Oil tank restoration

[911GP]

Hello,
My oil tank is a patched up mess well overdue for renewal. I have managed to find an original 1973 oil tank that requires some restoration. I was wondering if anyone has tried restoring their tanks and has any tips? I am considering using a process called ReNu which basically coats the inside and outside of the tank with a baked on rubberised plastic but my concern is that there may be a baffle inside which may have to be removed. Has anybody tried ReNu? Any help and advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
Gitesh

[stretch]

The engine is the heart of the car. The tank keeps it pumping. Buy a new tank.

[Mike]

^^ wise words.

[210bhp]

Where does one get a genuine original or accurate reproduction pre 74 tank from these days?

Regards
Mike

[majordad]

A sad story follows. My 2.4 S, oil flap 72 model was fully restored. Engine was rebuilt and the original oil tank after thorough cleaning was reused. After 2500kms a noise appeard in the engine. Stripp down to show damage due to metal contamination. A small piece of rust which had not come out after the cleaning finally fell off and went through the engne. I weep at the cost ! Are you sure you can get it cleaner than me ?

[inaglasshouse]

Is it the case that the oil from the tank goes directly into the engine? Only filtered on its way back into the tank?

[johnM]

Is it the case that the oil from the tank goes directly into the engine? Only filtered on its way back into the tank?

That is correct, no filtering from the tank. Oil gets lifted from the crankcase by the scavange pump through the filter and into the tank.

[inaglasshouse]

Hmmm, got me thinking about this sort of thing (belt and braces addition):
http://www.knfilters.co.uk/inline-filters.aspx
At least for the first few thousand miles.
With the best will in the world, a post-resto oil system must represent a risk to a newly-built engine. The tank, those through-sill pipes, the front cooler, etc.
Since my garage is not quite as clean as the McLaren build rooms, there's bound to be some muck somewhere...

[Mike]

Seems like a lifetime ago, but during the 6 years at Neil Bainbridge for the Martini car, I lost count of the number of engines he had in to rebuild due to knackered old oil tanks. Don't Porsche Classic do them off the shelf now, I know Marek was making them for the factory.

[inaglasshouse]

Don't Porsche Classic do them off the shelf now, I know Marek was making them for the factory.

Yes.
There's also a Dansk version:
http://type911shop.co.uk/epages/de867ca ... ducts/8514

[911hillclimber]

And it is stainless steel too.
My tank is the original 73 item and good, but has never been dry for all its long life.

[911GP]

Yikes, certainly scary reading! I need to give this more thought. If I keep the old tank I certainly fit an inline oil filter; thank you for the link Richard.

Gitesh

[Cortina]

Yikes, certainly scary reading! I need to give this more thought. If I keep the old tank I certainly fit an inline oil filter; thank you for the link Richard.

Gitesh

Hmm ... not sure how you would do that (exactly).
It's a gravity feed out of the tank , relatively short run to the engine ... things get hot (they are also stone cold at the start), flow is required (a restriction is NOT !) Flexibility is required between the two , etc etc.

Maybe you have researched this (I have not) ... my engineering head says .... be very carefull !

[inaglasshouse]

Hmm ... not sure how you would do that (exactly).
It's a gravity feed out of the tank , relatively short run to the engine ... things get hot (they are also stone cold at the start), flow is required (a restriction is NOT !) Flexibility is required between the two , etc etc.

Maybe you have researched this (I have not) ... my engineering head says .... be very carefull !

Good points. I'll make sure to check with someone who knows what they are talking about before proceeding!

I've not properly researched it - just an idea based on various anecdotes of new engines being ruined by contamination (probably blast media and / or corrosion debris). And then I found the K&N products I mentioned in an earlier post.

[inaglasshouse]

Following a little more research, still by someone who doesn't know what he's talking about (me), I think:

1) Filter after tank and before pump is, indeed a very bad idea. Thanks for the warning!
2) It might be possible to borrow Porsche's idea from the 993 oil system, see pic below.


Item 12 is an additional oil filter, after the pump (so on the pressure side of the pump). I believe this is the point in the system where, on our cars, the engine-mounted oil cooler comes into play. Still before the main engine innards.
I will look into this further.

Cheers, Richard.