C5 Oil Catch Can......
03-14-2010, 09:25 AM
#1
Burning Brakes
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C5 Oil Catch Can......
I've been reading and decided to install an "Oil Catch Can" on my 1999 C5 Corvette. C5's have a tendancy to blow oil from the crank to the intake and it can really make a mess in there. I found a really cheap aluminum one on Ebay for $14 dollars with $10 for shipping. I don't see why one would spend $120 for them, it is just a basic can to catch the oil but allow the vapors to get burned in the intake, thus staying emission legal, and we all want to do that now don't we.
03-14-2010, 06:53 PM
#3
Race Director
You might want to read the following. The various types of catch cans and their good and bad features are illustrated and explained.
http://www.conceptualpolymer.com/PCV...oval%20102.pdf
As you will see, many Ebay cans are just cans with little filtering ability. Oil droplets will pass right on through.
http://www.conceptualpolymer.com/PCV...oval%20102.pdf
As you will see, many Ebay cans are just cans with little filtering ability. Oil droplets will pass right on through.
03-15-2010, 04:00 AM
#4
Team Owner
You might want to read the following. The various types of catch cans and their good and bad features are illustrated and explained.
http://www.conceptualpolymer.com/PCV...oval%20102.pdf
As you will see, many Ebay cans are just cans with little filtering ability. Oil droplets will pass right on through.
http://www.conceptualpolymer.com/PCV...oval%20102.pdf
As you will see, many Ebay cans are just cans with little filtering ability. Oil droplets will pass right on through.
What he said. 
03-15-2010, 08:28 AM
#5
Melting Slicks
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Very interesting article from Dave and so much research!
The questions I have are fairly simple then:
1- is one better off with the stock set-up rather than some of the steel mesh OCC that are quite popular here on the forum?
2- are the chances of doing damage to cylinder walls (because of pieces of the media being pulled into the manifold) so great one would be making things far worse by leaving everything alone?
The questions I have are fairly simple then:
1- is one better off with the stock set-up rather than some of the steel mesh OCC that are quite popular here on the forum?
2- are the chances of doing damage to cylinder walls (because of pieces of the media being pulled into the manifold) so great one would be making things far worse by leaving everything alone?
03-15-2010, 08:54 AM
#6
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I've got a very nice part made by Elite Engineering.
It's well made; machined from solid aluminum. Looking at the details of the work involved to create the part it's easy to see why it's worth the money... and it works very well for a can of it's type.
Good luck with your $15 piece... but I don't mind paying more for a great American made item that catches a good amount of oil.
It's well made; machined from solid aluminum. Looking at the details of the work involved to create the part it's easy to see why it's worth the money... and it works very well for a can of it's type.
Good luck with your $15 piece... but I don't mind paying more for a great American made item that catches a good amount of oil.
03-15-2010, 10:35 AM
#8
Race Director
Very interesting article from Dave and so much research!
The questions I have are fairly simple then:
1- is one better off with the stock set-up rather than some of the steel mesh OCC that are quite popular here on the forum?
2- are the chances of doing damage to cylinder walls (because of pieces of the media being pulled into the manifold) so great one would be making things far worse by leaving everything alone?
The questions I have are fairly simple then:
1- is one better off with the stock set-up rather than some of the steel mesh OCC that are quite popular here on the forum?
2- are the chances of doing damage to cylinder walls (because of pieces of the media being pulled into the manifold) so great one would be making things far worse by leaving everything alone?
It looks like both questions are related. I performed some comparison testing among various types of filter media a while back and before removing some of that steel wool from the bag in which it was packaged, I noticed many loose strands at the bottom of the bag. To me, this was not a good sign and while idle vacuum pressure and flow may not be sufficient to pull steel strands into the intake, I thought it best to not take the chance. This is why I stay away from metallic filter media. Perhaps the inclusion of a fine filter screen at the exit of the catch can would provide some peace of mind.
Catching oil is a "catch-22" in that higher density filters trap more oil, but also trap more particulates, requiring more frequent replacement. I recommend mounting a catch can so that blowby gasses must travel downward to the catch can, and then travel upward to the intake. Keeping the catch can in a cool place will allow the filter and impaction surfaces to trap more oil and water than if the can is mounted very close to the big heat source - your engine.
Dave
03-15-2010, 11:40 AM
#9
I tried one of those ebay cans, and it hardly caught anything. In fact, if you want to cover shipping, I'll send you the damn thing complete with the bracket I had to fab up for it.
But after reading up more, I suspect my engine just doesn't blow a lot of oil in the first place. Apparently not all LS engines are created equal in this respect.
But after reading up more, I suspect my engine just doesn't blow a lot of oil in the first place. Apparently not all LS engines are created equal in this respect.
03-15-2010, 01:07 PM
#10
Burning Brakes
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Great information guys, been installing these items in different vehicles I've had, 280ZX, 280Z, Corvette C3. Bottom line, I've seen expensive cans, cheap cans and medium price cans. Any system is better than the 3" hose that connects the crankcase to the intake. The filter screen is important to trap the vented oil droplets. If the designer of LS1 thought about it they would of included a catch can, but cost issues stopped that. Any system is better than the stock set up. Now with that said, if you race your C5, then get the top of the line catch can because you will have blow by venting and it becomes more important to your intake manifold. Normal driving, the standard can will do just fine.. Just my two cent.... I love the tech. knowledge in this forum and look forward to reading them. Keep up the great work guys... Enjoy the ride..
