VAC oil pan baffle - any side effects?

[TMANN]

I just did the VAC baffled pan (core exchange with VAC) along with their coated rod bearings & ARP bolts kit. Admittedly, I didn't do extensive research on the baffle. I saw it at VAC (was in their shop) and also have one in my E36 M3 track car, so I figured, "gotta have it" since this E92 will be seeing track time.

No leaks from the pan, but I'm definitely having oil reading issues. Took 9L to fill at the shop. On the way home showed low reading. I put another 0.5L in, then ok to almost Max level. Its been 3 weeks and almost 600 miles since the change, including a few long highway drives. I've had low oil warning (add 1L) so I did that, now just a few days later it shows yellow warning overfill.
Based on all the threads about the sensor, not sure if its just normal shitty sensor readings or if the baffle is causing some issues. VAC said they have had no issues, and no complaints.
I'm...wait for it...BAFFLED!

[slicer]

Originally Posted by TMANN

I just did the VAC baffled pan (core exchange with VAC) along with their coated rod bearings & ARP bolts kit. Admittedly, I didn't do extensive research on the baffle. I saw it at VAC (was in their shop) and also have one in my E36 M3 track car, so I figured, "gotta have it" since this E92 will be seeing track time.

No leaks from the pan, but I'm definitely having oil reading issues. Took 9L to fill at the shop. On the way home showed low reading. I put another 0.5L in, then ok to almost Max level. Its been 3 weeks and almost 600 miles since the change, including a few long highway drives. I've had low oil warning (add 1L) so I did that, now just a few days later it shows yellow warning overfill.
Based on all the threads about the sensor, not sure if its just normal shitty sensor readings or if the baffle is causing some issues. VAC said they have had no issues, and no complaints.
I'm...wait for it...BAFFLED!

I have similar issues after an oil change. Never add a full qt of oil. Only 1/2 at most. My oil warnings eventually went away. It seems the sensor is affected but in my case it's not sustained once I get the oil to a certain level.

[shootnjunky]

I just added this myself

[rhyary]

Originally Posted by maicol76

Lower oil pressure (than stock) was recorded at some corners on my aim logger. Now back to the stock pan, the oil pressure before installing VAC baffle is maintained.
I don't know why.

How did you get Aim to report oil pressure?
I can only get oil temp

[rhyary]

Originally Posted by TMANN

I just did the VAC baffled pan (core exchange with VAC) along with their coated rod bearings & ARP bolts kit. Admittedly, I didn't do extensive research on the baffle. I saw it at VAC (was in their shop) and also have one in my E36 M3 track car, so I figured, "gotta have it" since this E92 will be seeing track time.

No leaks from the pan, but I'm definitely having oil reading issues. Took 9L to fill at the shop. On the way home showed low reading. I put another 0.5L in, then ok to almost Max level. Its been 3 weeks and almost 600 miles since the change, including a few long highway drives. I've had low oil warning (add 1L) so I did that, now just a few days later it shows yellow warning overfill.
Based on all the threads about the sensor, not sure if its just normal shitty sensor readings or if the baffle is causing some issues. VAC said they have had no issues, and no complaints.
I'm...wait for it...BAFFLED!

This happens to me.
I do oil changes at ACM.
They fill it up to the low indicator and give me extra quart for the road.
After I drive it for awhile, the low gets up to almost full, I then add a bit more.

The first time I panicked on the way home because I got low oil warning (after the oil change) I filled it up and after a week it showed "overfilled"

So now I wait until I drive it for a while

[TMANN]

Originally Posted by rhyary

This happens to me.
I do oil changes at ACM.
They fill it up to the low indicator and give me extra quart for the road.
After I drive it for awhile, the low gets up to almost full, I then add a bit more.

