[Tom Vaught]

Originally Posted by lust4speed

Another way to look at it is that 3/4" of oil (increase from 1/4" clearance to 1") the engine no longer has access to is about 8/10 of a quart. So in reality it should be the same as running the engine about a quart low on oil.

I'll add one more to Tom's list of when it might matter -- Early Edelbrock heads were notorious for holding oil up in the valve cover area, and the missing oil might be the difference between an engine that lives and one that fries the bearings - and no drag racing needed, just buzzing along at a good clip down the freeway.

Very True! I (and my son) check the oil level on his truck (160,000 miles on the engine, runs well) every time he starts on a several hour trip in the vehicle. If the oil is 1/2 a quart low we top it off to the full number on the stick vs potentially hurting the engine on some of the hills that he encounters on the trip. Oil is cheap vs road service. They get their money one way or another.

Tom V.