Catch Can disappointment pics inside

[ivin74]

Hello to you all
Several weeks ago I changed the oil on my suv and noticed an oil leak by the intake manifold so this weekend I decided to find this mysterious leak. After I removed the intake manifold I realized the leak was coming from the valley cover. So with the intake manifold off I was able to see the head air intake ports and was shocked to see them coated with oil. Four years ago when I installed the catch can I removed the intake manifold and cleaned all the ports and believe me what a pain in the A$$ it was to get them cleaned. During all the oil changes (Appx 5 changes w synthetic oil) I always drain the catch can and it always had oil. I assume it was doing its job well and was hoping to see the intake valve ports clean not what I saw. Has anyone else had this issue in the past?

The catch can I bought has an internal screen and don't understand how the oil would still go thru it. The catch can is also located in the passenger side fenderwell mounted to the frame, that also has me shocked because the oil has to travel up a distance to the air intake manifold.

 

[ivin74]

After cleaning the head ports again I also replaced the screen inside the catch can. I also installed an inline fuel filter on the vent line right at the intake manifold. I made sure I had a clear filter so I can see if oil starts to seep up the vent line again. I guess time will tell it this works.

 

[iamdub]

I have the same catch can. I didn't think they were anywhere near 100% effective, but I'd hope for less buildup than that.

No chance on that being deposits from the fuel? I'm doubting this as I type it because it looks like the ports are clean on the walls and it's just the floor that's gunked up. But, I can't tell for sure from the pics. I'm looking forward to what you find with the fuel filter.

 

[ivin74]

I have the same catch can. I didn't think they were anywhere near 100% effective, but I'd hope for less buildup than that.

No chance on that being deposits from the fuel? I'm doubting this as I type it because it looks like the ports are clean on the walls and it's just the floor that's gunked up. But, I can't tell for sure from the pics. I'm looking forward to what you find with the fuel filter.

I don't think is gasoline gunk because I noticed oil on the intake manifold. When I cleaned the ports the first time I also cleaned the intake manifold. I'm going to monitor the clear fuel filter it and post any findings in the next few months

 

[iamdub]

I don't think is gasoline gunk because I noticed oil on the intake manifold. When I cleaned the ports the first time I also cleaned the intake manifold. I'm going to monitor the clear fuel filter it and post any findings in the next few months

I wasn't doubting you! I was more like trying to be optimistic, giving the benefit of the doubt from what I couldn't ascertain from the pics. I'm sorry to learn that these things aren't nearly as effective as we had thought. But, at least they're doing something. I recall seeing in a thread of someone running two catch cans in series, but I don't know if they ever reported of their efficiency.

 

[ivin74]

I wasn't doubting you! I was more like trying to be optimistic, giving the benefit of the doubt from what I couldn't ascertain from the pics. I'm sorry to learn that these things aren't nearly as effective as we had thought. But, at least they're doing something. I recall seeing in a thread of someone running two catch cans in series, but I don't know if they ever reported of their efficiency.

Got you, at least its picking up some oil.

I also wonder the efficiency of two catch cans.

 

[MINIz guy]

I'm definitely no expert but I'll offer my 2 cents.

It's a fine balance between catching everything (restricting flow) and not impacting the crankcase pressures (lots of flow). You gotta slow down the air so that the heavy carbon, oil, fuel, water particles fall out of the crankcase air. Too slow and you build up a lot of positive pressure and I'm not exactly sure what that impacts. I'm guessing those green filters won't get down to super small particles, and that is why you're still seeing buildup.

 

[Kenny D]

Could be the location of the hoses. I believe the incoming air/oil mixture should be going into the tank and the filtered air should be exiting the can through baffle/filter media and out the top. JMO

 

[iamdub]

Could be the location of the hoses. I believe the incoming air/oil mixture should be going into the tank and the filtered air should be exiting the can through baffle/filter media and out the top. JMO

Every time I think about it, this makes the most sense to me. Really, I don't see the harm in trying it out. It would be a long-term test, though.

