I started thinking about this yesterday. What percentage of the oil in the pan is actually flowing through the engine at any one time? I assume there's about a 1-2 quart reserve based on engine size.
An acquaintance had a oil change joint put the wrong oil filter on her car and she drove it until a half quart came out on the next oil change. Metal particulates came out, as one would expect. My neighbor also had this happen to her new Kia and the only reason she didn't blow up her motor is I nearly wiped out walking through the oil puddle and said something.
most of it I think .
There's probably only an inch or so in the pan when it's running. Just enough cover the pickup tube.
That video was a great visual. Engines just fling that stuff around. I'm kinda surprised my friend's engine didn't seize up with only a quart of oil.
Didn’t seize completely, but severely damaged, I’d imagine..?
Surprisingly no, it leaked out slowly as opposed to all at once. It was an older Acura, I guess that backs up Scotty's feeling that Japanese cars are made well. She's an engineer at Honda, it surprises me that she didn't notice any weird noises. She uses the car as a beater after getting a 2013 Acura. That, and me almost taking a nasty spill in the oil puddle in my parking lot make me glad I do all of my own maintenance!
I’m amazed!