Some marine applications used a special crank. What was special about it is the front and rear seal area, the crank has "lines" formed in the crank which is used to "pull" the oil back into the crankcase. If you use the wrong crank it will actually push the oil out, ask me how I know this!?!?! Yep, btdt!

And if it is 2 engines side by side, then one of them will turn in a reverse rotation to counteract the thrust.