Catch can actually works!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,625
Likes: 1
From: Rhode Island
Catch can actually works!
Since day one, I have had to deal with the carbon/oil/crud mix that spewed from my exhaust. And it left not just soot, but stained the tail end of the car and exhaust to the point that I had to use a polish or glaze to remove it. Washing the car wouldn't do it. I bought a catch can from ebay and it helped a little, but when I got on the car, it still messed it up. I used seafoam a couple of times hoping to eliminate any possible pooling in the intake manifold and still had the same problem. I bought a vented oil fill spout and it didn' help. I used to think the car was running rich. The problem became worse after I installed my heads/cam/exhaust. But I had it dyno tuned and it definitely wasn't running rich. I've since removed the vented cap and installed a new Elite Engineering catch can and it actually does what it's supposed to do. In about 100 miles of driving along with some 5500-6000 RPM pulls, the catch can has trapped about a tablespoon of oil and there is almost no soot to speak of. The obvious source of the black residue and spots, was the oil being sucked into the engine. Problem solved and a lot less detailing now. 
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
Yep. I've been using one for quite some time and it catches quite a bit of oil.
Here's a shot down the throat of my intake before the catch can.
I drained the catch can after the first 800 miles.
Again recently.
Here's a shot down the throat of my intake before the catch can.
I drained the catch can after the first 800 miles.
Again recently.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,625
Likes: 1
From: Rhode Island
[QUOTE=Patches;1559418877]Yep. I've been using one for quite some time and it catches quite a bit of oil.
That's a significant amount of oil. I don't think mine looks that bad now because I've used the Seafoam once every six months. I think I'll hit it with the Seafoam again though just to help clean up the residual oil that I know must be in my intake, and obviously clean up any carbon deposits in the engine.
That's a significant amount of oil. I don't think mine looks that bad now because I've used the Seafoam once every six months. I think I'll hit it with the Seafoam again though just to help clean up the residual oil that I know must be in my intake, and obviously clean up any carbon deposits in the engine.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Here's some additional info regarding trapping oil in a PCV line. The bottom line is that if you want to eliminate oil coming from this path, no "catch can" will work 100%. My solution is contained within.....
http://www.conceptualpolymer.com/PCV...oval%20101.pdf
Dave
http://www.conceptualpolymer.com/PCV...oval%20101.pdf
Dave
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 1
From: Foresters Falls(near Ottawa) Ont
Here's some additional info regarding trapping oil in a PCV line. The bottom line is that if you want to eliminate oil coming from this path, no "catch can" will work 100%. My solution is contained within.....
http://www.conceptualpolymer.com/PCV...oval%20101.pdf
Dave
http://www.conceptualpolymer.com/PCV...oval%20101.pdf
Dave
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,625
Likes: 1
From: Rhode Island
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
cbx,
The "cans" do trap the liquid stuff, but cannot stop all the oil aerosols that flow past the PCV valve. More than a couple of guys in the tech section have looked at their intakes after many miles of using a standard catch can and have found the intake to be coated with oil. This is oil that was in aerosol form. Catching the liquid stuff is easy; catching the air-born stuff takes a more dense filter element than what is available in catch cans. It seems that the "wheel" was reinvented as a less-efficient version. There really was no need to do so.
Dave
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,641
Likes: 7
From: Beautiful CO
St. jude Donor '14
Since day one, I have had to deal with the carbon/oil/crud mix that spewed from my exhaust. And it left not just soot, but stained the tail end of the car and exhaust to the point that I had to use a polish or glaze to remove it. Washing the car wouldn't do it. I bought a catch can from ebay and it helped a little, but when I got on the car, it still messed it up. I used seafoam a couple of times hoping to eliminate any possible pooling in the intake manifold and still had the same problem. I bought a vented oil fill spout and it didn' help. I used to think the car was running rich. The problem became worse after I installed my heads/cam/exhaust. But I had it dyno tuned and it definitely wasn't running rich. I've since removed the vented cap and installed a new Elite Engineering catch can and it actually does what it's supposed to do. In about 100 miles of driving along with some 5500-6000 RPM pulls, the catch can has trapped about a tablespoon of oil and there is almost no soot to speak of. The obvious source of the black residue and spots, was the oil being sucked into the engine. Problem solved and a lot less detailing now.
Yes, it's amazing how much oil will actually get trapped. It's hard to believe this oil was blown back into your intake.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,866
Likes: 45
From: Tampa Bay, Go BUCS!!!Go Rays!!!Go Lightning!!!
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Here's some additional info regarding trapping oil in a PCV line. The bottom line is that if you want to eliminate oil coming from this path, no "catch can" will work 100%. My solution is contained within.....
http://www.conceptualpolymer.com/PCV...oval%20101.pdf
Dave
http://www.conceptualpolymer.com/PCV...oval%20101.pdf
Dave
First keep in mind that Elite Engineering (and others) has already done the work of creating the catch can for us. We only need to mount it. Your solution forces us to go get the parts and create it ourselves. Those of us that are capable probably already have, those of us that are not are looking for a fully built solution.
Second, while I see your report (and it is convincing) I see no real data concerning how much oil is trapped.
Convince me. Install a catch can between the PCV and your filter and show me what you trap.
I haven't got either type yet and have been considering it. If your solution is WAY better I may consider building one myself. If its a LITTLE better I'd purchase a prebuilt one over a catch can but would not put the effort into building one of my own.
