who's using a catch can on there pcv system?

[SteveSRT8]

Don't sweat it, everybody likes an easy bolt on.

I run a catch can on two different vehicles. It's not like I'm saying it's a bad thing, just that the benefits are greatly exaggerated.

 

[dailydriver]

It's also that LS1 f bodies (as well as LS1C5 Vettes) under sticky track tired, high-g, right hand cornering loads tend to fill up the passenger side valve cover with oil, especially if one runs with an extra quart of oil in lieu of an Accusump (or dry sump system if one is quite wealthy).

 

[SHOZ]

On my last car , a v8 naturally aspirated it had one intake valve per cylinder that was dry and did not get the blast from the FI. Without a catch can this valve would carbon up. Some had the valve head pop off because of this and implant itself into the top of the piston.

On my current car a turbo 4 cylinder I run one on each side as they have to be independent. The turbo side mainly collects oil from the valve cover and the Intake side gets the blowby from the crankcase. The PCV valve is actually a check valve. Don't want turbo boost to get to the crankcase.

The new Taurus SHO uses the Ecoboost motor. It has a separation can between the banks and it dumps the [censored] back into the crankcase. That's the closest I've seen for a factory made one.

The blowby will reduce octane rating too.

 

[RD400]

I use one on my VQ35, a high vacuum dirt sucker with pre-ignition tendencies.
It's not cured but it pings less now and the can collects about 4-6 ounces of goo to drain out after a 7500 mile OCI.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
I run a catch can on two different vehicles. It's not like I'm saying it's a bad thing, just that the benefits are greatly exaggerated.


You and mechtech2 both make some very valid points. At least from what I've seen, while there probably are benefits in any vehicle, those benefits are more tangible in certain vehicles than in others.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: Garak
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
I run a catch can on two different vehicles. It's not like I'm saying it's a bad thing, just that the benefits are greatly exaggerated.


You and mechtech2 both make some very valid points. At least from what I've seen, while there probably are benefits in any vehicle, those benefits are more tangible in certain vehicles than in others.


Exactly. For example, what about my fleet vehicles?

400k + miles on a 6.0 Savana means my engine should be ready to die from all that gunk, eh? But it's fine and actually runs like a gem. WITHOUT a catch can! How can that be?

The benefits are very small, as the side effects of no CC do not include valve stem failure, that's pure baloney. These remind me of a Cold Air Intake. Too many people believe the hype and imagine they bolted on 20 hp when they really bolted on some noise.

 

[fpracha]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Don't sweat it, everybody likes an easy bolt on.

I run a catch can on two different vehicles. It's not like I'm saying it's a bad thing, just that the benefits are greatly exaggerated.
possibly true, but the reason it is probably exaggerated is because the manufacturers should design and install such enhancements as per each engine's flow parameters.

 

[SteveSRT8]

If there was any measurable benefit you can bet it would already be on there.

 

[mechtech2]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
You missed the point.

The question is: is there any real benefit? As stated, it works on ANY engine. Show me a real world tangible benefit, not just feel good cleanliness. Show me horsepower, fuel mileage, engine life, ANYTHING?

Sorry, but if it was such a big deal it would already be on there. Just a simple purge valve controlled by the ECU or a dashboard light to tell you it's full, not expensive either.


"Feel good cleanliness" ? What nonsense is that?? So go use non detergent oil and never change your oil. The cleaner oil only makes you feel good.
Tell the Top Tier gas mfrs. to stop, because cleaner parts only make you feel good. And try and tell a technician with experience that cleaning a TB or idle air valve can't make drastic changes for the better.
Steve, you surprise me greatly sometimes.

 

[SteveSRT8]

No surprises here. I'll ignore the silly remarks and stick to facts.

As stated previously, any REAL benefit and it would be on there. My TB on non catch can equipped vehicles gets dirty, so do CC equipped cars. So what? It'll still get dirty.

Your only benefit that is even verifiable is keeping oil out of the intake. And that is truly a questionable benefit as MILLIONS of cars worldwide run just fine without one.

You're the surprise here, not me. I can't believe an experienced pro would state so flatly that all cars must have a CC, that's just ludicrous.

Hot rodders have been bolting on questionable products since the car was created. While a CC can keep some oil out of the intake no one here has proved any real world benefits other than cleanliness. And until we see side by side same car same miles REAL WORLD results it's all just anecdotal blathering.

 

[KenO]

FWIW, BMW has been suing factory 'catch-cans' since the mid 90's. Technically, I guess you would call them air/oil separators, as they go inline with the PCV system and drain the oil back to the crankcase. Here's a showing of one:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCRtIacOz_E

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: KenO
FWIW, BMW has been suing factory 'catch-cans' since the mid 90's. Technically, I guess you would call them air/oil separators, as they go inline with the PCV system and drain the oil back to the crankcase.


