wrote in message
ups.com...
You are correct in thinking that as long as the oil pickup has a
constant supply of oil the pressure should remain the same no matter
the amount of oil in the sump. If you look closer you will probably see
that the oil temp is higher. Since you have less oil it circulates
through the motor faster and that gives it less time in to loose heat.
Hotter oil = lower oil pressure, it's that viscosity thing ya know....

Ben

No doubt that higher oil temperature would result in lower oil pressure.
However, unless the engine is running with insufficient oil, I don't see
how the oil level would drive oil temperature.

In flight, the oil eventually reaches a temperature equilibrium. It cycles
through the engine, into the pan, then through the oil cooler. At a given
power level, the engine adds X calories/minute (or joules, or whatever) to
the oil and the cooler removes Y calories/minute. Eventually, the oil
temperature stabilizes at a temperature where X = Y. Oil level doesn't
change that temperature.

Sure, an airplane with 4 quarts in the sump will reach operating temperature
faster than one with 8 quarts in the sump, but the difference isn't that
great, and in the end, both engines should end up with the same oil
temperature...

KB