Oil Reclaimer

[ibby458]

As mentioned in other posts, I'm a year or better away from putting in the tubing and vacuum, but I'm trying to get all my ducks in a row.

I'm going to try to make my Wallenstein pump into a flood system. As a reclaimer/cooler, I thought to use a huge old (but sound) tractor radiator. I'll pipe the pump exhaust into the top 2" port, and hook the muffler to the bottom port. The bottom drain will be where the oil returns to the pump.

Will this work?

[maplwrks]

It may work....you will need an oil filter between the radiator and pump

[NH Maplemaker]

I don't know much about reclaimers, This looks like an interesting idea! But (there's always a but!) If the radiator is full/partly full of oil. Why wouldn't the oil be pushed out the exhaust port instead of returning to the pump out the smaller drain hole? Maybe go in the bottom and out the top with the exhaust? Also maybe tilt radiator so the oil return hole is in the lower cornner. Also have a fan blowing thru the radiator cool the oil mist back to a liquid. Again I don't know much about oil reclaimers,so maybe these ideas are all wet!! Jim L.

[Haynes Forest Products]

Ibby Your getting the brain going thats the first step. So far your off to a good start and the other ideas so far are good. Radiators are coated with a fine film of rust so get it clean. The oil filter in the return line is good but go with a bigger micron than for a car. I would use the fan on the readiator idea and use the radiator for your oil storage. I would remove the hose fitting at the bottom of the radiator and put in a 1/2 or 3/4 close nipple for the spin on oil filter. Use the small petcock to drain the moisture out at the start of the day if there is any. Then for $40 you can get a bypass hydrolic spin on oil filter base and filter. Why the bypass because if the oil is cold in the filter the bypass will open and oil the pump. After the filter you can come off with metering valves (2) 1 to the bearings and 1 to the flood/intake port.

You sound like time isnt a issue so I would make the reclaimer. Now hold on dont freak out. Its easy two typs of oil reclaimers are ones that have coalesing filter or ones that slow the air/oil mix down so it settles out of the air. I use the coalesing type the oil gets forced thru a filter and as the oil COALESIS into and onto the filter it runs and drips down onto the bottom of the reclaimer and into the storage tank/radiator.

Im not in need of a reclaimer BUT im toying with getting a semi truck oil bath air filter and making one for a De Laval I have sitting around. If you dlow oil into the engine side of the oil bath the filter should capture the oil into the tray and out to the pump:rolleyes:

So you blow the hot air/oil mist into the reclaimer and the oil will accumulate and it will enter the top of the radiator and cool down and get sucked into the pump. What is nice about a flood system is when the pump shuts down it will have about 2 OZ of oil that doesnt get blown out so it will be there when the pump is turned on. A cool pump doesnt need alot of oil to get good lubrication. The pums are not like cars with hot gasses and solvents trying to get to the oil. As the pump heats up it will get the oil flowing from the cold radiator. A mix of trans oil and light weight motor oil is fine or just stright trans will be fine. DONT use bar oil or 20-50 wht. send your email to me and Ill send you a picture of my beast that runs 24/7 without a vac regulator

[tom jr.]

haynes, I also have been working on the oilbath ac idea myself
but i am going to run the exaust into a tank first to catch the majority oil
then threw the ac but plumbed to the dirty air side, because with my
expirience with them if their is any amount of oil on the pan and airflow
coming in the clean air side it will blow the oil out the top (dirty air side)
this may not hold true on a big truck air cleaner because of the jake brake
making pressure in the intake, but I dont recall seeing any with the oil bath assembly on them. anyway let me know how you make out and i will do the same.

[Haynes Forest Products]

On my vacuum beast the pump air does go into the tank first and then out thru the reclaimer. I missed that explenation:emb: I run alot of oil into my intake and bearings so much so that if I shut the metering valves down I get another 2 HGs on the guage.

[brookledge]

Just remember this. Make sure what ever you build it has the ability to freely exaust the air. If it becomes too restrictive it will only add to your problems by overheating the vac. pump
Keith

[Haynes Forest Products]

Brook is right restictions turn it into a compressor and compression EQUALS HEAT just like a diesel engine.

[ibby458]

Thanks for all the great input. My email is ibby458(at)yahoo.com, and I'd appreciate seeing pics of other setups.

The top port on the radiator is on the left side (just above the drain port) and the bottom port is on the right. If I cant it a bit to the drain side, it should leave plenty of room for exhaust air to get out.

I got some 2" stainless pipe. I could use that to plumb between the pump and top of the radiator, and If I welded cooling fins on it, that would help a bit.

By mounting the radiator up a bit higher, I could use a vacuum container I have (5 gallons) to store the reclaimed oil. The filter could be solidly mounted to the bottom of that.

I could also Solder a bypass into the top of the radiator where the cap is. At Xpsi, it would open up so that pressure should never develop.

So - is regular vacuum pump oil the stuff I should use? Is it real expensive?