Anti-cav oil tank question

[craig]

Does anyone know if the Caterham Superlight 1.6/1.8 (say from 1998/9) came with an anti cav tank as standard or as an option?

[rubystone]

I'm 99.9% sure the anti cav was standard on all Superlights

[bertie]

I thought it was an option.

[MikeE]

it definitely was NOT standard.

[rubystone]

Every Superlight I've seen has one fitted, but very few Supersports. If it really isn't standard fit then I can only assume that Caterham must strongly suggest to purchasers that they tick the option list if it's not a standard fitment. I personally wouldn't buy a Superlight without one (I had one on my Supersport).

[Shaun_E]

Definitely NOT standard. You'd be surprised at how many don't have them as an option either. I had one fitted soon after I bought my secondhand SL.

[MikeE]

Shaun_E said:

Definitely NOT standard. You'd be surprised at how many don't have them as an option either. I had one fitted soon after I bought my secondhand SL.

Exactly the same experience for me.

Having said that if it's only going to be used on the road I don't think you need an anti-cav tank, if it's going to see track work you definitely do need one.

[craig]

thanks guys

I'm mainly going to use the car on track hence the need for one.

Any idea how much they cost to fit?

[rubystone]

...about £200 to buy and a couple of hours to fit ISTR. Dry sumps's the safest way to go on track though but it'll cost you 4 figures.

If you want to do mostly track work, why not buy an ex race car - there's a nice spec one on Blatchat right now - a bit pricey IMHO but has all the right bits, including dry sump.

[dino ferrana]

Definately not standard on Superlights. I think it is of value on the road as you have 2 litres extra oil and more cooling capacity. Also the shallow sump design of the K-Series in a Caterham means that the crank whips the oil up at high rpm and makes it bubbly. The Anti-Cav tank takes this out so I reckon a good bet when giving it some stick!

[mav the wibbler]

Dino - How on earth does it give you extra cooling capacity?????

[clubsport]

mav the wibbler said:

Dino - How on earth does it give you extra cooling capacity?????

2 extra litres of oil in the system, will disperse heat generated through more oil.
Consider air cooled 911 have approx 9 litres of oil in them, more oil in a vehicle the better for cooling and quality of oil over time.

[mav the wibbler]

I have an apollo system fitted to my car, and have found if anything the oil temps tended to be a little higher than without, prior to fitting the laminova...

[MikeE]

the reason it runs hotter is because you have more oil in the sump which means the windage(sp) effect of the crank is greater which in turn heats the oil more.

[Steve-B]

so is that a good or a bad thing then Michael?

[MikeE]

extra oil = good think

extra heat = bad thing

air in oil (from crank windage) = bad thing

So you fit an apollo tank to de-aerate the oil and a luminova to cool the oil - problem solved.

(is that an OK summary or do you want more detail)

[mav the wibbler]

Which is what I have done