Catch can newbie question

[Nomexnomad]

Hi all,

Picked my Westy up yesterday and im loving it more than is normal!

I have read a few questions on here about catch cans and i would like my own query answered. My car has a pinto engine fitted and has a pipe coming from the crankcase breather straight to atmosphere via a filter. Is this normal/ok?

Should this not go to the inlet somwhere then to atmosphere?

Also should i have a catch can fitted as i suspect oil is forced out of the filter and drips onto the road?

[peterg]

QUOTE

has a pipe coming from the crankcase breather straight to atmosphere via a filter. Is this normal/ok?

Normal, no, OK, er, not really - when the pinto was originally fitted into a tintop the pipe would have gone into the airbox so oil fumes were burnt in the engine.

Now you have it in a Westfield with twin carbs and a sporty inlet manifold with socks or foam filter this isn't really practical so the best option is to run the pipe into a catch tank (an old 1 litre oil bottle will be enough) as this will prevent oil dripping onto the road/track  

[Nomexnomad]

Thanks Peter, i have a mocal catch tank that came with a load of new parts that in turn came with the car, but wasn't sure if it is the right thing.

Not had much experience with oil pressure/breather issues, i will get it fitted asap!

[Nomexnomad]

Thanks Peter, i have a mocal catch tank that came with a load of new parts that in turn came with the car, but wasn't sure if it is the right thing.

Not had much experience with oil pressure/breather issues, i will get it fitted asap!

[combatsapph]

That catch tank is exactly the right thing to use.

You can see mine for my Pinto fitted to the front of the passenger footwell (orange cap).  The block vents into this which then in turn vents into the trans tunnel via a small 19mm filter.  Rocker cover isn't vented.

[stephenh]

SM Engineering do a very reasonably priced one. They're a tiny firm, SM is Stuart Morgan.  He has a website, have a look at it, if it might be of interest.

[dhutch]

Mine currently vents to atmospher.

- I would'nt say its that uncommon as far as i know (not much) but if you have a nice mocal catch tank then your sorted.

Ive looked at the SM ones, which is what i would buy if anything, but ultimatly i think budget wise its an empty 1or2l oil bottle for me.

Daniel

[TbirdX]

The Homebrew Way  

[Nomexnomad]

Nice pics! thanks... so i take it the tank does not need to be above or below a cetain point?

I too do not have a pipe from the rocker cover or indeed anywhere to place one, just the one from the crankcase.

My tank has 2 inlets, i take this would be for rocker cover and crankcase? or is just a multi use can type deal? Will get some pics up for all to see!

[chris7273]

I have a question regarding Catch tank : on my car, there is a catch tank made from an old plastic bottle. Two pipes are coming into it :  one from the the top of the engine and one from below (difficult to sse where it is coming from).

Questions :

- The bottle is half full of oil, should I empty it and throw the oil ?

- Should the pipes go to the bottom of the bottle or just enter into it ?

Thank you

[peterg]

QUOTE

so i take it the tank does not need to be above or below a cetain point?

correct, just make sure it has at least 1 litre capacity and the pipes can't easily come out and spray the oil around...

QUOTE

The bottle is half full of oil, should I empty it and throw the oil ?

depends, if the oil has been in there a long time and the top of the bottle is open to the elements then best to throw it away. if it's only recently gone in there (track day for example) then put it back in the engine  

QUOTE

Should the pipes go to the bottom of the bottle or just enter into it ?

the bottom, because it will prevent the oil/fumes spraying around which is why the catch tank is fitted in the first place  

QUOTE

I too do not have a pipe from the rocker cover or indeed anywhere to place one, just the one from the crankcase.

that's fine, some engines don't have a vented rocker cover, just put the pipe from the crankcase into a tank as this is where the most oil comes from anyway  

[chris7273]

Thank you

I will throw the oil, since I recently acquired the car and I don't know for how long the oil has stood in the tank. After that, I will check the level from time to time to get an idea at which rate the oil comes back. I have checked the engine oil level and it is between the two marks.

Sorry for the 100% newbie question, but is there a chance that the oil from the tank comes back in the engine (being sucked in) or will the "ejected in the tank" oil stay in it forever if not properly handled ?

Regards

[gordonandmaureen]

re pinto breathing one point if your pinto is fitted with a crankase breather can it should be taken out & the non return valve part removed & the can  replaced. The non return valve restricts the breathing ability especialy when the engine is tuned more than normal & can cause piston blow by Reconnect the breather pipe & run it to a catch tank along with the cam cover breather & use a breather filter on top of the catch tank, this should cure most if not all breather problems. good luck

[stephenh]

I have a question regarding Catch tank : on my car, there is a catch tank made from an old plastic bottle. Two pipes are coming into it :  one from the the top of the engine and one from below (difficult to sse where it is coming from).

The bottom one will be the crankcase breather. Personally I wouldn't risk pouring the oil which has been blown into the catch tank back into the engine, at least not unless the oil looks really clean. It just isn't worth it.

[Nomexnomad]

Update!

I now have a can fitted! and i also bought a new oil cap with a vent outlet on it and that id hooked up too. Will post some piccies tommorow, so the old hats can give there verdict!! thanks for the help too!!