bit confused on washer bottle..

[Gary L]

I'm not gonna comment on the legality of such an arrangement, but man... that's going to make a Hell of a Mess if you accidentally hit the windshield washer button!

[trhoppe]

Yes it is legal, and is a great way to use both that space and that bottle that you can't remove.

[Andy Bettencourt]

Yes it is legal, and is a great way to use both that space and that bottle that you can't remove.

I think you would have a hard time REALLY arguing that it was legal but I do see a lot of people do it. It's just one of many stock pieces on an IT car that should be present and unmodified as it says nothing in the rules saying otherwise. IIDSYCTYC.

The OP is talking about the technical legality, not the practical application at local events.

[Ron Earp]

I think you would have a hard time REALLY arguing that it was legal

Why?

GCR States:

i. Oil catch tanks are permitted. All engine breathers or vapor recirculation lines, if disconnected, shall vent to a catch tank of one (1) quart minimum capacity. Such catch tanks shall not be mounted in the driver/passenger compartment. Original valve cover(s) may be modified to alter or to add breather/filler.

It doesn't say anything about the material of construction, size, shape, or other uses for said catch can. I might find that my washer bottle motor works better when the washer fluid has a bit of oil floating on top of it.

I won't start on another washer bottle rant.

[Andy Bettencourt]

The OP asked because he correctly wondered why it was legal. How do you 'use' it as a catch can without modifying it - because I don't see where the ITCS allows you to modify the WB...and remember, the WB is never called out specifically in the ITCS, it just happens to be the poster-child for 'stock stuff that has to remain in my racecar in IT'. There are TONS of things like that in our cars. I bet there are a few rare designs that you could do it with - without modification...but would like to see them with unmodified caps and housings in place.

Trival? Yes...but that was the point of the OP, no?

Really what you are saying Ron is that you can modify any stock part that could perform an allowed function...and I just don't buy it.

Stupid? Maybe, but the pandoras box you would open......(again, on edit...I think we all realize it's as nit-picky as it gets, but that is WHY the OP asked. Nobody would protest this sort of thing but that is not the question)

[Ron Earp]

T

Really what you are saying Ron is that you can modify any stock part that could perform an allowed function...and I just don't buy it.

Naw. What I'm really saying is that a washer bottle could work great as an oil catch can. Don't see that it needs any modification at all. Zip-tie the breather hose right over the washer bottle fluid opening. Now if you say that is illegal, well, then we've all got illegal cars because the rules don't state things like "yes, you can zip-tie your Tracmate cord to the heater hose" and what not.

Gary, don't have the CGR handy - does GCR 9.3.37 say the can must be metal? Seems I remember that the oil catch can had to be metal. That would eliminate washer bottles.

[Gary L]

Catch tank material is not specified... here's 9.3.37 in it's entirety:

Oil holding tanks and engine breathers, whether directly or indirectly ventilating the crankcase, and all transmission/transaxle breathers shall be equipped with oil catch tanks. Minimum catch tank capacity shall be one U.S. quart for the engine and transmission/transaxle. Oil holding tanks and oil filters may be mounted in the driver/passenger compartment. A metal bulkhead shall prevent exposure of the driver to oil spillage. Oil catch tanks shall vent into the engine compartment or outside the driver’s compartment. A crankcase vacuum breather that passes through the oil catch tank(s) to exhaust systems or vacuum devices that connect directly to exhaust systems is prohibited.

[Andy Bettencourt]

Naw. What I'm really saying is that a washer bottle could work great as an oil catch can. Don't see that it needs any modification at all. Zip-tie the breather hose right over the washer bottle fluid opening.

Where is 'your' cap in this example? My point is that you need to modify the part in order to make it work. Attaching a legal item with zip ties, velcro, gold-plated zip screws - all legal...as long as they don't perform an illegal function at the same time.

I haven't seen a WB set-up where it's not capped or has 'access holes' in it. Yes, they make good catch cans (provided you don't melt them) but you still haven't proven that they would be legal. It's easy and convienent - and nobody would protest (IMHO), but still not legal IMHO.

I can't stress how much I know these things are petty, but re-read the OP's question.

[Gary L]

I've changed my mind... after reviewing the appropriate paragraphs, I'm going to comment on legality after all. And this isn't about the washer bottle (although I agree with Andy... that bottle must remain unmodified, IMO).

Rather, this is about what I see as a conflict between GCR 9.3.37, which applies to all competition cars regardless of class, and the ITCS. The former says every race car shall have an oil catch tank for any engine crankcase breather, period. The latter says your IT car is permitted a catch tank, if an engine breather line is disconnected.

So which is it for an IT car? Does the "...shall be equipped" wording of GCR 9.3.37 apply, therefore making a catch tank mandantory? Or is it that a catch tank is "permitted" and therefore optional, but only if another condition is met? Seems to me that a major part of ITCS 9.1.3.D.1.i is superfluous at best, conflicting at worst. Incidentally, the SSCS makes absolutely no mention of catch tanks... do the showroom stockers run them, or not?

[Gibson]

If you must leave all the equipment there, why would you not just put a little washer fluid in it and keep it operational for those times the car in front of you oils down your windshield?