Thread: Oil baffle, SBC

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Somewhere on the dumb question list is......What is the purpose of the baffle that is installed between the oil pan and the crankshaft? I had a shop recently remove this baffle on my 350 and they indicated that it wasn't really necessary. GM designs and installs unnecessary parts?.......I think not.

It’s a oil scrapper. It knocks off small drops of oil that travel with the crank and rods. For a street engine you can live without it. It’s most effective above 7000 rpm.

The factory baffle does not serve as a scraper. It has 2 purposes. The baffle runs all of the way to the forward portion of the pan. Oil drains back underneath the baffle and the baffle keeps the windage created by the crank from picking it back up before it drains into the sump. The baffle also extends partway over the sump to prevent the crankshaft from pulling oil out of the sump with the high speed wind it creates. The baffles are important and I suggest you have your machine shop put it back in.

if there was one on there, I would have put it back, but I wouldn't buy one for a st. motor. most motors don't have them. to me its a race item.