Max Richter wrote:

The Navy used to have plenty of radial-pistonengined aircraft on
carriers.
Now my question: in radial-engines oil is collecting in the lower
cylinders when its stopped. Thats is one reason to handturn the engine
before it is started.Then the oil is queezed out in the exhaustsystem
and eventually on the ground.
Now i thought how dangerous, filthy and slippery the deck must have been
when an deckload of Hellcats, Avengers and so on started there engines
nearly simultaniusly.
How was this avoided or was it just ignored.
Greetings
Max

Well yes, they are somewhat messy but it's not as you describe
them. they use pretty high capacity scavenge pumps to keep the
engine internal spaces relatively free of oil after it's done
it's thing in the bearings etc. The business of turning the
engine over before starting is just to check for hydraulic lock
which would be disastrous for the engine, not to 'squeegee' the
oil out.
--

-Gord.
(use gordon in email)