Oil catch cans freaking work

[Antonm]

Recently we purchased a 2023 Tahoe high country with a 6.2 new (had I think 3 miles on it when they literally drove it out of the showroom for us).

Considering this is a direct injection engine I decided to put an oil catch can on it at around 500 miles. Here's what that oil catch can caught after only 3000 miles of use.

All that nasty, including whatever those solids are that stayed in the bottom, would've ended up glued to the back of the intake valves, or stuck along the intake port after mixing with EGR gases, if not for the catch can.

I'm now a believer in the need for oil catch cans on GDI engines (probably wouldn't hurt on port injected engines either, but NEEDED on direct injected ones).
...

 

[89Suburban]

Mine looks like that after a few weeks. :/

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Keep track of the amount of oil caught in the catch can, and the amount of miles driven. I empty my catch can and record its volume whenever I change the motor oil. I average about 0.9 fl. oz. of oil in the catch can for every 1000 miles driven.

 

[DontTaseMeBro]

Link to said catch can?

 

[Antonm]

Link to said catch can?

I used one made by K&N (link below), but there are several different manufactures/ options out there. This was just the one that was in stock and ready to ship when I was looking.

Pardon Our Interruption

...

 

[BlaineBug]

I was surprised to find my catch can full after only 3,474 at the first check since I installed it. I imagine it accumulated even more although probably drank it away anyways considering it was full.

 

[swathdiver]

I was surprised to find my catch can full after only 3,474 at the first check since I installed it. I imagine it accumulated even more although probably drank it away anyways considering it was full.

How much of that 3,400 miles was above 3500 rpms giddy ups?

When my wife drive my truck, it uses oil. When I drive it, no oil of consequence is used up. I get 3 mpg or better than she does generally.

 

[BlaineBug]

How much of that 3,400 miles was above 3500 rpms giddy ups?

When my wife drive my truck, it uses oil. When I drive it, no oil of consequence is used up. I get 3 mpg or better than she does generally.

I drive mildly. Not one full throttle in that time period. RPM wise, I don't know. Mostly suburban/city driving with some mixed highway here and here. However, my oil level is never low. I check the oil regularly.

 

[Antonm]

Just curious, what weight oil do you run? Also what engine and how many miles?

That does seem excessive to me for only 3500-ish miles.
…

 

[BlaineBug]

Just curious, what weight oil do you run? Also what engine and how many miles?

That does seem excessive to me for only 3500-ish miles.
…

Kirkland Signature (Warren Distribution) 5w20. 2019 Yukon 5.3 liter with 68,922 miles.

 

[Antonm]

I use Costco Kirkland brand conventional diesel oil in my old mechanical 6BT Cummins trucks. Oil analysis results has shown it be to on par with everything else, so I pick up some every time I find it on sale.

Perhaps try switching to a 5w30 and see if you still get the same catch can fill rate.

On a side note, some of the older Mercedes diesels (like the OM617) had a factory oil separator built into the air filter assembly and its drain just returned to the crankcase via what looked like a second dipstick tube.
...

 

[BlaineBug]

I use Costco Kirkland brand conventional diesel oil in my old mechanical 6BT Cummins trucks. Oil analysis results has shown it be to on par with everything else, so I pick up some every time I find it on sale.

Perhaps try switching to a 5w30 and see if you still get the same catch can fill rate.

On a side note, some of the older Mercedes diesels (like the OM617) had a factory oil separator built into the air filter assembly and its drain just returned to the crankcase via what looked like a second dipstick tube.
...

Mercedes-Benz still have them, they call it an "oil centrifuge" I believe. I am also considering switching to 5w30 due to my research, not due to oil consumption. And lastly, I did not know that there were any Kirkland Signature "conventional" or diesel oils. I have only seen full-synthetic!

 

[Antonm]

Mercedes-Benz still have them, they call it an "oil centrifuge" I believe. I am also considering switching to 5w30 due to my research, not due to oil consumption. And lastly, I did not know that there were any Kirkland Signature "conventional" or diesel oils. I have only seen full-synthetic!

Says "conventional" on the cardboard box that holds the three gallon jugs, but doesn't actually say the word conventional on the bottle label. I guess the absence of the word synthetic implies conventional.

For the casual reader, I use this in a Cummins diesel truck I also own, NOT the tahoe.

 

[BlaineBug]

Says "conventional" on the cardboard box that holds the three gallon jugs, but doesn't actually say the word conventional on the bottle label. I guess the absence of the word synthetic implies conventional.

For the casual reader, I use this in a Cummins diesel truck I also own, NOT the tahoe.

View attachment 425595

Interesting. Maybe I've neglected to notice it.

 

[carterchapman]

Are you guys in cold weather? Supposedly there is less (or none) in warm weather...

 

[Craddock]

Are you guys in cold weather? Supposedly there is less (or none) in warm weather...

Definitely worse in cold weather on our Tahoe.

 

[BlaineBug]

Are you guys in cold weather? Supposedly there is less (or none) in warm weather...

Yes, for less than 2 months, then it will be the opposite extreme.

 

[Darkstar72]

I just put a J&L catch can on my 2017 Denali with the 6.2L a few weeks ago and it’s definitely doing its job. This is my first direct injected vehicle and after seeing all the videos with the carbon covered valves it was a no-brainer to put it on the truck. Super easy install and replaced the PCV valve at the same time.

 

[dancastro]

Been following this thread.
First time I've heard of this device. How critical is it to put one on a 5.3?
The bigger question is why doesnt GM include them on the build?

 

[BlaineBug]

Been following this thread.
First time I've heard of this device. How critical is it to put one on a 5.3?
The bigger question is why doesnt GM include them on the build?

They aren't a factory item because most people don't even check their oil let alone check a disgusting messy catch can filled with the Devil's syrup.