What is the purpose of an Apollo tank?
Discussion
My understanding is that the Rover K series was designed for transverse installation and when installed north south as in a caterham the oil pick up is not optimal for sustained high speed cornering (particluarly in right hand bends?), resulting in a rsignificant eduction in oil pressure with an increased risk of oil starvation to the big ends. The apollo tanks were used by Caterham to negate this reduction in oil pressure. However, I am not sure how it helps.
Forums are fantastic places to keep up to date on a subject and research. However it can at times be a little subjective i.e. personal perspective, feelings, beliefs, desires or discovery, as opposed to those made from an independent, objective, point of view.
That is why, I would very much like to obtain an objective view on what an Apollo tank does? I suspect, I am not alone.
I know it is a swirl tank using centrifugal force to separate air from oil. The process allows the oil to be seperated from the air which rises to the top and escapes via the return pipe into the head.
I have also heard decribed as a half way house between a wet sump and a full dry sump system. If that is the case, can someone explain what is meant by that, please?
Forums are fantastic places to keep up to date on a subject and research. However it can at times be a little subjective i.e. personal perspective, feelings, beliefs, desires or discovery, as opposed to those made from an independent, objective, point of view.
That is why, I would very much like to obtain an objective view on what an Apollo tank does? I suspect, I am not alone.
I know it is a swirl tank using centrifugal force to separate air from oil. The process allows the oil to be seperated from the air which rises to the top and escapes via the return pipe into the head.
I have also heard decribed as a half way house between a wet sump and a full dry sump system. If that is the case, can someone explain what is meant by that, please?
The Apollo sits between the pump and the bearings and contains several litres of pressurised oil. if there is an oil supply problem to the pump caused by oil surge then the Apollo will act as an intermediate backup supply for a period of time, even though the pressure in the tank will drop, momentary lapses in the oil supply will no longer result in air hitting the bearings, oil will still be supplied albeit at reduced pressure or just by gravity. This greatly reduces the tendency for the bearings to wipe themselves out in my experience. The greater volume of oil also keeps oil temperatures from getting too high.
Get one.
Oily
Get one.
Oily
DVandrews said:
if you can accommodate it under the bonnet...
Dave
It could go in the passenger compartment, in front of where the seat might be (mine doesn't have a passenger seat).Dave
I suppose the real question is, is it worth doing and will it work to help alleviate potential oil surge issues? I already have the Apollo tank and the foam baffle but am nervous!!
YMMV but most of the engines I have disassembled that have Apollo tanks have pristine big end shells and most of those without Apollo tanks have damaged big ends, some quite badly torn up.
Ditch the foam and drill some drain holes in the ledge of the gasket near the pickup.
Dave
Ditch the foam and drill some drain holes in the ledge of the gasket near the pickup.
Dave
Edited by DVandrews on Tuesday 12th September 09:30
if you are tracking the car then there are more likeley to be occassions when the oil moves away from the pickup, that is true for any engine. A purpose built track car ought to run a dry sump, for most road use the Apollo will do the trick.
There are issues with the Caterham system, the main two being the overall capacity of the system which is too low in my opinion and the single scavenge stage which is not efficient at evacuating the sump when the oil is moving around.
Dave
There are issues with the Caterham system, the main two being the overall capacity of the system which is too low in my opinion and the single scavenge stage which is not efficient at evacuating the sump when the oil is moving around.
Dave
Just a practical pessimist's word of warning:
As regards putting an Accusump cylinder in the passenger area; well, if you're ok with being sprayed with high-pressure flammable liquids at above boiling water temperatures, it should be fine. :-)
Even all those people running mechanical oil pressure gauges into their dash freak me out. They are taking a huge risk of injury and fire - that is why cars have firewalls - keep all non-human friendly stuff in a steel box. I've had brass oil pressure fittings split on me a couple times. Mechanical gauges are supposed to be in hood pods and looked at through a windscreen or placed in the engine bay. The copper pipe work hardens and cracks, or fittings leak, without much provocation. The way caterhams vibrate and all....
I don't think it is even lawful where I live to do something like that. The insurance company would make me pay for the hospital stay. I'd have to sell my house and a kidney. lol.
As regards putting an Accusump cylinder in the passenger area; well, if you're ok with being sprayed with high-pressure flammable liquids at above boiling water temperatures, it should be fine. :-)
Even all those people running mechanical oil pressure gauges into their dash freak me out. They are taking a huge risk of injury and fire - that is why cars have firewalls - keep all non-human friendly stuff in a steel box. I've had brass oil pressure fittings split on me a couple times. Mechanical gauges are supposed to be in hood pods and looked at through a windscreen or placed in the engine bay. The copper pipe work hardens and cracks, or fittings leak, without much provocation. The way caterhams vibrate and all....
I don't think it is even lawful where I live to do something like that. The insurance company would make me pay for the hospital stay. I'd have to sell my house and a kidney. lol.
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