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Hey All,
Does anyone have experience with using the Wagner PCV? And, have you used it with a Catch Can?
I'm running a new 489 BB, Holley, and an Air Gap.
I am interested in responses on this thread too. I am considering the setup on my new 406, but curious if this is just not a solution looking for a problem. PCV valves have been installed on hundreds of thousands of cars, if not millions, so why is it now in need of a "fix"? I read what Wagner says, but they are also selling their product.
I am interested in responses on this thread too. I am considering the setup on my new 406, but curious if this is just not a solution looking for a problem. PCV valves have been installed on hundreds of thousands of cars, if not millions, so why is it now in need of a "fix"? I read what Wagner says, but they are also selling their product.
I never thought about catch cans either until I had my LS-1 and LS-7 apart and saw all the oil laying inside the Intake Manifold. So now that I have this new engine, I want to try to keep the intake manifold clean.
John
I use the air/oil separator from Jegs. Works well and not too obtrusive. My PCV inlet is on passenger side of manifold. PCV valve in driver's valve cover. Line runs round front of air cleaner.
Can you tell me where you got the Catch Can, and maybe even show a picture of your setup?
Thanks,
John
This catch can from ebay https://www.ebay.com/itm/Oil-Catch-C...17cf2891f038e3
I put some stainless steel in the can like it shows in the pic. I like the dip stick feature and that the bottom screws off to dump the can. It's pretty robust and seems to work as advertised.
This catch can from ebay. I put some stainless steel in the can like it shows in the pic. I like the dip stick feature and that the bottom screws off to dump the can. It's pretty robust and seems to work as advertised.
Is a catch can really necessary with the Wagner PCV? I'm leaning toward the Wagner for my new engine as I now believe one of the causes of excess oil consumption in the old engine was due to the PCV valve.
Is a catch can really necessary with the Wagner PCV? I'm leaning toward the Wagner for my new engine as I now believe one of the causes of excess oil consumption in the old engine was due to the PCV valve.
DC
my thoughts on that is that regardless of the type of Pcv valve it’s function is still to pull air from the Valve cover back into the intake manifold. That air has oil in it and that oil can be deposited onto the intake valves reducing flow over time. The gasoline in the intake air does help to keep valves clean too. Oil in that intake air promotes detonation, and reduces fuel burn efficiency however. So yes IMO a catch can still has a purpose.
It may not remove all the oil I guess it depends on how efficient it is, but at least some can be removed.
Last edited by REELAV8R; May 18, 2020 at 12:51 PM.
I don't have a catch can, I run the fumes from the PCV to my EFI system where they get burned in the engine. The last thing you want is pressure building up inside the Engine.
My Mother had a Volvo Turbo station wagon and one day she is driving along and the PCV valve froze up causing pressure to build up inside the engine. It did and when it did it blew out the camshaft oil seal on the head allowing all the oil to be blown out of the engine. When she noticed her rear window had an oil sheen to it the engine was already locked up. All due to a faulty PCV that cost less than $5....
From what I have heard catch cans are really important on Gasoline Direct Injection System as they get this gunk on the valve stems that won't wash off since their is no fuel washing over the valves each time they open. The newer engines using GDI have real problems with contaminants getting onto the valve stems and not going away. This is why they use a catch can to allow them to keep the heavier gunk from getting into your engine from the PCV flow.
On my engines I notice a oily film inside the PCV but I have never seen anything come out that could not be burned in the combustion process. I use an L88 style intake system and the PCV releases the air right next to my intake, I have never had to clean or wipe anything messy from the output of the PVC.
Our 2011 Camaro needs a catch can as it is a GDI engine and there have been issues with these engines having their intake valves get all gummed up without a catch can.
My Mother had a Volvo Turbo station wagon and one day she is driving along and the PCV valve froze up causing pressure to build up inside the engine. It did and when it did it blew out the camshaft oil seal on the head allowing all the oil to be blown out of the engine. When she noticed her rear window had an oil sheen to it the engine was already locked up. All due to a faulty PCV that cost less than $5....
Boosted engines do build a lot of pressure. Kind of wonder why the intake side of the PCV system did not vent the pressure vs blowing out a cam seal. One way check valve?
On these gen1 chevy engines there is lot's of places for the pressure to vent should a PCV fail in that manner as unlikely as that is. Some guys have the dip stick blowing out of it's holder they have so much crank case pressure. LOL.
I couldn't see the oil residue anywhere in my PCV system either but it's there. The catch can proved that. Oil collects inside that can.
Last edited by REELAV8R; May 18, 2020 at 04:54 PM.
I don't have a catch can, I run the fumes from the PCV to my EFI system where they get burned in the engine. The last thing you want is pressure building up inside the Engine.
My Mother had a Volvo Turbo station wagon and one day she is driving along and the PCV valve froze up causing pressure to build up inside the engine. It did and when it did it blew out the camshaft oil seal on the head allowing all the oil to be blown out of the engine. When she noticed her rear window had an oil sheen to it the engine was already locked up. All due to a faulty PCV that cost less than $5....
From what I have heard catch cans are really important on Gasoline Direct Injection System as they get this gunk on the valve stems that won't wash off since their is no fuel washing over the valves each time they open. The newer engines using GDI have real problems with contaminants getting onto the valve stems and not going away. This is why they use a catch can to allow them to keep the heavier gunk from getting into your engine from the PCV flow.
On my engines I notice a oily film inside the PCV but I have never seen anything come out that could not be burned in the combustion process. I use an L88 style intake system and the PCV releases the air right next to my intake, I have never had to clean or wipe anything messy from the output of the PVC.
