Note: there is additional text below some of the pictures when they are viewed full size.

UNDER TEST beginning Sept 6, 2004

An oil catch can made from an air compressor filter is currently installed and being tested. First autocross will be Sept 12 at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler near Phoenix.

The Husky filter purchased at home depot is identical to the Campbell Hausfeld filter that I put on my air compressor except that the Husky filter element does not extend downward as far. The Campbell Hausfeld version extends down about twice as far into the bowl reducing capacity. I think Husky is a Home Depot brand name and Campbell Hausfeld likely makes it for them. My guess is that it will hold about two table spoons (six teaspoons) of oil before it will need to be emptied. From reading forums I estimate that the most anyone has accumulated in one week is about a teaspoon. Aren't English units great!? For those metric oriented people one teaspoon is equal to 4.9 ml.

Product Link: http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100027474

Note 11-24-04: as the weather has gotten cooler oil appears to accumulate quicker (about twice as fast, need to measure). My guess as to a reason is that there is more air flow through the engine because of denser/cooler air outside?

Note 11-24-04: when there is some oil present in the catch and the engine is running you can see a bulge in the oil because of the vacuum created by the intake.

Note 9-21-06: at this time I empty the catch before each autocross which averages about two per month. The amount of oil in catch varies depending on outside temperature, colder equals more oil, and how hard the engine is run. Last weekend I over filled my engine oil a little and noticed a lot of oil accumulated in the catch while at the autocross (8 54 sec runs). The level was just below the filter element. If all of this oil had gone through the intake lots of smoke would have been coming out the exhaust.

Note 12-23-07: This solution is working great still. The sealing ring (o-ring) for the removable bowl has gone bad and needs to be replaced. I used one from another filter for now. Need to find an appropriate o-ring. The link to the black Husky filter no longer works and the one that Home Depot now sells is Blue.