11Budlite Posted May 25 Share Posted May 25 I just wanted to give my experience after running my first track day with the replacement Radium catch can installed. At my previous track days, I'd get about an inch of fluid in the bottom of the cheap plastic Caterham-supplied catch can. This was installed in the stock location on the forward left side of the engine compartment. On my previous track days I would typically do (7) 20-minute sessions. I installed the Radium catch can on the firewall with the same two stock hoses coming from the cam cover and the block. I just did a track day last weekend at Canaan, NH, that consisted of (5) sessions of which I was on track for a total of 2.75 hrs. I checked the dip stick after the first (2) sessions and there was nothing showing. I checked it again at the end of the day and there was still nothing showing on the dip stick. This morning I decided to unscrew the can to check it out, and although it smelled of oil fumes there wasn't a drop of fluid inside. This thing is crazy expensive for what it is, but the quality of materials and manufacturing is first rate, and so far I'm very happy with how it performs. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdb Posted May 25 Share Posted May 25 I'm not sure I understand. Your car pushed oil out to the catch can before, and now it does not? What changed besides a prettier can? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11Budlite Posted May 25 Author Share Posted May 25 1 hour ago, wdb said: I'm not sure I understand. Your car pushed oil out to the catch can before, and now it does not? What changed besides a prettier can? Honestly, I don't know. The catch can is mounted up higher now. There's a scrubber/filter in the Radium catch can and I inspected that too. It smelled of oil fumes but I didn't see any wetness and I didn't see any wetness in the engine compartment either. I've always kept the oil level at the high mark, and I'm using the same brand and weight of oil. All I know is I had to dump the excess out of the original catch can after every track day. This was my first time at Canaan in the Caterham and it's a shorter/lower speed track than what I've been used to. I wasn't spending as much time at higher revs so maybe that had something to do with it. We'll see how it does at a different track and I'll report back. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IamScotticus Posted May 27 Share Posted May 27 How does it breathe? Is there an air filter element? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11Budlite Posted May 27 Author Share Posted May 27 (edited) 6 hours ago, IamScotticus said: How does it breathe? Is there an air filter element? This is from their website: "The VTA CCC features one giant non-restrictive outlet that is over 183% larger than the inner diameter of the 10AN inlets. This increase in volume slows air flow allowing contaminants to fall out of suspension. Additionally, contaminants are trapped with a diffuser permitting the oil sludge to fall back into the catch can preventing overspray in the engine bay." Edited May 27 by 11Budlite 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11Budlite Posted June 17 Author Share Posted June 17 I wanted to give an update after my last track day on Saturday at Club Motorsports in NH. I ran 5 sessions for a total of 2.5 hrs on track. Spent more time at higher rpm than I did at Canaan, hitting redline in 3rd and 4th on a continual basis all day long. There were two black flags for a total of 10 minutes of lost track time. Checked the dip stick on the catch can and didn't notice anything during the day. Removed the can when I got back home and there was some oil in the bottom that after a full drain I measured to be 12.5ml which converts to .42 oz. There was no oil residue outside of the catch can or on the underside of the hood. It seems to be working much better than the stock Caterham plastic tank setup and it's been much easier to empty/clean up as well. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBuff Posted September 8 Share Posted September 8 After attending this years meet up. I noticed a similar issue on my 2023 420r dry sump. While I initially chocked it up to over filling the oil (I drained some after I noticed the spray). It continued thru the day. The breather catch can never had any oil in it - but did have residue. I believe it’s just passing thru somewhat aerosolized and then dripping down the inside of the side skin. Of course it then drips off the rail and, at speed, ends up giving the rear left wing and my elbow a nice coating. @11Budlite are you still happy with the radium tanks performance? Other than gaining some height by installing it in the scuttle was there any other motivation for placing it there ? Since it only really happens on track I think this will slot into a winter project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted September 8 Share Posted September 8 4 hours ago, CBuff said: I drained some after I noticed the spray By the way, what happened to my turkey baster? Never saw it again at the end of the day as we cleaned up. I would not use it for cooking.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IamScotticus Posted September 9 Share Posted September 9 Does a dry sump scavenge at a high enough rate that the valve cover vent is an air inlet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11Budlite Posted September 9 Author Share Posted September 9 (edited) On 9/8/2024 at 7:51 AM, CBuff said: @11Budlite are you still happy with the radium tanks performance? Other than gaining some height by installing it in the scuttle was there any other motivation for placing it there ? Since it only really happens on track I think this will slot into a winter project. Yes I am Charlie. At my latest track day I had 2.5 hrs of track time. This was at NYST. There was no oil showing on the dipstick but there was a small amount in the can. There wasn't any oil misting in the engine compartment either. See attached photo. The main reasons for installing it on the scuttle was gaining a little height, much easier access to empty, and I wanted to attach it to the heater blanking plate since I removed the heater. Edited September 9 by 11Budlite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBuff Posted September 10 Share Posted September 10 It’s on the wish list as an upgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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