Lots of cars have baffled things in the valve covers to do similar things to a CC, the new LT1 from GM has an elaborate oil separator setup as well.

Like I stated, when there's a real need it will be on there from the factory! And it is!

 

[SHOZ]

I would say almost any car can benefit from them not necessary to have them.

For an everyday car it's no problem but for some cars it is a substantial problem. If the OEMs could figure out how to make them maintenance free you would see them a lot more.

My intake after 20k miles, this on a 'loose' turbo motor.

 

[cb450sc]

I have a 2011 Kia Optima with a 2.4 l DI engine. The folks over on the Kia forum strongly suggested putting one on due to all of the gunk blocking the PCV's. I put one on at 1000 km and barely had a teaspoon of gunk at 5000 km when I changed the oil. At 10,000 km their was about two tablespoons and at 15,000 about five tablespoons. I have 17,000 on it today. I am not sure that having the catchcan prevented any carbon build-up but it did stop all of that junk from going back into the engine.

 

[mechtech2]

Of course it is verifiable..
All sorts of parts are cleaner, and verifiable.
Instead of cleaning my TB every 6 months or so, it NEVER needs cleaning. Spotless.
And consider that the gunk that goes into the manifold and engine does not magically disappear. It HAS to collect and disrupt here and there.

Sure, some cars benefit more, some less.

For anybody considering it - go for it. The downside is that you have to maintain it - dump it rather frequently. I'd rather have that junk in the waste than in my engine!

 

[ltslimjim]

Cleaned my intake before the oil change the other day, oily black film all around the throttle body, but this appears to be from the breather pipe connected to the valve cover, pre-TB and fed fresh vacuum from the main air inlet pipe. I'm guessing when I drive it harder the pressure pushing oil vapors out of this breather pipe to the main inlet pipe to the engine thus throwing some oil by the throttle body/possibly affecting my IACV?

PS: I don't have a catch-can, ATM.

 

[mechtech2]

jim -
That's not how it works at all.
The VC breather or pipe is an INLET.
Vacuum from the intake cause gasses to go through the inlet, through the engine, through the PCV valve, and back into the manifold.

 

[ltslimjim]

^I was referring to at higher engine speeds, perhaps this allowing the splash lubrication at the cams to vent out of this breather pipe. (note, not the outlet of the breather box itself and the line dedicated to the PCV valve back to the manifold).

I do believe it's part of the PCV system, and I don't know the exact flow under varrying speeds? However, trying to find a reason for the black oily residue at the throttle body between cleanings. Unless passing oil through the PCV is allowed to drip back to the opening of the TB/plate and then somehow coat the entire ring of the TB before entering the bore. Like, it just looks as though it has to be from the main inlet pipe not the IM itself. So, the only source I could see was this other pipe from the valve cover. And when I've removed the main inlet pipe and this breather pipe is hanging, there is some residue from it now that I think about it.

 

[KenO]

Originally Posted By: ltslimjim
^I was referring to at higher engine speeds, perhaps this allowing the splash lubrication at the cams to vent out of this breather pipe. (note, not the outlet of the breather box itself and the line dedicated to the PCV valve back to the manifold).

I do believe it's part of the PCV system, and I don't know the exact flow under varrying speeds? However, trying to find a reason for the black oily residue at the throttle body between cleanings. Unless passing oil through the PCV is allowed to drip back to the opening of the TB/plate and then somehow coat the entire ring of the TB before entering the bore. Like, it just looks as though it has to be from the main inlet pipe not the IM itself. So, the only source I could see was this other pipe from the valve cover. And when I've removed the main inlet pipe and this breather pipe is hanging, there is some residue from it now that I think about it.



If there is any oil vapor or residue in the intake manifold - it's going to get moved around pretty much everywhere due to turbulence, intake valve pressure pulses, etc.

 

[CATERHAM]

I'm using a different variation on the same theme.
No PCV and no catch can on my Caterham. The vent hose from the cam cover extends down and back exiting near the gearbox. Since the car has side exhaust the fumes leaving the hose won't burn but it does leave a film of oil on the rear undercarriage but not enough to leave a single drop of oil on the garage floor.
Technically it's not legal for the race track but no tech' inspection has ever called me out on it yet...don't tell.
I have had a couple racing competitors comment on why their car gets an oil film coating on their windshield after following me closely for many laps. I tell then the engine does burn oil at high rev's which is somewhat true but still wouldn't produce an oil film out of the exhaust like a two stroke, but they except the explanation.

I have purchased an aluminum catch can but it is heavier than I like. If I can find a super light (maybe CF) version I might install it.