Finally Jumped on the Oil Catch Can Bandwagon

[Caligirl]

I don't think there is a way to tell which valve cover you have unless you pull it off and look at the underside of the casting.

If I recall from a previous thread, you may have posted that your engine is not using any oil at all between changes (I could have that completely wrong and thinking about somebody else). If that is the case, the urgency on any of this stuff definitely gets into the "preventive" mode, versus "fixing" mode.

My belief now is a catch can is a great device for insight into what is going on inside. On an engine that uses oil, it will tell you if you are pumping it out the PCV and back into the intake, which in measurable quantities is not good for anything. If you see large quantities, you know you need to at least get that valve cover pulled and check to see what part number you have.

Yes, that was me...probably driven under 1000 since purchasing at 87k (have to check bill of sale to get exact) and seems to not be losing any.

I'm beginning to wonder if original owner did have it done... if the guy wasn't hurting for money and went in for an oil change and was losing oil on his relatively new engine and they had the service bulletin, it's very possible that he just did it. But see, with the way my mind works I NEED to know lol

 

[Caligirl]

Mine consistently drains 3 oz at every 5,000-mile OCI, so that's the same as yours. Mine came with the updated cover and I disabled AFM about a year after I bought it.

So what does the 3oz consist of? Mostly oil or other gunk? And is there a way to tell, short of having a chemist test it?

 

[wsteele]

Yes, that was me...probably driven under 1000 since purchasing at 87k (have to check bill of sale to get exact) and seems to not be losing any.

I'm beginning to wonder if original owner did have it done... if the guy wasn't hurting for money and went in for an oil change and was losing oil on his relatively new engine and they had the service bulletin, it's very possible that he just did it. But see, with the way my mind works I NEED to know lol

If the oil level hasn't moved on the dipstick in 1000 miles, I doubt you have problems that need addressing right away. A proper catch can will be able to tell you with a little more precision how much oil, if any, you are sending to the intake.

I can't recall exactly, but for certain, I was using at least a qt every 2K miles (for some reason a qt every 1K sticks in my mind) as I had to refrain from topping the oil up for 2K miles to prove to GM my oil consumption was outside their criteria as acceptable (a qt every 2K is a LOT of oil to be "acceptable"). In fairness, when we proved it to them, after the decarbonization process failed to fix the stuck rings, they stepped up with new pistons and rings (and all the other stuff called out in the TSB).

So it sounds like you are pretty far from where I was at 92K miles.

 

[Jason in DLH]

So based on this thread, if I understand it correctly, since I don't know if my Tahoe has the new valve cover, putting in the catch can MAY help me alleviate some of the damage if it's the old one and/or determine if it is (besides taking it off to look-wish they put something on the new ones that is identifiable without taking it apart).

Or do folks who have done the AFM delete/new valve cover STILL get oil/gunk in the can and I won't know from a catch can's contents?

Wish I had more experience with actual work under the hood- I'd take it apart just to look (and replace if needed) even though I'm not showing any signs now at 88k.

Drives my husband nuts thinking I'm borrowing trouble for tomorrow and I prefer to think of it as "prevention-minded" or "forward-thinking". Besides, you'd think the idea that I could tell him "I told you so" if we ever had issues would be enough incentive for him to do it for me now haha

I'm with you and if I ever had issues, it will drive me nuts with the wanting to know if ABC caused XYZ.

I don't think there is a way to tell which valve cover you have unless you pull it off and look at the underside of the casting.

If I recall from a previous thread, you may have posted that your engine is not using any oil at all between changes (I could have that completely wrong and thinking about somebody else). If that is the case, the urgency on any of this stuff definitely gets into the "preventive" mode, versus "fixing" mode.

My belief now is a catch can is a great device for insight into what is going on inside. On an engine that uses oil, it will tell you if you are pumping it out the PCV and back into the intake, which in measurable quantities is not good for anything. If you see large quantities, you know you need to at least get that valve cover pulled and check to see what part number you have.

