Ford oil pump

(Image/Hot Rod)

You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers. We work with the Summit Racing tech department to help you tackle your auto-related conundrums. In this week’s Mailbag, we’re discussing high-volume vs. standard-volume oil pump use on a mildly modified Ford 302 engine.

Q: I am rebuilding a 302 Ford small block engine. I’m going to warm it up a bit—small cam, four-barrel carb, and headers. Would it be alright to install a high-volume oil pump?

A: A stock or mildly modified engine—generally—won’t benefit from the use of a high-volume oil pump. The oil returns in the block are too small and the oil gets trapped in the valve covers. We’d recommend sticking with a standard-volume oil pump in your engine.