first catch can oil separator installed on 3rd Gen

I don't personally think this is as big of an issue since this engine has dual injection. Can always throw some fuel system cleaner in it. I don't see any harm with a catch can if it is designed properly. It can't have a huge pressure restriction where it reduces the efficiency of the original PCV system or causes pressure buildup in the valve cover. I think its less to do with forced induction but due to direct injection.

I came from a BMW 335i, N54 engine (dual turbo charged, inline 6). These were notorious for carbon buildup on the back of the intake valves. At 25k miles, I had to have a walnut blasting to remove the carbon buildup because I was getting misfires. This was also a huge problem on the newer (2001) Mini's which wasn't forced inducted. The walnut blasting solution came from Mini (BMW owned). The oil would vaporize and leave carbon deposits on the hot valves due to the PCV system.

Nice pictures here: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=520035


We used to talk about how Lexus' had direct injection but they didn't have the carbon issue on the intake valves due to the port injection to wash down the back of the valves. Running a fuel system cleaner would work because they had port injection. Fuel system cleaner on a directed injected motor does nothing since it never touches the valves.

It was speculated that the synthetic oil atomizes easier and cruising at lower RPM caused more of an issue than flogging it. Lower velocity of the air moving through the built in oil separators in the valve made them less efficient then at higher flows. I did install an oil catch can but never really caught more than a teaspoon ever in a year span.

 

I wonder when Lexus changed this... I recently picked up a nice little 2006 IS250 6spd manual for commuting (60 miles each day to and from work) and its had carbon buildup issues. Lucky for me Lexus rebuilt the top end for a separate recall only 20k miles ago and I've been seafoaming directly into the vacuum line as well as adding it to the gas AND directly to the crankcase 200 miles before oil changes. Seems to be keeping the buildup at bay so far but thinking I might have to walnut blast nonetheless

 

I just did a quick search, in Lexus' linup back in the day, is250 only has direct while the 350 and V8's have dual injection.

 

BMW had intake blasting equipment for US cars in the early 1980s

 

I think that's the general consensus with the direct injection motors. Everyone I know who had issues with their Q5 and carbon build up drove theirs like a granny. Anyone who actually hit the rev limiter had no issues.

 

Yeah sorry, just spreading hearsay from another forum post.

My dealer didn't know jack about walnut blasting and I had to email the forum posts so he could catch up. He contacted headquarters and they sent them the blasting equipment. This occcured in 2012.

 

Unless it fails? What happens when that happens?

You are adding a component which is a possible failure point. Then what happens if it breaks or if a hose clamp gets knocked loose?

 

Well, you fix it just like everything else. Just bypass it and fixed. This isnt rocket science, no pun intended

 

Exactly. I am running one on my car as well, but mine vents to the atmosphere via a small filter. Works well.

 

so .. here is my question, I am a bit confused with an oil catch can. Is it a good investment for my taco 2017. My goal is to prolong my engine life... any help to inform my decision to purchase this item for my truck. 15000 miles

thanks

 

So I've been traveling and doing a bunch of towing with the taco. Today I noticed and oil smell and found my catch can to be near full. I emptied a few table spoons of crude a couple weeks ago when I changed the oil before leaving on this trip. When I emptied it today it was very thin, I'd pretty much describe it as gasoline? What should I make of this? Thanks for any help. BTW truck is running great and no issues asidI'me from the oil smell earlier today.

I'll try to upload some photos but my service has been poor...

 

Absolutely normal.

Think about what the catch can is there for. In NA motors, the PCV system is designed to remove fuel vapors from the crankcase.

So it is in FI applications, but in such an application there is the added problem of lacking full-time vacuum, so the crankcase goes through compression/vacuum cycles. This creates the problem of sucking oil out through the PCV system, which ends up in the intake, then the cylinders, and can cause detonation.

So having fuel in the catch can is normal. This was what the PCV is for.

(Found that on another forum for you)

 

Awesome thanks for the fast reply! I guess I was mainly concerned about how fast it filled in 2 weeks. I normally don't out allot of miles on the truck but have been working the hell out of it on this trip.

 

Had a catch can on my Genesis Coupe. Oh boy, that oil is gunky and sludgy.

 

Seems kind of odd to me though that it would fill up that fast. I had another car that had a catch can and it barely filled it up with 10k miles on it and it was turbid and I beat on it.

Might possibly want to get it checked out after your trip if it continues to fill that quickly.

 

Humidity will also reduce the time it takes to fill up.

Shouldn't be much a worry about humidity in most parts of AZ though.

 

Hmmm I've bee

I've been in Wyoming, Montana, Washington and now Oregon coast. I've seen a ton of rain and even snow in Montana. My truck also has a snorkel . Maybe its condensation mixing with that potent blowby oil and it just resembles/ smells like gasoline?

Thanks allot you guys are huge help![/QUOTE]

 

That would be it then. Regularity here, with the humidity in Houston.

 

And the flooding

 

Has anyone had a dealer hassle them about their catch cans? GM has been denying engine warranty claims on Camaros with catch cans installed. Ford has also denied some warranty claims over CC's. Im sure its dealer specific. Just a though, I had one on my hemi (and never had a dealer problem) as they are probably the worst at oil accumulation in the intake manifold.