Oil Catch Tanks

[Craig!]

...Yep another topic by me with 'oil' in the title!

It's to those running oil catch tanks, which route have you took? Been looking into them for awhile and most people seem to run it from the crank case breather into the tank, then out of the tank back into the tip. However nine times out of ten this means hot air and possible oil vapour are still re-entering the system.

Has anyone made it go into the tank from the crank case, then from the tank into a breather or pipe thats hung low (to avoid oil been blown all over the engine, and just over your drive ).

What other options are there? I presume if you go into the tank, then have a return going into the sump (baffled sump needed) you'd also have to have a filter to keep the pressures right?

Has anyone gone for the very basic route of crank case to oil filter/breather? This would be the cheapest option but chances are you'd have to clean it often, and would also get an oily smell in the car.

Thanks for any advice!

 

[Jonzy]

Ive got a mocal tank, it will be running from the crank case and rocker cover into the tank. No drain, may add a drain back to the sump in the future.

 

[Craig!]

I take it you won't need a filter / breath hole to allow any pressure to be vented to the atmosphere? Can't see the pressures been high enough, to cause problems but need to make certain.

Also been looking into the sump return, although it can be done on a standard sump by tapping into it, I think whilst the sumps off you may aswell fit a baffled one!

 

[andy_dea]

get a mocal like above, run from the crank case, and rocker

use drain to run back to sump, dont need baffeled sump (be good to fit at same time) just have the return as high up as possible so runs back into pickup

the mocal caps are breathable so vapour can exscape

 

[Jonzy]

As andy said, the cap itself is vented so pressure shouldnt be a problem. Theres a few good diagrams on vortex showing the layout of the breather systems on a 20vt.

 

[Craig!]

Cheers, where did you get the Mocal tank from?

 

[ibizacupra]

mines venting from front breather box (PCV removed) and rocker cover to catch tank which has drain to sump. Outlet of catch tank is to a 1ltr bottle which in turn is vented. (regs say catch tank has to be 1ltr capacity)
I run SEAT Sport baffled sump which has drain return above top baffle line.

If you run on track with sticky tyres you will want a baffled sump for sure. I did'nt used to and consumed 1ltr of oil at a Donington track day thru the engines stock breather system, pinked badly running on its own engine oil.
Oil level post baffled sump is slightly lower to keep below top baffles... any excess soon gets chucked back out again.

 

[PhilW]

I run mine from the oil breather that come from the crankcase up to the tip to a catch tank then back out and pointed down as you've mentioned.

I used a blanking plug to blank off the TIP connection.


I'll get a pic.

 

[Craig!]

If you buy a catch tank from the likes of Mocal is it just an empty tank with two inlets, a drain plug and vented top? Or does it have a form of baffling to help the vapours condense?

Bill, In all honesty would you bother to run a baffled sump on a road car?

Phil, Cheers, more pictures the better. At the moment just after catch tank ideas and locations.

 

[ibizacupra]

Bill, In all honesty would you bother to run a baffled sump on a road car?

Probably not.
but if you use sticky tyres and go on track you are well advised to consider one.

 

[Craig!]

Chances are it won't be going on track for awhile yet, if it does it'd only be a 20 min session at the most. If it becomes a track car it'd be getting more than just a baffled sump!

 

[Havok316]

sorry to hijack bit of a noobish question but what to the oil catch tanks do? im guessing it stops oil escaping from the engine saving oil? LOL

 

[Craig!]

The 20vt engine has breathers which return into the intake of the engine, when your driving hard a fine oil mist is getting sprayed into the intake track. On gear changes this mist can be blown back onto the MAF, and under hard driving it's also getting sprayed all over your intercooler/intercooler pipes, intake manifold and gumming up the throttle body. Not to mention putting hot air back into the intake system.

Fitting a catch tank basically means all the vapours go into a tank, they then condense back into oil. In some cases like Bill, the oil that condenses then runs back into the sump, however some people also just let it build up in the tank then drain it when its full.

 

[PhilW]

You end up with a TIP like this...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/philwarren11/Cupra/DSC03870.jpg

 

[ibizacupra]

Chances are it won't be going on track for awhile yet, if it does it'd only be a 20 min session at the most. If it becomes a track car it'd be getting more than just a baffled sump!

It was only a 20mins session at Donington which threw 1ltr of oil thru the breather system

 

[PhilW]

Here you go Craig...

Left piping runs down to the bottom of the engine and out.

 

[Craig!]

Really?? Damn didn't expect it to throw up so much in a short space of time, in that case it's not going on track untill it's got one!

 

[chrisbond69]

i got mine off ebay too looks good and fits well

 

[PhilW]

where have you mounted yours mate?

 

[chrisbond69]

next to power steering resevoir. no pics yet as its now been sent
off for powdercoating.