The first time I panicked on the way home because I got low oil warning (after the oil change) I filled it up and after a week it showed "overfilled"

So now I wait until I drive it for a while

Three months later and the oil indicator is still up and down without me doing anything. After the initial low/high drama for a few weeks, it settled into a level between mid and high, so I thought it had worked out. It was in that sweet spot for about a month. Just recently, after the car had sat for a week or so, it went back to showing high with the yellow overfill. Not driving much now due to COVID, but this is really dumb. I keep hoping that the inevitable oil consumption will self-correct this issue.
Every time I look over at my E36 engine bay, I wonder why the dipstick had to disappear on the E92.

[E92Mthusiast]

This is something I have been researching, and I haven't heard of anyone actually having oil starvation issues... not sure if this is necessary?

[dparm]

Have you guys considered an Accusump instead of the oil pan modification, if it's really that tricky to get right?

[slicer]

Originally Posted by dparm

Have you guys considered an Accusump instead of the oil pan modification, if it's really that tricky to get right?

That is big $$ and requires deletion of AC. Track car only move.

[Lienrocs]

Want to add an update to this thread. I absolutely would not do this again via VAC. I had the pan delivered and installed at one of the most reputable E92 shops in SoCal so this had nothing to do with anyone other than VAC and their horrible quality control and fabrication. I really hope I'm the only bad egg but I just want to give everyone a warning. I had my pan installed while doing rod bearings as a while you're in there thing for the same reason a lot of people do, I figured it couldn't hurt for my track build. However, as soon as I got home the pan was leaking like crazy. I swapped the oil level sender because I thought it was leaking from the original one not sealing properly due heat cycling and becoming brittle but that didn't solve the issue. I got back under the car to see what else I could see and there was a pretty good size crack in the pan as well as oil seeping through a bunch of pinholes in the welds. I'm very disappointed considering the price of the pan as well as install. I've come up with a stop gap while trying to figure out the best course of action but VAC has been less than helpful and basically said bummer. Like I said, I really hope I'm the only one this ever happens to but just a heads up to everyone.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by Lienrocs

Want to add an update to this thread. I absolutely would not do this again via VAC. I had the pan delivered and installed at one of the most reputable E92 shops in SoCal so this had nothing to do with anyone other than VAC and their horrible quality control and fabrication. I really hope I'm the only bad egg but I just want to give everyone a warning. I had my pan installed while doing rod bearings as a while you're in there thing for the same reason a lot of people do, I figured it couldn't hurt for my track build. However, as soon as I got home the pan was leaking like crazy. I swapped the oil level sender because I thought it was leaking from the original one not sealing properly due heat cycling and becoming brittle but that didn't solve the issue. I got back under the car to see what else I could see and there was a pretty good size crack in the pan as well as oil seeping through a bunch of pinholes in the welds. I'm very disappointed considering the price of the pan as well as install. I've come up with a stop gap while trying to figure out the best course of action but VAC has been less than helpful and basically said bummer. Like I said, I really hope I'm the only one this ever happens to but just a heads up to everyone.

Thank you for posting this. VAC is a never ending stream of epic fails, just one after the other.

And meanwhile people are debating whether they should buy their rod bearings... um, no, no one should buy things from people that suck

[CorruptCommie]

Originally Posted by Lienrocs

Want to add an update to this thread. I absolutely would not do this again via VAC. I had the pan delivered and installed at one of the most reputable E92 shops in SoCal so this had nothing to do with anyone other than VAC and their horrible quality control and fabrication. I really hope I'm the only bad egg but I just want to give everyone a warning. I had my pan installed while doing rod bearings as a while you're in there thing for the same reason a lot of people do, I figured it couldn't hurt for my track build. However, as soon as I got home the pan was leaking like crazy. I swapped the oil level sender because I thought it was leaking from the original one not sealing properly due heat cycling and becoming brittle but that didn't solve the issue. I got back under the car to see what else I could see and there was a pretty good size crack in the pan as well as oil seeping through a bunch of pinholes in the welds. I'm very disappointed considering the price of the pan as well as install. I've come up with a stop gap while trying to figure out the best course of action but VAC has been less than helpful and basically said bummer. Like I said, I really hope I'm the only one this ever happens to but just a heads up to everyone.