 

[SnowDrifter]

I have a catch can on mine. Usually get 2 maybe 3 ounces out of it over the course of an OCI

 

[SnowDrifter]

Ok. Had to go earlier and didn't get a chance to type out as much as I wanted.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1997-13-SIL...ash=item19d3d2c478:g:CGIAAOxyaURTfRvi&vxp=mtr

That's the can I have. It's packed with a bunch of steel wool in a condenser pocket. Biggest thing with these, is you want to mount them somewhere cool. They rely on condensation to catch the stuff and will work more effectively at lower temperatures

 

[iamdub]

Ok. Had to go earlier and didn't get a chance to type out as much as I wanted.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1997-13-SIL...ash=item19d3d2c478:g:CGIAAOxyaURTfRvi&vxp=mtr

That's the can I have. It's packed with a bunch of steel wool in a condenser pocket. Biggest thing with these, is you want to mount them somewhere cool. They rely on condensation to catch the stuff and will work more effectively at lower temperatures

I didn't think about the temperature/condensation aspect, but does it really make THAT much of a difference? Mine's mounted next to the alternator, so it's getting the heat coming off the radiator and up from the exhaust manifold.

For reference, if anyone's counting, mine consistently fills a 3oz. Dixie cup to within 1/2" from the brim over a 5000-mile OCI.

 

[Davidh]

I'm kinda late, but there is a video on YouTube this guy does a test with two cans in a row to see what one lets the most oil bypass. It's interesting to see how good one works and how bad one works. If I remember right, he does about 2000 miles on each can. For the life of me I can't find the video but it's worth looking for. It's two parts and his truck is a 2014 Chevy Silverado I think. I'll keep looking


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[Davidh]

Found it, his YouTube name is milkcrate82 the video is called catch can comparison. Sorry don't know how to do links but worth a look. Hope this kinda helps


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[iamdub]

Found it, his YouTube name is milkcrate82 the video is called catch can comparison. Sorry don't know how to do links but worth a look. Hope this kinda helps


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Headed down the YouTube wormhole now...

 

[SnowDrifter]

Headed down the YouTube wormhole now...

Mind posting here if you find it? My search-fu is terrible. Not seeing anything

 

[gat0r]

dub got stuck in the wormhole... lol

 

[Davidh]

Great you got it. Glade you made it back! lol. Don't know if it will help but interesting.


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[HiHoeSilver]

dub got stuck in the wormhole... lol

He gone.

 

[iamdub]

*brushes dirt off shirt

Whew! What a ride! I went from that video to RX Speed Works videos to industrial plant air/contaminant separator videos to turbo car videos to Mustang crash compilations to... Well, y'all know how it goes.

Anyway, I skimmed through that video cuz I didn't have 24 minutes to spare (kid's homework, dinner, etc.) But what I really got from it was that it takes more than just letting gravity catch the heavier parts of the vapor to hold in the can. There's still a lighter mist of oil in that vapor that moves right through the catch can and into the intake. The design that the OP and I have, while better than nothing, is pretty darned inefficient. I'm gonna look into adding a



Here's an R&D guy from RX saying interesting things:

Here's some more tech talk from their site:

http://www.rxspeedworks.com/rx-catch-can/


Here's their original designs:

http://www.rxspeedworks.com/product-category/kits/


...And here's the design formed from a collaboration with an aerospace company:

https://www.rxspeedworks.com/product/chevy-silverado-oil-catch-can/


What I may do first is see if I can find more info on how theirs works and see if I can add something to my current cheap one to make it as or nearly as efficient. Hell, stuffing a stainless steel Scotch-Brite pad in there may make a considerable improvement. Since the collected amounts from my can at every OCI are essentially identical, it'd be easy to determine what hinders or helps. At least at this point, we know that there is definitely room and need for improvement. As always, gotta do more research...