Oil Catch Can for GM 5.3L

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RoGuE

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I recently had the intake off the Suburban to replace the knock sensors and it was an absolute mess. It uses about a quart of oil ever 1200 miles. The oil was literally running out of the intake when I pulled it off. I've been looking into an oil catch can. Is there a specific type I would need, or would this one from eBay work?

Oil Catch Can
 
cchase -

To me, this is VERY normal. It is why I use a catch can.

You have it backwards.
If the PCV was NOT working, there would be no oil in the intake.
Where would it come from?

To the OP - get a larger catch can - the $35 water separator, or the EBay one. Smaller engine can use the small water separator [$10].
 
Originally Posted By: SEMI_287
You can make one out of an air/water separator for an air compressor.


I could, and I work in a big box store and get a small discount, but would it really be cheaper than $20 with all the mounting hardware included?

Originally Posted By: cchase
To me, this isn't normal. Is the PCV valve working properly?


It's a fixed orifice design meant to cut down on consumption over a normal valve with this engine, so it's not really even a valve, just a small hole.
 
Another question, does the hose diameter matter? The original PCV hose (which actually already conveniently broke when I removed the intake and is being held together by duct tape right now) is 1/4". Should I try to keep the ID of the other hoses to and from the catch can the same?
 
1. You don't want to create a leak
2. You don't want to go to a SMALLER ID
3. Route the hose so that it does not rub against something sharp or hot

4. Monitor the hose condition over time......I have seen hoses get soft and collapse (under vacuum) after years of exposure to oil/heat.
5. Try to locate the unit so that it is easy to access and drain.
6. Don't forget to drain the canister....it will fill much quicker in cold weather.
 
This truck uses a MAF sensor and not having the system completely sealed as original will cause problems so be careful.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: cchase
To me, this isn't normal. Is the PCV valve working properly?


Not only is it a fixed orifice but it is many times clogged up.

This could easily be the entire reason for oil consumption. I've raised and killed a lot of 4.8/5.3/6.0 liter GM v8's and this design is very susceptible to clogging with crud.
 
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Originally Posted By: cchase
To me, this isn't normal. Is the PCV valve working properly?


Not only is it a fixed orifice but it is many times clogged up.

This could easily be the entire reason for oil consumption. I've raised and killed a lot of 4.8/5.3/6.0 liter GM v8's and this design is very susceptible to clogging with crud.


This means it's not working normally to me.

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
cchase -

To me, this is VERY normal. It is why I use a catch can.

You have it backwards.
If the PCV was NOT working, there would be no oil in the intake.
Where would it come from?

To the OP - get a larger catch can - the $35 water separator, or the EBay one. Smaller engine can use the small water separator [$10].


It may be "common", but it's obviously not working "normally" if it is burning this much oil.
 
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Originally Posted By: cchase
To me, this isn't normal. Is the PCV valve working properly?


Not only is it a fixed orifice but it is many times clogged up.

This could easily be the entire reason for oil consumption. I've raised and killed a lot of 4.8/5.3/6.0 liter GM v8's and this design is very susceptible to clogging with crud.


It did have a layer of crud on it, but nothing obstructing the hole.

And I know the rings and a slight leak on the RMS are at least partially to blame for the loss. Switching to 10w-40 extended the need to refill it by a few hundred miles.
 
Originally Posted By: RoGuE
Another question, does the hose diameter matter? The original PCV hose (which actually already conveniently broke when I removed the intake and is being held together by duct tape right now) is 1/4". Should I try to keep the ID of the other hoses to and from the catch can the same?


I never have seen a 1/4" PCV hose - almost all are 3/8"ish. Are you sure?
 
Pretty sure. The part that the PCV goes into looks about 3/8, but it is fitted onto a hose about 1/4. I took a photo of it too to prove I'm not crazy. lol
 
Wow, my 185,000 mile, 2003 5.3L I bought new has a clean PCV and I only changed it once and it didn't even need it then! ...and I'm maintenance obsessed!

Uses no oil. Engine is super clean.

Must be all the oil changes using top quality oil.
 
I guess I just don't use top quality oil...

Anyway, I picked it up for $15 on eBay, so I'll update this after I install it.
 
Since this thread is about catch cans, note that we can have a perfect PCV valve and lines, and still have gunk in the manifold, TB, air valve, valves, and CC. The gunk is let through.
 
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