Anyone else running an oil catch can?

I wasn't sure how much oil it would catch so I decided to try a cheap experiment and use the filter from my air compressor. I use half a quart per track day when I road race the car. If that oil can be returned to service it will quickly save money and pay for a more expensive can. I am not sure how long this filter will last as I am exceeding its temp rating.

This only cost a few dollars since I already had the filter, IIRC it was $10 a few years ago. I would like a better filter on my compressor for painting so this will be used till it is junk. I put a 1/4" NPT cap on the bottom in case the valve leaks, that could cause a fire.

First route:



I put it over there as I thought it would be cooler and help condense the oil, also the filter is not rated for much temp. I found there was not a difference in temp there plus the cheap fuel hose from the filter to the intake was collapsing. EFI fuel line would work better as it is rated for higher pressure. The hose from the PCV valve to the filter is subject to expansion and the cheap fuel line I had works well there. The line from the filter to the intake gets suction. I had extra 3/8" line left from some other project.

Second placement:



I reused the stock hose. I would like to reroute this and make the install cleaner at some point. I hate extra weight and this project had to have good results or I was going to remove it. Since it caught all this oil:



It is going to stay. I only drove around for 20 mins while going to WOT often. It caught quite a bit I think.

 

Hey, I use two. One is primarily the oil catch can designed for actually getting the oil and air to seperate. The Home Depot one is a visual for me.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1654130
Here is a pic.
I use 1 quart every 500 miles now, HARD miles

 

How has the Watts filter been treating you? The filter on mine is catching enough oil that I think this should be a mandatory mod! I wonder how much HP difference there is without burning all the oil.

 

I like how Dave did the watts canister, and it works real well. It does catch oil after the Home Depot too. But I do have low tension oil rings so more oil gets by in other ways.
I dont think there is a HP gain, just a tad maybe. I am not that technical yet, or know anyone that has done a before and after dyno run.
What it does is keep oil out of the intake, which reduces my potential for power loss, so I am mentally happy.

 

I'll experiement with increasing the timing without the oil in there.

 

Interesting setups guys.
None of the racecars I play with have any kind filtering setup except one that has an air filter on the catchtank. Even the vintage Nascar's don't have the filters.
Even the oiltanks (dry sump) are open to the atmosphere.
When I dump the catch tanks the oil is clean and I wouldn't be hesitant to pour it back in unless I went off track into the dirt.

 

I was talking with CFI about filter-less cans. How deep are the cans you have Bill? I watched the oil in my can and there is some turbulence that throws the oil around, with my shallow small can it might get sucked back up and surely would during track use. I can't get the can mounted vertical there but this setup will work for now.

 

The catch cans are different on every car even if they're the same make. Note that I deal mostly with dry sumps but the cans do the same thing.
On a dry sump the line to the can is hooked into the top of the oiltank. On a wet sump, like yours, you're hooked into the valvecover. Either way, it's the vapors that get condensed and go into the catchcan. Most lines go into the catchcan about an inch or so. I wouldn't be concerned about pulling anything back in. And I would think that the only way you could pull anything back would be with the engine shutdown and cooling (and then only vapor).
This differs from the coolant catchcans where you purposely put the line close to the bottom of the catchcan to pull the coolant bach in after shutdown ( like the overflo tank on the Vette).
The catchcans we use are all different shapes and sizes but are required to be 1 Qt. min. Hell, I have one in a Formula Ford that was made out of one of the little prophane tanks that you use with a handheld torch ( I didn't make it, came with the car).

Also, you wouldn't believe where the catchcan is in the car in my avitar.
It's part of the bellhousing between the clutch and the motor, has a drain plug on the bottom.

 

What did CFI have to say on this?

 

I brought up that I was thinking of putting a can on my car and found that he is using a catch can and liked my idea of experimenting with the compressor filter. Learning that he is using one made me think of his advanced timing.

I have also been thinking of removing the Schrader valve from the filter and putting a ball valve on there then routing a line back into the oiling sytem. It would really make it easy to empty the can. I am not sure there is a good mounting spot for this idea though.

 

All our catchcans just sit in a bracket/holder with the hose going thru a hole in the top. They aren't even tied down, never lost one. It takes about 5 seconds to pull the hose and can.

I'm still confused about the filters and why you're using them.

 

The top of the can would bust off if I tried to remove the filter. It seems to be mounted in there pretty well. The filter is hard plastic that is porous. It was free to use as it was on my air compressor making this an easy test.