Do I need a catch tank? Oil issues at trackday.

[mattstead]

Hi, Just done the first trackday in the 16v ibiza, all went very well, but upon pulling into the pits there was a distinct haze of blue oil smoke coming from under the bonnet. It certainly wasn't a major oil leak, but rather a small bit landing on the hot exhaust - i.e at the rear of the engine. The engine was very, very, slightly over full at the start of the event.

Has anyone got any ideas as to any possible areas to look at for a leak? is the rocker cover prone to it?

Also, as this has only happened on a track I was wondering if it was due to increased crank case pressure? perhaps I need an oil catch tank instead of the recirculation valve thing? The oil temp was up to 112 degrees on the track (normally 90 on the road), is it possible it's thinning out a bit and finding any weakpoints with Gaskets? Would anyone reccomend 5-50 oil for trackdays with this engine or just rely on decent fully synthetic 5-40?

Many thanks.

Matt.

 

[F2 Stu]

Only 112? seen mine go upto 122 after 3 laps at the ring with a remote cooler

I doubt a catch can will resolve the issues you're having as that only limits the amount of vapour that gets recirculated back into the intake, more than likely you've got a leak somewhere, they do weep at the rocker cover but not mahoosive amounts to cuase smoke.

 

[Fl@pper]

spend your money on a new rocker cover gasket and make sure the seal over the dizzy end fit's properly

no leak = no smoke

 

[mattstead]

Right oh, rocker cover and dizzy seals it is then....I just wasn't sure if even if they were good then this could be an issue on a trackday due to increased crankcase pressure.

If the standard recirculation breather system can cope in such situations then it does beg the question of what is the point of a oil catch tank?

As for the 112 degrees that was an average for the day, I'm sure it would have gone much higher but I didn't really know what was acceptable so just kept coming back in when it got to 115 - 120. I've since read that a decent fully synthetic can happily handle prolonged periods at 130 degrees.....might still get an oil cooler though to look after the old thing.

 

[F2 Stu]

Its less than ideal for the vapour to go into engine in the first place - hence the tank.