Reading the catch can thread, I've become more interested in the causes of intake tract deposits and how to avoid or reduce them. My impression is they are caused mostly by engine and PCV system design, but may be influenced by fuel quality, air filtration, driving habits, and oil quality.
I have two cars in my family that have had minor problems with intake tract and throttle body deposits. 1999 and 2001 Honda Accord 4 cyls. I clean the throttle plate regularly on both of them, and figured it is the nature of the beast. Deposits have been bad enough in the 2001 to feel a distinct cracking loose of the throttle on cold start. The 1999 has had some trouble with IAC, probably from deposits. Both cars are well maintained with short intervals of quality oil, usually synthetic.
So it appears that these engines my have a design deficiency in the PVC system, and may benefit from a catch can to remedy. I don't know if the engines make lots of oil mist, the baffling before the PCV valve isn't effective, or other factors cause deposits. Strangely the 2001 we bought new had more deposits before 20K miles that for the next 230K miles. It deposits little on the throttle plate now that it has 250K miles on it and uses a few quarts every OCI.
While PCV catch cans are usually added to performance cars, it might be that the best candidates for catch cans are cars that leave substantial throttle body and intake deposits like my 4 cyl Accords.
Do catch cans prevent or slow intake/throttle body deposits? Are deposits an indicator of poor PCV system design? Are engines that have deposits best candidates for catch cans? What PCV system design flaws result in intake tract deposits? Do short trips cause more deposits?
I have two cars in my family that have had minor problems with intake tract and throttle body deposits. 1999 and 2001 Honda Accord 4 cyls. I clean the throttle plate regularly on both of them, and figured it is the nature of the beast. Deposits have been bad enough in the 2001 to feel a distinct cracking loose of the throttle on cold start. The 1999 has had some trouble with IAC, probably from deposits. Both cars are well maintained with short intervals of quality oil, usually synthetic.
So it appears that these engines my have a design deficiency in the PVC system, and may benefit from a catch can to remedy. I don't know if the engines make lots of oil mist, the baffling before the PCV valve isn't effective, or other factors cause deposits. Strangely the 2001 we bought new had more deposits before 20K miles that for the next 230K miles. It deposits little on the throttle plate now that it has 250K miles on it and uses a few quarts every OCI.
While PCV catch cans are usually added to performance cars, it might be that the best candidates for catch cans are cars that leave substantial throttle body and intake deposits like my 4 cyl Accords.
Do catch cans prevent or slow intake/throttle body deposits? Are deposits an indicator of poor PCV system design? Are engines that have deposits best candidates for catch cans? What PCV system design flaws result in intake tract deposits? Do short trips cause more deposits?
