Saiku Michi open loop oil catch cans

[turbophil]

Just to be clear, you "vent" to atmosphere and you *can drain* back to the tank... If the orange cap vents sufficiently, then you're fine.... although, I wouldn't think the orange cap is a great vent by the looks of it. You need what I would basically call an unrestricted source to vent the gasses out (like a little filter). If you choose to drain the oil back to the pan rather than draining the catch can, then a small oil fitting will suffice, as there's not that much oil that needs to flow back to the pan..

Hope that helps,

Phil

[HKFEVER]

Originally Posted by Certified Lotus

I had the dual Saiku Michi oil catch set up on my 2zz engine before I blew the engine (fuel starvation) and when the engine came apart it was very obvious how much oil was going thru the intake......even with the dual catch can.

On my new engine I decided to buy Lotus' aluminum catch tank (which they very recently changed the heading to a "water" catch tank in the Sept. '09 Lotus Sport brochure) and have both valve cover hoses running to this tank (part no. ALS3EO317F). I plugged the intake fittings.

So far (4500 miles later) everything seems to be working fine with a small amount of oil blow-by coming out the vented cap (orange cap in the picture) on the catch tank. A nominal amount of oil in the tank. No other leaks from too much pressure under the valve cover. The tank has a sight line which I really like. Installed the tank where the windshield washer tank was located and moved the WW tank to the boot area.

I'm sure I'll get some input as to why this should not be a closed loop system. Would like to hear it, as this is an experiment and would be interested in feedback.

Yes, that's BOE's swirl Pot and pressure regulator installed (also did V2's fuel cell mod......taking NO CHANCES on fuel starvation again).

I used the same setup but located the can in different loaction. And cover the vent cap with a round foam.

[HKFEVER]

Originally Posted by Certified Lotus

You have a good point, which is why I thought the vented cap would be a fairly good solution (although I end up wiping some oil residue off the tank after every track day). I guess I could tap a fitting into the tank and run a line to my Morroso oil pan and vent it there.

Are you sure you want to vent those oil back to your oil pan? Are those air mixed with oil and water vapour? Correct me if I am wrong?

[HKFEVER]

Originally Posted by turbophil

Just to be clear, you "vent" to atmosphere and you *can drain* back to the tank... If the orange cap vents sufficiently, then you're fine.... although, I wouldn't think the orange cap is a great vent by the looks of it. You need what I would basically call an unrestricted source to vent the gasses out (like a little filter). If you choose to drain the oil back to the pan rather than draining the catch can, then a small oil fitting will suffice, as there's not that much oil that needs to flow back to the pan..

Hope that helps,

Phil

The opening on the orange cap is quite big, so big that I need to put a round foam around. Otherwise I need to clean that area all the time.

[Certified Lotus]

Originally Posted by turbophil

Just to be clear, you "vent" to atmosphere and you *can drain* back to the tank... If the orange cap vents sufficiently, then you're fine.... although, I wouldn't think the orange cap is a great vent by the looks of it. You need what I would basically call an unrestricted source to vent the gasses out (like a little filter). If you choose to drain the oil back to the pan rather than draining the catch can, then a small oil fitting will suffice, as there's not that much oil that needs to flow back to the pan..

Hope that helps,

Phil

Thanks Phil, you are using the right terminology, I was not. From the info I'm getting on this thread I think I will figure out a solution to create a better vent off this tank. HKFEVER has the right direction.....but I wonder if there is a stock filter somewhere that can fit into the existing threaded hole where the cap is located.
Anyone know what the GT3 car engine's have for this setup? I looked at a couple of photo's and can't tell from them.

[Frank Amoroso]

Originally Posted by Certified Lotus

On my new engine I decided to buy Lotus' aluminum catch tank (which they very recently changed the heading to a "water" catch tank in the Sept. '09 Lotus Sport brochure) and have both valve cover hoses running to this tank (part no. ALS3EO317F). I plugged the intake fittings.

Where does one obtain such a thing here in the good 'ol US and A? What's the cost? Also, anyone gotta link to the 2009 Lotus Sport Catalog?

[MaineLotus]

Originally Posted by HKFEVER

Are you sure you want to vent those oil back to your oil pan? Are those air mixed with oil and water vapour? Correct me if I am wrong?

It's just oil. Most of the oil in the head drains back down to the crank case, some finds it's way out the cam cover breather holes. I've read some people refer to it as some kind of evil fluid coughed up by the engine, not the case.

[fpitas]

Originally Posted by MaineLotus

It's just oil. Most of the oil in the head drains back down to the crank case, some finds it's way out the cam cover breather holes. I've read some people refer to it as some kind of evil fluid coughed up by the engine, not the case.

Of course it's mainly oil, but there's a disproportionate amount of water in it because the water vapor from the crankcase condenses in the catch tank. Normally, that water vapor would be drawn into the intake and eventually thrown out the tail pipe.

[MaineLotus]

Originally Posted by fpitas

Of course it's mainly oil, but there's a disproportionate amount of water in it because the water vapor from the crankcase condenses in the catch tank. Normally, that water vapor would be drawn into the intake and eventually thrown out the tail pipe.

Yes, there could be condensation if the oil is left in the can, but this is in reference to draining immediately back to the pan (see the original question) - that would reduce the amount of condensation since the oil is not sitting and cooling off in the can.

[fpitas]

Originally Posted by MaineLotus

Yes, there could be condensation if the oil is left in the can, but this is in reference to draining immediately back to the pan (see the original question) - that would reduce the amount of condensation since the oil is not sitting and cooling off in the can.

No, you're missing my point. All crankcase water vapor will be drawn into, and condense in the catch can, it's not a matter of time.

[MaineLotus]

Originally Posted by fpitas

No, you're missing my point. All crankcase water vapor will be drawn into, and condense in the catch can, it's not a matter of time.

Ah, gotcha now. I thought you were referring to condensation that forms in the can.

[HKFEVER]

This is what I talked about the round foam and you can see those oil mark at the bottom of the foam. If the foam is not there than the oil will stick around the rear glass, the cooler surface.....