I’m assuming that is the only way to correctly identify the different valve covers as well. I’ll be devoting quite a bit of research to see if I can figure this out before I go ahead and purchase the new, updated cover and will report back if I find an answer.

 

[Jason in DLH]

So what does the 3oz consist of? Mostly oil or other gunk? And is there a way to tell, short of having a chemist test it?

Water, oil, and fuel. Not sure the proportions though. From what I can tell from my first use of the catch can it looked mostly to be oil.

 

[wsteele]

I’m assuming that is the only way to correctly identify the different valve covers as well. I’ll be devoting quite a bit of research to see if I can figure this out before I go ahead and purchase the new, updated cover and will report back if I find an answer.

I think if I didn't know, I would let the air out of the front tires (I am 6 1" and with that little 1" level, that fender is still kinda high to be leaning over for more than a few minutes), and have at popping that thing off.

For most things, "I just gots to know".

 

[Jason in DLH]

Water, oil, and fuel. Not sure the proportions though. From what I can tell from my first use of the catch can it looked mostly to be oil.

@Caligirl :

I wanted to expand further on this earlier, but didn’t have time.

Your probably asking how water is getting in there. It’s due to climate conditions and/or driving style. Something I learned from @iamdub on this very thread! Short trips allows for condensation to form, so make sure to not repeatedly take short trips. Being in Cali you won’t have to worry about freezing temps and condensation. The same happens with my waterproof camera lenses and camera in the winter. If I bring it inside from freezing temps, there’s a potential for condensation to form inside the lens.

 

[Caligirl]

@Caligirl :

I wanted to expand further on this earlier, but didn’t have time.

Your probably asking how water is getting in there. It’s due to climate conditions and/or driving style. Something I learned from @iamdub on this very thread! Short trips allows for condensation to form, so make sure to not repeatedly take short trips. Being in Cali you won’t have to worry about freezing temps and condensation. The same happens with my waterproof camera lenses and camera in the winter. If I bring it inside from freezing temps, there’s a potential for condensation to form inside the lens.

Haha, all I do is short trips...my "commute" is about 12-15 miles total a day. Trying to figure out how to get my transmission to temp :/ but that's a different subject.

And, I live in the Sierra Foothills where we regularly get into freezing temps for a couple months in the winter. Low 20s to low 30s with frost in the mornings and occasional snow flurries. I have the vehicle in a carport, so definitely subject to varied temperature.

Never had this short of a commute to town (actually why we bought this property was in anticipation of retirement some day, so we didn't have to drive too far to get to a hospital and church and such) so this short driving thing is new to me

 

[George B]

Haha, all I do is short trips...my "commute" is about 12-15 miles total a day. Trying to figure out how to get my transmission to temp :/ but that's a different subject.

And, I live in the Sierra Foothills where we regularly get into freezing temps for a couple months in the winter. Low 20s to low 30s with frost in the mornings and occasional snow flurries. I have the vehicle in a carport, so definitely subject to varied temperature.

Never had this short of a commute to town (actually why we bought this property was in anticipation of retirement some day, so we didn't have to drive too far to get to a hospital and church and such) so this short driving thing is new to me

Just gotta go for a ride sometimes.

 

[Caligirl]

Just gotta go for a ride sometimes.

Luckily, we live an hour away from Yosemite, so when I can convince my husband to get away from his projects at home we go for a drive there.

I notice that when I drive to work it gets up to about a 100 and I'm at work for 3 or 4 hours and it stays little under a 100 when I get back behind the wheel. By the time I drive home which is uphill it's about a 150 - 160. Of course it's still been in the 30s and 40s in the morning, so it's been pretty chilly.

Wonder if I should be warming it up in the morning a little bit before I leave so that maybe by the time I get home it'll be up to temp.

 

[Sparksalot]

And, I live in the Sierra Foothills where we regularly get into freezing temps for a couple months in the winter. Low 20s to low 30s with frost in the mornings and occasional snow flurries. I have the vehicle in a carport, so definitely subject to varied temperature.

where are you? I grew up in Amador county.

 

[Caligirl]

where are you? I grew up in Amador county.