Our 2011 Camaro needs a catch can as it is a GDI engine and there have been issues with these engines having their intake valves get all gummed up without a catch can.
As Gale Banks said, Volvo's, built by people who hate cars for people who are afraid of cars. I'll never forget that.
I just pulled the carb off my intake and saw no trace of oil.
My 16,000 mile SB 350 in my 77 Vette ......found huge amounts of oil in intake manifold, and intake tracts. I think I may have had an intake manifold gasket leak, BUT, I also think I was also pulling oil through the PCV system, so I am looking for solution to prevent this on my new 406. I am considering the Wagner PCV, but still not sure. One thing I did change was the valve covers, which I believe have better baffles. The 350 had standard size steel Proform covers.....the 406 is getting the big aluminum slant edge covers, which are much taller. I am so determined to avoid oil in the intake tract, I am considering eliminating the PCV all together, but I think that too could be as bad for the engine. What is holding me back on all of this is the millions of cars that have been on the road with the every day PCV valve........why do we need catch cans and hi tech PCV valves?
How often do you have to empty it? Can you go without checking it between oil changes?
DC
well I only drive maybe 2000 miles a year. I emptied it once and got about 3 oz of oil if I recall correctly. So not a ton of oil but somewhat significant. At least that’s 3oz that isn’t going through the engine.
a catch can will not hurt your system in any way, and it’s cheap. You can always try it , if after some time you feel it’s a waste then you can always remove it.
pure oil too not a water emulsion. I have catch cans on a couple other cars and some are water emulsion and others are just oil.
ive removed my carb many times and never any indication of oil in the intake, so that is not necessarily proof of no oil in the Pcv air.
i decided on the Wagner Pcv after much deliberation. It’s not particularly cheap for what it does. But I like it’s tuneability. I run low vacuum at idle and with this I can get the calibrated leak right where I want it. Plus it claims to be better at removing the crankcase pressure at all times, which is always a plus.
very high quality component which has is not easy to come by in the aftermarket all the time.
Last edited by REELAV8R; May 18, 2020 at 10:37 PM.
My 16,000 mile SB 350 in my 77 Vette ......found huge amounts of oil in intake manifold, and intake tracts. I think I may have had an intake manifold gasket leak, BUT, I also think I was also pulling oil through the PCV system, so I am looking for solution to prevent this on my new 406. I am considering the Wagner PCV, but still not sure. One thing I did change was the valve covers, which I believe have better baffles. The 350 had standard size steel Proform covers.....the 406 is getting the big aluminum slant edge covers, which are much taller. I am so determined to avoid oil in the intake tract, I am considering eliminating the PCV all together, but I think that too could be as bad for the engine. What is holding me back on all of this is the millions of cars that have been on the road with the every day PCV valve........why do we need catch cans and hi tech PCV valves?
Go to the MEWagner.com website and you'll find lots of engineering info about PCV Valves and what makes them work.
John
Go to the MEWagner.com website and you'll find lots of engineering info about PCV Valves and what makes them work.
John
Not trying to be difficult.....and I have read all of their website information, but I have grown cautious of self proclaimed "fixes" for lots of things that ultimately do nothing. That being said, I am probably going with this one, as I really do not want oil in the intake tracts like on my 350. I can't bring myself to eliminate the PCV system as I would really like to do, just too many posts and information that the PCV system does really benefit a street driven car like mine.
a catch can will not hurt your system in any way, and it’s cheap. You can always try it , if after some time you feel it’s a waste then you can always remove it.
Thanks much. I've been sold on the Wagner PCV for some time now and I like the idea of a catch can. Just not sure where I can mount it yet given the new engine, ram air style intake, EFI, transmission controller, fuel pressure regulator, serpentine belt kit, accessory fuse block and everything else that's competing for space under the hood.
Not trying to be difficult.....and I have read all of their website information, but I have grown cautious of self proclaimed "fixes" for lots of things that ultimately do nothing. That being said, I am probably going with this one, as I really do not want oil in the intake tracts like on my 350. I can't bring myself to eliminate the PCV system as I would really like to do, just too many posts and information that the PCV system does really benefit a street driven car like mine.
I don't really think this will "fix" any problems other than removing crank case pressure for a good running engine. If that crank case pressure is excessive due to bad rings or ring seal it may help but it has limits.
Excessive oil in the intake tract could be due to other issues like intake seal problems, or inadequate baffling in the valve cover or excessive blowby from bad rings. Those would need to be addressed first.
A catch can, on the other hand, may help remove some of the excessive oi in the intake tract if it's coming from the pcv end of things. You could even install two cans in series I imagine. Band aid fixes, but it may help until it can be properly fixed.
Last edited by REELAV8R; May 20, 2020 at 03:43 PM.
I've got both the M/E Wagner PCV and a catch can. Mounting was easy since I don't have any obtrusive air conditioning, heater, radio or any other unnecessary items to get in the way. The valve cover breather thingy is a Billet Specialties PCV fitting but I was getting too much oil sucked into the intake. So I took the valve out and stuffed it with Scotch Brite and ran the hose uphill for drainage, then down to the catch can which I found for $35 on Amazon. It's probably best to spend more on a well built can but I only had to make a couple mods and stuff it full of Scotch Brite. I added a tube inside the can so the incoming mist goes to the bottom and has to rise through the can to reach the exit. My PCV inlet behind the carb is now always dry. After three years and
roughly 5000 miles of abusive WOT and street cruising, I've just recently drained the can and got not quite an ounce of oil out of it. I'm pretty happy with this arrangement.
Catch Can with a M/E Wagner PCV?
