Posted on 28-7-2026 by jamie@autosportcompany.nl
There are two types of aluminum catch tanks. The first variant is a catch tank suitable for fuel; the other variant is a catch tank intended for oil or crankcase vapors.
Aluminum catch tank for fuel.
An aluminum catch tank suitable for fuel serves as a fuel buffer for the supply to the engine. This catch tank is also known as a swirl pot or catch can. Such a fuel catch tank is used when there are problems with the fuel supply.
A common and well-known problem with race cars is that the fuel pump draws in air instead of gasoline. This is because, in an original tank, the pump is mounted on the left or right. The moment you make a long sweeping turn to the left, the fuel in the tank will flow to the right. If this is the case, and the pump is located on the other side of the tank, no more fuel can be drawn in, causing the car to stop accelerating. Only when the car starts driving in a straight line again will the fuel flow back to the other side of the tank. From that moment on, the fuel pump will start drawing in gasoline again and feeding the engine.
To tackle this problem, an aluminum catch tank has been devised. This catch tank serves as a fuel buffer so that sufficient fuel can always be drawn in. The original fuel pump therefore fills the catch tank. Subsequently, a new fuel pump is needed that draws from the catch tank and sends the fuel to the engine. The engine's return line is then also connected to the catch tank so that it receives maximum filling (from the original pump and from the engine's return line). Additionally, an overflow is required from the catch tank back to the original fuel pump.
Aluminum catch tank for oil
An oil catch tank, also known as a breather tank, serves as a collection tank for oil vapors and impurities. In most cars, recirculation is used, whereby crankcase vapors are fed back to the engine's intake to be burned again. With an optimally performing competition car, you actually want to prevent this. After all, you want to keep the intake system as clean as possible to achieve maximum performance. At that point, the choice is made to install an aluminum oil catch tank. This aluminum catch tank therefore essentially serves as a collection container for all crankcase vapors and oil residues. The catch tank is connected with a hose coming from the crankcase ventilation.
There are two variants available within the range of oil catch tanks. The first is a standalone model that no longer recirculates. This means that there is no longer a hose going to the intake. These tanks need to be able to ‘breathe’ as pressure builds up inside them. These are all tanks equipped with a red cap or a filter. The other model of aluminium catch tank ensures that the oil is indeed captured in the tank, but also ensures that a hose still runs to the intake tract. The air sent through to the engine's intake is naturally cleaner, as residues always remain in the catch tank. These catch tank models are therefore not equipped with a filter or a red cap, but are essentially closed.
