Why isn't this rule enforced at major meets? I haven't seen one Lightning which has a coolant overflow tank...
If the system was to reach pressure greater than 16psi coolant will come form the cap and spray all over the track.

 

I think i say a picture of one on RTKILLA's truck. It might have been something else though.

 

He has the same moroso expansion tank I do. I'm pretty sure he doesn't have a liquid overflow attached to it. I may be wrong.

 

All lightnings have a overflow tank - stock for engine coolant - None have one for the intercooler system BUT it is not pressurized...

 

I don't think an expansion tank and an overflow are the same. We have an expansion tank.
What would happen if the system were to reach 16psi? Liquid would come out under the fill cap.
If you used an aftermarket expansion tank like the moroso and attached an overflow I think then you would technically be legal.

 

Expansion and overflow tanks are the same.
http://www.autoshop-online.com/auto101/cooling1.html

 

the only way the fluid gets in toteh overflow is if the pressure cap lets it. pressure gets too high it goes to over flow tooo low it sucks some back

 

Doug, I believe our intercoolers are pressurized...but only 8 or 9 psi as opposed to 14 for the radiator correct me if I'm wrong

 

Cap for the intercooler expansion tank is 10psi and the radiator expansion tank cap is 16psi.

 

No they are not the same.
I took the following from the link you gave. Read it and tell me that is the same system we have on the Lightning...
"If your cooling system is under too much pressure, it can "blow its top!" To prevent this, the radiator cap has a pressure relief valve. The valve has a preset rating that allows it to take just up to a certain amount of pressure. When you turn the cap on the filler neck of the radiator, you seal the upper and lower sealing surfaces of the filler neck. The pressure relief valve spring is compressed against the lower seal when you lock the cap.

The radiator filler neck has an overflow tube right between the two sealing surfaces. If the pressure in the cooling system exceeds the preset rating of your cap, its pressure relief valve allows the lower seal to be lifted from its seat. Then the excess pressure (coolant,air) can squish through the overflow tube to the ground or the coolant reservoir.

Once enough pressure has been released (the caps preset rating), the pressure relief valve is again closed by the spring."

Once the 16psi of pressure is reached the fill cap will vent the pressure and fluid to the engine compartment. There is no liquid overflow container as mandated by the rules. Unless you count the engine compartment as a container.

 

Easter - I dont have a picture of it handy BUT our radiators dont have caps on them. The cap is on the reservior itself... So the radiator would have to over flow into the resevoir then the reservoir would have to over flow before it hit the ground

 

The cooling system on the truck doesn't have a radiator with a cap. However a cap is needed to maintain pressure in the system. That cap is located on top of the coolant expansion tank. When 16psi is reached the coolant will blow through the valve in the cap and release water. This is why I think a coolant overflow is needed. On a car with a cap on the radiator when the cap pressure is reached the bottom of the cap will rise and allow water and pressure escape to a coolant overflow bottle.

 

The difference is that the radiator is designed to be run FULL and the pressure cap and catch bottle are designed to accomodate the fluctuations. If the Lightning system is working correctly and is maintained correctly there should be a quart or so of room in the top of the reservoir for fluids and gases.

If the radiator expands even a little it will spill fluid- the lisghtning syatem woudl have to expand a tremdous amount before there is a problem.

As many lightnings as there are racing in big events you would think someone would have been bounced from tech inspection for this by now if it was an issue. They bounced folks for fuse box covers in Houston

Doug

 

OK, here's where I think your logic is flawed Easter. In order for my overflow cap to blow, a pressure of 16psi is required throughout the system. That includes the radiator and the the overflow/expansion tank. The same would be true of a vehicle with a "traditional" cap on the radiator. Once the pressure reaches 16psi in its overflow tank and radiator, the cap will blow just like ours. The end result for our cooling system or another like you describe is the same. Once the system reaches 16psi, the cap will blow.

 

Let's suppose a radiator with a 16psi cap and an overflow tank. You fill the radiator by opening the cap. The radiator is the tank. When the cap reaches 16psi it lifts and vents the water to an overflow tank. That doesn't happen with the Lightning. The Lightning vents to the track.

People running 10 second trucks don't have sfi axles that I'm aware of. Has that stopped anyone from making 10 second passes?