500), trannys pvt vs. Rubicon's Hondamatic ESP ect. I do agree with you that more oil is better.
How do you like your Rubicon? Ever ride your brother-in-laws SP500? What do you like/dislike about both?

 

RigBoy,
Before people start jumping on this I would like to clarify something. The Rubicon does not have a locking front differential. It has the new Sure-Trac differential which is a ton better than the old limited-slip from Honda. With that said it is not truely locked. As far as the Rubicon goes, I have loved mine.