Mariposa County, but grew up mostly in Auburn.

 

[Sparksalot]

Mariposa County, but grew up mostly in Auburn.

Sutter Creek for me. Then Uncle Sam sent me to Texas. I never left.

 

[Jason in DLH]

So based on this thread, if I understand it correctly, since I don't know if my Tahoe has the new valve cover, putting in the catch can MAY help me alleviate some of the damage if it's the old one and/or determine if it is (besides taking it off to look-wish they put something on the new ones that is identifiable without taking it apart).

Or do folks who have done the AFM delete/new valve cover STILL get oil/gunk in the can and I won't know from a catch can's contents?

Wish I had more experience with actual work under the hood- I'd take it apart just to look (and replace if needed) even though I'm not showing any signs now at 88k.

Drives my husband nuts thinking I'm borrowing trouble for tomorrow and I prefer to think of it as "prevention-minded" or "forward-thinking". Besides, you'd think the idea that I could tell him "I told you so" if we ever had issues would be enough incentive for him to do it for me now haha

I'm with you and if I ever had issues, it will drive me nuts with the wanting to know if ABC caused XYZ.

Here is the original TSB on the updated rocker cover and AFM oil deflector fix:

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2012/SB-10062524-7690.pdf

It appears you have the old version cover. The L94 engine is listed in the TSB as is the 2007 Tahoe. You also have AFM, correct? Looks like you are in the group for recommended AFM shield and piston cleaning procedure.

Just what you wanted to hear, right?

 

[Caligirl]

Here is the original TSB on the updated rocker cover and AFM oil deflector fix:

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2012/SB-10062524-7690.pdf

It appears you have the old version cover. The L94 engine is listed in the TSB as is the 2007 Tahoe. You also have AFM, correct? Looks like you are in the group for recommended AFM shield and piston cleaning procedure.

Just what you wanted to hear, right?

That is my quandry... just purchased it a few months ago from daughter of owner (who passed) and she had no maintenance records to provide. That is why we are flying blind. Looked well cared for. Daughter had a 90k maintenance done before sale (for the tune of $1800!) probably because they didn't know what issues or concerns it may have before sold. I called the dealer who did the maintenance (and a few more from the area he lived) and they don't have any other records besides the maintenance. Original owner very well may have had the updated cover installed, and that is why I wish I had an xray machine! Driven about 1k and no sign of oil consumption yet and just had AFM deleted off ECM. Hate to have my hubby purchase new cover and take on project just to find out already replaced. Hence a catch can for now, maybe???

 

[Jason in DLH]

That is my quandry... just purchased it a few months ago from daughter of owner (who passed) and she had no maintenance records to provide. That is why we are flying blind. Looked well cared for. Daughter had a 90k maintenance done before sale (for the tune of $1800!) probably because they didn't know what issues or concerns it may have before sold. I called the dealer who did the maintenance (and a few more from the area he lived) and they don't have any other records besides the maintenance. Original owner very well may have had the updated cover installed, and that is why I wish I had an xray machine! Driven about 1k and no sign of oil consumption yet and just had AFM deleted off ECM. Hate to have my hubby purchase new cover and take on project just to find out already replaced. Hence a catch can for now, maybe???

Dang it...$1800!? Recently I changed my tranny fluid and filter, front and rear diff oil, transfer case fluid, brake calipers, pads and fluid, front diff oil again (cracked my axle tube and had to repair that), and engine oil and filter all for probably $500 and a couple nights here and there. Dang it...$1800!?

Sorry...what were we talking about again? Haha!

 

[Caligirl]

Dang it...$1800!? Recently I changed my tranny fluid and filter, front and rear diff oil, transfer case fluid, brake calipers, pads and fluid, front diff oil again (cracked my axle tube and had to repair that), and engine oil and filter all for probably $500 and a couple nights here and there. Dang it...$1800!?

Sorry...what were we talking about again? Haha!

And spark plugs and wires, too. And new wipers and some other stuff.... But, that is dealer prices for you.

