Oil catch can surprise!

Trucks are overpriced to begin with but that's besides the point hahahaha. Are they that much of a benefit?

 

Trucks make it 200k w/o them so it's up in the air in my mind.

Just depends on the conditions you drive in maybe? Idk.

 

I am going to recommend a catch can for you short run guys with cold weather . Lets say 10 miles /day to and from work . Not really enough time to burn the condensation off . I ran my truck without a catch can for the first 2 years . Every time I changed the oil , there was always indication of water in the oil .
I run short trips to work to the point where the engine temp doesnt get hot enough to burn that crap off

 

Some vehicles come with them. BMW's do for example. To prevent owners from having to do maintenance (manually draining), it has a return hose to the oil dip stick.

 

Huh so BMWs dump this crapola into the engine oil?, I think I would rather have it burnt off...

 

@wannataco said: ↑
After reading through most of this thread, I have some ideas and comments for those considering this mod:

I'm old as dirt, and remember BITD the popular mod was a Top Oiler. This was a bottle with an adjustable drip flow, piped into a vaccuum fitting below the carburetor. It's purpose was to introduce an oil vapor to the valves, thereby prolonging the life of said valves. A side effect was said to increase the octane of the fuel. A large side effect was the actual lightening of the owners wallet by the cost of the device and the oil it consumed.

That Top Oiler did have a small benefit, but today that benefit and more can be had by the introduction of an additive to the fuel tank, which may be MMO or Stabyl Marine, or even just motor oil. This, due to the government mandate of oxygenated fuel, mainly in the form of Ethanol, which by nature attracts water condensation in the fuel tank, which is detrimental to the entire system. Granted, modern systems are less vulnerable to the effects of water, and additives in general are not advised by the manufacturers of fuel, motor oil, or auto manufacturers.

Those are the benefits of a Top Oiler, which are just as cute an installation as the Oil Catch Can described in this thread. A google search will turn up pictures and manufacturers of the device, still available today.

Conjecture now, regarding the effects of having a Top Oiler as opposed to the opposite, a Catch Can:

Both will lighten the wallet significantly.
Niether will significantly effect fuel octane.
Niether will significantly effect carbonization of the cylinder of spark plugs.
The Top oiler MAY shorten the life of the Catalitic Converter.
The Catch Can MAY extend the life of the Catalitic Converter.

There you have it, my thoughts and opinions on the Catch Can, and the opposite device, a Top Oiler. Your call, which, if either will be your next mod.


I read this on another thread, and I closed that thread tab too...

 

Well if the catch can is properly connected it is drawing that crap from the engine valve cover to begin with.

>> Fresh Air goes into the engine on passenger side valve cover.
>> The crankcase is vented through the PCV Valve on drivers side valve cover which is under vacuum.
>> Gases and vapor are routed through the Catch Can which separates the liquids from the crankcase gases.
>> Intake Sucks on Catch Can and burns the crank case gases in the cylinders and blows out through the exhaust.

 

We have come a long way from the Draft Tube Vent system.

 

I use a pan evac set up on my sbc and works so much better than a pcv system . With this set up no oil misting into the intake

 

Does the 2016 4 cyl. have the same design that would benefit from a catch can?

 

New to this....what is the purpose of the catch can?

 

Copied from AMW catch can sight: http://www.accmachtech.com/catchcans.asp
"Oil contamination derives from the positive crankcase ventilation valve common on most internal combustion engines where vacuum is pulled on the crankcase by the intake or in some cases the throttle body. This contamination occurs when oil vapors exit the crankcase via the PCV valve, enter the intake tract, and create adverse effects such as carbon build-up on valves, pistons, and plugs, as well as cause harmful detonation. Detonation in many cases causes the ECM/PCM to retard timing, thus creating a reduction in horsepower. Power adders such as turbos, blowers, or nitrous can benefit greatly due to the removal of oil contamination in the combustion process. Poor emissions could also be traced back to high levels of oil residue being burned in the combustion process. By removing this oil, a clean burning engine could help the environment as well as improving the performance of a vehicle."

 

^^^interesting. Do people feel as though they are offsetting carbon footprints of a truck that gets less than 20mpg?

I dont see the "going green" implication as a sales point.

 

Most work the same way. Air goes in cycles through the crankcase and is sucked out via the PCV into the intake and burned.

So, Yes.

 

How would an aftermarket CAI affect the utility of a catch can? I have a 16 TRD sport, no CAI yet but considering installing one when K&N releases one.

 

The green point is just absurd. Catch cans are more of a cleanliness matter more than anything. If you've ever taken apart a used engine that has a badly designed PCV system, you'll often notice that the entire upper manifold is coated with oil. This can go on to cause gunk issues on intake runners and EGR ports under certain conditions.

On some older engines, the crankcase just vents to the atmosphere but this is somewhat taboo in a world that is very EPA regulated.

 

.
... sounds like they are selling, not collecting, snake oil.

 

Sounds like the simplicity of such a device is lost on some.

Oil/air separators are even more beneficial when used on turbo engines, which come from the factory with their crank cases cases seeing boost and vacuum. As the crank case can be separated from the boost pressure. Relieving counter pressures on the bottom sides of the pistons, preventing premature oil leaks, and preventing the well known projectile dip sticks. As well as the related information discussed about burnt oil building up around engine components.

Sooooo many people have forgotten the most important reason, in my opinion, about a catch can.

No nearly as much oil vapor goes through the catalytic converters. DUH. Well what wears out the precious metals in the cats the fastest. ZDDP. Otherwise known as antiwear addivitve. You know, that REALLY IMPORTANT addivite in you oil, which prevents engine component wear.

Unless you buy quality oil, Redline, Eneos, Motul, etc, (Not Joe Gibbs) your SAE labeled Motor Oil is likely to have less that what truly keeps internals happy. Maybe 800ppm instead of a minimum happy place of 12-1400ppm. Thank the EPA for the reduction.

Put a catch can on, and now it is collecting a majority of that oil vapor that was going to be burnt and then catalyzed. Well then....add in some more anti wear additive to get it back to where it should be, and you aren't hurting the cats, and your engine is happy. Win win win, as your engine will last longer should you take care of it.