Oil catch tanks - why baffled ?

[jamieandthemagic]

I need to fit an oil catch tank to my 1971 Alfa GT1300Junior.

I've found 2 versions, baffled & not baffled.

Do I understand it correctly that the baffled catch tank help to condense the oil vapour back to oil ?

I'm looking at a 0.5 litre vented tank (due to my low engine capacity) with no return pipe, but if I incline the feedpipe between the rocker outlet & the Catchtank (on the bulkhead), then when the catch tank reachs close to full, then the overflow, will simply run back down the rocker vent pipe into the cam casing.

I have chosen not to have a return pipe, as I can find no simple or low cost method of installing a return pipe back to the engine (an Alfa GTA oil cap with return feed is over £50!!!).

[stevieturbo]

A catch tank should return back into the sump below the level of oil.

Often people fit a banjo or similar fitting to replace the sump bung as an easy fix.

[Mr2Mike]

jamieandthemagic said:

I need to fit an oil catch tank to my 1971 Alfa GT1300Junior.

I've found 2 versions, baffled & not baffled.

Do I understand it correctly that the baffled catch tank help to condense the oil vapour back to oil ?

Yes, the more cool metal surfaces the vapour passes over the better it will work as a condenser.

[Vixpy1]

Not going to use a large Red Bull can like everyone else then

[davepoth]

Vixpy1 said:

Not going to use a large Red Bull can like everyone else then

That way you always have one to throw if you are angry.

[deveng]

They are baffled to ensure the return to sump is always under oil.

The entire point of a baffle is to prevent fluids moving under braking/cornering forces, and the taller and slimmer the container, the less the baffling required, hence why catch tanks/swirl pots are tall(compared to their diameter) cylinders