Duratec dry sump plumbing

[GreigM]

I have a R400d which has been upgraded to R500 power which currently runs the Raceline wet sump and an oil cooler. Due to my history in killing engines I want to install the Raceline dry sump and was wondering the best way to plumb it all in.

My options are to take the scavenge outlet from the sump to the cooler first (1 inlet to top of oil tank) or keep it separate from the cooler (2 inlets to top of oil tank). My experience in the past has been the former (sump->cooler->tank->sump) but I'm unfamiliar with the best layout for the duratec. Does anyone know how caterham lay out the their own dry sumps?

I'm getting the tank made up by brise and they let me configure it however I like (too many options isn't always a good thing!)

[DCL]

I would recommend using the Ford Modine cooler/heater - no plumbing except for the tank and a lot of saved weight to say nothing of better oil temperature control. Cooling/heating taking place just before the oil filter.

http://caterhamparts.co.uk/product.php?id_product=... and http://www.caterhamparts.co.uk/product.php?id_prod...

Burton also do them

[GreigM]

Am I right in thinking that works by exchanging the heat with the coolant fluid - all I have to do is plumb the coolant in/out of the modine thingy and thats it...can throw away the oil cooler? Would certainly make my dry sump tank design simpler......

I don't have to uprate the water radiator to cope with the extra cooling task? Does it not make the water run hotter?

[DCL]

Yeah, I think all the Duratecs and Sigmas from Caterham now use the Modine when an oil cooler is specified. As you say, just connect it up to the heater hose and it keeps the oil at around the water temperature. My oil tends to run a bit cooler than the water (as there's some additional cooling from the tank and sump) but there seems to be plenty of capacity in the standard R400 cooling system to cope with it as you're no longer blanking the radiator with the oil cooler. I'm up at 270 BHP with no issues.

Edited by DCL on Tuesday 10th June 17:23

[GreigM]

Thanks David, I think initially I'm going to plumb it with the existing cooler (to keep cost down as well as anything) and put the cooler in series with the tank. This gives me the option of using your solution in future with minimal extra mods if I don't feel the oil temp is correct.

[mic]

Caterham hoses are:- bottom of tank into sump, sump outlet to oil cooler, oil cooler to top of tank.

[GreigM]

mic said:

Caterham hoses are:- bottom of tank into sump, sump outlet to oil cooler, oil cooler to top of tank.

Thanks, confirms what I'm going to do.....now to get on with ordering bits....

[DCL]

That's how mine was originally too. One thing you'll notice is that the oil runs much cooler with the dry sump. I made a little plate that clipped on to the oil cooler to blank it in cold weather. It is worth getting them to fit a fitting a (1/4 NTP ?) sensor hole in the tank and, if you fit a Caterham temp sensor, you can then fit a switch to flip between water and oil temp. I then later upgraded to a dual display SPA gauge.