That's why I'm needing all the info I need to build a case for hubby to do the catch can and valve cover

Even doing either at home will cost (time n money) and certainly cost more to have it done. But if we aren't having issues, he is not into preventive measures like me. He usually waits to act after there is a problem.

 

[Jason in DLH]

And spark plugs and wires, too. And new wipers and some other stuff.... But, that is dealer prices for you.

That's why I'm needing all the info I need to build a case for hubby to do the catch can and valve cover

Even doing either at home will cost (time n money) and certainly cost more to have it done. But if we aren't having issues, he is not into preventive measures like me. He usually waits to act after there is a problem.

Gotchya!

Well...regarding the new valve cover: if it’s not corrected it’s fine under “most” conditions (take my 140,000 mile 2007 Yukon for instance...I’ve been lucky). It can, however, end up resulting in cracked spark plugs and definitely will result in carbon build up which will result in lower performance, lower mpg, and possibly even engine failure!! Here’s a good article I found at Valvoline that I believe explains it well:

https://team.valvoline.com/diy/truth-behind-carbon-buildup

The updated rocker cover is only $110 and can be replaced by you two for free (lots of great YT instructional videos). That’s some good insurance knowing that this is a real issue with potential repair costs MUCH higher if not addressed (not to mention paying more at the pump due to loss of MPG). You guys have paid wayyy more than that with collision insurance on the off chance of getting into an accident.

And with a simple to install oil catch can ($25-$300 depending on which version you get) you’ll have even greater insurance “blow-by” isn’t reaching your intake manifold contributing to carbon buildup in the valves.

So to summarize, you could rectify this current and real problem by investing only $150 (or more depending on the catch can you use) and a bit of your time (which ultimately could be described as good, fun couples time where you two could make it a date night and do the work together ).

I’m sure others will add to it this even further and completely agree.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

I have officially joined the oil catch can group.

 

[Caligirl]

Gotchya!

Well...regarding the new valve cover: if it’s not corrected it’s fine under “most” conditions (take my 140,000 mile 2007 Yukon for instance...I’ve been lucky). It can, however, end up resulting in cracked spark plugs and definitely will result in carbon build up which will result in lower performance, lower mpg, and possibly even engine failure!! Here’s a good article I found at Valvoline that I believe explains it well:

https://team.valvoline.com/diy/truth-behind-carbon-buildup

The updated rocker cover is only $110 and can be replaced by you two for free (lots of great YT instructional videos). That’s some good insurance knowing that this is a real issue with potential repair costs MUCH higher if not addressed (not to mention paying more at the pump due to loss of MPG). You guys have paid wayyy more than that with collision insurance on the off chance of getting into an accident.

And with a simple to install oil catch can ($25-$300 depending on which version you get) you’ll have even greater insurance “blow-by” isn’t reaching your intake manifold contributing to carbon buildup in the valves.

So to summarize, you could rectify this current and real problem by investing only $150 (or more depending on the catch can you use) and a bit of your time (which ultimately could be described as good, fun couples time where you two could make it a date night and do the work together ).

I’m sure others will add to it this even further and completely agree.

You're preaching to the choir here, buddy haha.

What you have said I have pretty much said to my husband, but the "what ifs" that I always come up with do not concern him as much.

But maybe if it comes from someone else, such as this forum, he will listen

Been married for 22 years and the honey-do list has always been difficult because he works such long hard hours and if it's not urgent (ie not a crisis) hard to get it to be prioritized. He is so stressed and busy in planning at work as a project manager for a Hazmat company that he doesn't have the mental energy and/or time to do a lot of these things that he thinks I'm just worrying about (case in point- He was up at 3:00 a.m. this morning to prepare for a Saturday job today, after already working 45 hours this week) The poor man needs to get some well-deserved rest on his time off!

Seriously if my arms were longer and I had more skill and experience, I would just do it myself! Or in the past when he is too busy or tired sometimes he says go ahead and pay someone else to do it.

We are both pretty frugal but if this is going to be a relatively inexpensive mechanic bill to prevent a potentially really expensive issue, I might be pushing for that. Wish me luck