I have a vacuum pump on car and while I see benefits I am wondering if worth the trouble. Not that it requires more work. Just clutters the area a lot. Since rings are not set up to optimize any real power gains it is more less pulling vacuum to avoid any leaks.

I can hook up a vac system fairly to Zoomies and VCs that already have breather set up.

Question is for anyone who has gone from one to other. Likes and dislikes of one over the other.

It’s a “whatever” deal for me.

I have one car with each setup on it. I like the vacuum pump, but I probably won’t ever put one on the other car.

Depends on the fuel you run. And what induction.
And how much you like changing oil.
If you are looking at it strictly as a go fast part, it MAY not be worth the money and weight. But it does keep the oil dry. And for the short time I ran zoomies years ago, I never found that there was much pull at all with those evacs.
Every car we have and have had for years has a pump. If no problems, we can go half a season on an oil change with a lot of racing on it....and change it just out of guilt. And bearings look good.

It's worth a solid .04 on my car, keeps leaks down and helps some with with clean oil. A win all the way around to me.

Curtis ,
How about your rings?

I know mine are not going to get much from the vacuum pump because of the rings that I have in the motor. Running .017/.045 ss dyke top and total seal gapless secondary with 3/16 oil. Old setup,but hell old pistons.

Nothing special but bracket racing approved. LOL Moly 1/16", 1/16" napier, 3/16" 11lb oil ring.

I’ve used both. I prefer the vacuum pump. Like Curtis I’m using a bracket race ring package so not looking for extra horsepower. IMO both work and do the expected job if correctly installed, the pump just does it better.

A vacuum pump will help stop any oil leaks and helps pull moisture out of oil. I did not notice any performance gain when I went to vacuum pump years ago.

Sure it helps performance but do not expect huge gains.

I always had milky oil with a header evac system on my Nova. I switched to a star vacuum pump and the oil always looks new when I change it.

Its been a few years since the switch so I don't remember a performance gain.

I lost my belt two different times and it showed the same loss each time is how I know what difference it made. That was pulling just 10". Pump is mounted on my motor plate and it was flexing letting the belt jump off.

I did not get pump for power gains.Would not be mad if they came as extra.

The replies about oil leaks and milky oil very helpful.

Hopefully not get Curtis's results of motorplate mounting.LOL

That was an older smaller plate. Opened up Solidworks and headed to the laser for this and it stopped the problem.

Here’s 6 oil samples, one each year end from 2016 to 2021. These are all with MFI, a primer plus system and EVAC. I switched to EFI mid year 2022, but did not do an oil sample at the end of that year. The plan this year is to do a sample at the last oil change.

Not saying EVAC works, just saying I have no moister on the valve cover interiors (check engine cold) when checking the valves, no water in samples, and no milky oil.

My oil is pretty good with the evacs also, but I put effort into it by getting it real hot at the end of each day and letting it breathe out the water.

The vac pump car also has the advantage of the gas primer, but I don't need to put any additional effort into keeping the oil looking good.

Pumps are better, but are not an absolute necessity.

One thing I forgot to add is that I have run oil heaters in my engines since day one. Now I also have a heater in my water so I don't use as much fuel getting the car warm. The oil heater makes a difference keeping moisture out of the oil.

My car will build up moisture in the valve covers just sitting in my building early and late in the year.

quote:

Originally posted by Lenny5160:
My oil is pretty good with the evacs also, but I put effort into it by getting it real hot at the end of each day and letting it breathe out the water.

Lenny,

I do the same thing with heating the motor at the end of the day. It's only needed in the early & late months of the year. Our humidity is low in the desert. I don't use a vacuum pump or pan evac system.

Some state you have to take off the breathers to get the moisture out. I've seen some on You Tube using a small vacuum to push or pull air through the motor. Is there anything extra you do?

2BKING

I can see the advantage of oil heaters when running alky actually it's probably not a bad idea with gas either.

I've been using a Moroso vacuum pump for the past three years, there is no doubt that it makes a difference with the ring package I use. I try and limit the draw to 13 - 14 pounds. I ran a VBS for a while but the pump produced better results. I briefly used a electric pump but that didn't make a difference except to reduce the weight of my wallet.

Bob

Thing you have to remember when using a shop vac to pull vapors out to the oil while using a pan heater is if your running alcohol those vapers may be flammable, one spark and boom

quote:

I put effort into it by getting it real hot at the end of each day and letting it breathe out the water.

My end of day drive it into the trailer temp is 190* for both water and oil that is easily achieved on the last run return to pit spot.

When I was using MFI I used the primer + system more than now with EFI after initial warm up. The EFI runs at preset afr levels and temps that can be altered using virtual switches on the digital dash if desired. If I inadvertently leave something enabled prior to a run, going WOT cancels these inputs and EFI runs the normal race map. The digital dash is set-up to alert early for over temp as well.

quote:

Originally posted by Big Steve:
Thing you have to remember when using a shop vac to pull vapors out to the oil while using a pan heater is if your running alcohol those vapers may be flammable, one spark and boom

I highly advise against use a vacuum unless it has a sealed motor. Pulling fumes into a closed area with electrical motor in same container is a very good way to start the 4th of July on the wrong day.