Oil capacity

[BLK 68 R/T]

Why did muscle car engines come from the factory with such small oil capacities compared to today's engines?
For example the average 440 had 4 quarts + 1 with filter but my wife's 4 cylinder Camry takes the same amount basically.

[68CoronetRT]

I think alot of the oil capacity thing(and many other examples) came from the interwebz and everyone being an expert. 5 qrts is still a lot of oil for an engine.

[c00nhunterjoe]

Modern engine capacities vary based on style of engine, how much oil controlled actuators are in it, oil change intervals, and what the manufactures determine is needed to keep clean the oil at a certain temperature and not break down before the intervals.

[John_Kunkel]

Why did muscle car engines come from the factory with such small oil capacities compared to today's engines?

I've often wondered that myself but you can't really compare new to old. New motors run a lot hotter than old and therefore need more oil capacity to aid cooling.

[BLK 68 R/T]

Modern engine capacities vary based on style of engine, how much oil controlled actuators are in it, oil change intervals, and what the manufactures determine is needed to keep clean the oil at a certain temperature and not break down before the intervals.

Why did muscle car engines come from the factory with such small oil capacities compared to today's engines?

I've often wondered that myself but you can't really compare new to old. New motors run a lot hotter than old and therefore need more oil capacity to aid cooling.

I kinda figured it had to do with additional cooling that the additional oil would provide. That's the reason why some newer vehicles have cast pans with cooling fins in them.

[c00nhunterjoe]

Cool is a relative term in this case. Manufactures want the oil hot. The oil temp required to achieve the advertised at temp viscosity is actually is 212 degrees, another reason for modern cars to have 205 and 210 degree thermostats in them. At hugher temps, the oil will break down quicker, thus why most now run more oil and require synthetics to achieve the longer oil change intervals.  Back in the 60s, is was alot sooner intervals and lower oil temps so it didnt matter.