Who welded the oil pan? From VAC or the shop?

[Lienrocs]

Originally Posted by CorruptCommie

Who welded the oil pan? From VAC or the shop?

VAC. All done by them.

Edit: they welded in the baffle and shipped the entire unit to the install shop. That wasn't clear in the original reply.

[kyippee]

Yikes. I had my baffles welded by a reputable local shop and it also leaked like that, after the car warms up.

Ended up not using it and had the stock pan put back on.

[Exclusivs]

That's unfortunate.Thnks for posting. How many engines to be claimed by..shotty coated bearings or other careless Vac parts.

[Macpsi]

Had one installed while bearings, mounts, and plugs were done. My old pan had an incredibly shoddy tap done on the drain bolt and cracked the pan. They used a sealant to keep it from leaking SMH. (previous owner)

The only thing I have discovered so far is the inconsistent oil level readings, which can definitely be annoying. I have seen a small leak, that only recently started happening from my last diy oil change. I did reuse the drain bolt so that may be the cause.

[admranger]

Originally Posted by Exclusivs

That's unfortunate.Thnks for posting. How many engines to be claimed by..shotty coated bearings or other careless Vac parts.

Heh.

I was going to say the most definite side effect will be a lighter wallet.

[former 240 s14]

Originally Posted by slicer

That is big $$ and requires deletion of AC. Track car only move.

Hey Slicer, why does it need to delete the a/c to run this? Accusump's run about $800 for the kit? They also are not belt driven like a full blown dry sump kit.

Thanks,

Rubin

[bigjae1976]

Has anyone taken oil pressure data? I sump holds quite a bit of oil and it prevents windage losses from the oil splashing onto the rotating assembly. If you have ever washed the oil pan out you'll find it difficult to get the water out by turning the pan upside down.

The issue with welding cast aluminum is getting it clean. There is inevitably some oil trapped in the pores create by casting. TIG welding is sensitive to contaminants. If a weld is leeaking then the welder didn't get the weld area clean enough.

Another great example of why VAC is bad for your car. They make so much stuff that doesn't work...how do they stay in business?

[omgzirra_exe]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

Has anyone taken oil pressure data? I sump holds quite a bit of oil and it prevents windage losses from the oil splashing onto the rotating assembly. If you have ever washed the oil pan out you'll find it difficult to get the water out by turning the pan upside down.

The issue with welding cast aluminum is getting it clean. There is inevitably some oil trapped in the pores create by casting. TIG welding is sensitive to contaminants. If a weld is leeaking then the welder didn't get the weld area clean enough.

Another great example of why VAC is bad for your car. They make so much stuff that doesn't work...how do they stay in business?

I think the S65 does hold oil well.. there have been many times i've driven around beyond pass due my oil change.. up to 8k miles where the level reads +1 quart lmao.

[former 240 s14]

Just sent my oil pan to AAF. Ben from Rogue Engineering swears by them and won't use anyone else. I also have them working on welding up the Bimmerworld Dipstick Kit, I am done trusting the electronic system.

The oil pan is sufficient for street and some light road course activity; but when you get track's with heavy decel areas you need all the help you can get. This is why I am doing this on the track build 2.0 that's happening.

Rubin

[kolosy]

Originally Posted by former 240 s14

Just sent my oil pan to AAF. Ben from Rogue Engineering swears by them and won't use anyone else. I also have them working on welding up the Bimmerworld Dipstick Kit, I am done trusting the electronic system.

The oil pan is sufficient for street and some light road course activity; but when you get track's with heavy decel areas you need all the help you can get. This is why I am doing this on the track build 2.0 that's happening.

Rubin

Sooo if the oil pan’s off.. what’d you find?