Waiting to hear back....
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Mr. Bond,
No two engines are exactly identical as far as how much oil blowby each produces. It would be meaningless if I compare my entrapped oil volume to that of another C5's, simply because of this potential blowby content difference. I can, however tell you that the Watts filter I use has a written specification for oil carryover (oil getting past the filter element) of 0.008 PPM (parts per million). Can any common catch can filter better? Highly unlikely!
Here's a test anyone can perform to find out for sure (in fact, there are at least two guys in the tech section who have done this or plan to do this):
Plumb the Watts coalescing filter after any catch can and drive 500-1000 miles or so. Now check the Watts to see if it trapped any oil. Now reverse the order and see if a catch can will catch anything that gets past the Watts.
I do recommend that anyone with excessive blowby or those who race their vehicles regularly, get both a large catch can and the watts. The large catch can will get the bulk of the liquid oil and the Watts will trap what's left, as well as all the air born oil. However, for normal driving and occasional hard driving, the Watts is the way to go.
Dave
No two engines are exactly identical as far as how much oil blowby each produces. It would be meaningless if I compare my entrapped oil volume to that of another C5's, simply because of this potential blowby content difference. I can, however tell you that the Watts filter I use has a written specification for oil carryover (oil getting past the filter element) of 0.008 PPM (parts per million). Can any common catch can filter better? Highly unlikely!
Here's a test anyone can perform to find out for sure (in fact, there are at least two guys in the tech section who have done this or plan to do this):
Plumb the Watts coalescing filter after any catch can and drive 500-1000 miles or so. Now check the Watts to see if it trapped any oil. Now reverse the order and see if a catch can will catch anything that gets past the Watts.
I do recommend that anyone with excessive blowby or those who race their vehicles regularly, get both a large catch can and the watts. The large catch can will get the bulk of the liquid oil and the Watts will trap what's left, as well as all the air born oil. However, for normal driving and occasional hard driving, the Watts is the way to go.
Dave
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Good that the catch can is working for you. It is one of my next mods.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,178
Likes: 13
From: N. County/San Diego
Mr. Bond,
No two engines are exactly identical as far as how much oil blowby each produces. It would be meaningless if I compare my entrapped oil volume to that of another C5's, simply because of this potential blowby content difference. I can, however tell you that the Watts filter I use has a written specification for oil carryover (oil getting past the filter element) of 0.008 PPM (parts per million). Can any common catch can filter better? Highly unlikely!
Here's a test anyone can perform to find out for sure (in fact, there are at least two guys in the tech section who have done this or plan to do this):
Plumb the Watts coalescing filter after any catch can and drive 500-1000 miles or so. Now check the Watts to see if it trapped any oil. Now reverse the order and see if a catch can will catch anything that gets past the Watts.
I do recommend that anyone with excessive blowby or those who race their vehicles regularly, get both a large catch can and the watts. The large catch can will get the bulk of the liquid oil and the Watts will trap what's left, as well as all the air born oil. However, for normal driving and occasional hard driving, the Watts is the way to go.
Dave
No two engines are exactly identical as far as how much oil blowby each produces. It would be meaningless if I compare my entrapped oil volume to that of another C5's, simply because of this potential blowby content difference. I can, however tell you that the Watts filter I use has a written specification for oil carryover (oil getting past the filter element) of 0.008 PPM (parts per million). Can any common catch can filter better? Highly unlikely!
Here's a test anyone can perform to find out for sure (in fact, there are at least two guys in the tech section who have done this or plan to do this):
Plumb the Watts coalescing filter after any catch can and drive 500-1000 miles or so. Now check the Watts to see if it trapped any oil. Now reverse the order and see if a catch can will catch anything that gets past the Watts.
I do recommend that anyone with excessive blowby or those who race their vehicles regularly, get both a large catch can and the watts. The large catch can will get the bulk of the liquid oil and the Watts will trap what's left, as well as all the air born oil. However, for normal driving and occasional hard driving, the Watts is the way to go.
Dave
Do you think the Watts element/filter media would be more effective than the stainless steel wool that came with my CCA catch can?
Another words, could we use our existing catch cans with the Watts media and have the best of both worlds?
Thanks for your feedback.
RTRP.S. Hope to see you at the next SCMR!
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Hey Dave,
Do you think the Watts element/filter media would be more effective than the stainless steel wool that came with my CCA catch can?
Another words, could we use our existing catch cans with the Watts media and have the best of both worlds?
Thanks for your feedback.
RTR
P.S. Hope to see you at the next SCMR!
Do you think the Watts element/filter media would be more effective than the stainless steel wool that came with my CCA catch can?
Another words, could we use our existing catch cans with the Watts media and have the best of both worlds?
Thanks for your feedback.
RTRP.S. Hope to see you at the next SCMR!
I don't want to start a catch can war, I just want to get the word out that trapping oil has been accomplished quite successfully for many years by the utilization of borosilicate glass fibers having a density that is matched to the application's air velocity and pressure. I'm sure that most common catch cans can probably accomodate tremendous air velocities. However, in doing so, the density of the mesh that is used is not optimal for trapping all of the airborn oil. That being said, I can also say with confidence that adding the Watts coalescing filter that I specify in the article to your catch can will trap virtually all the oil that escapes from it. The only issue may be having enough space to mount both. If you mount to the front of the engine bay (as I did), you should have enough room.
See you at the SCMR!
Dave
