Catch Can Install and Observations

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Mar 25, 2006 | 04:17 PM

#21

Warp Factor

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Joined: Oct 2005

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From: Metro Detroit Michigan

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrLeadFoot

PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong in any way, here.

I don't think you're wrong. I'm guessing that success or failure may depend on the year of the car (different PCV setups) and how much blowby you're getting. You may get away with the restriction whereas someone with more blowby or who runs harder may not without blowing oil into the throttle body.

Last edited by Warp Factor; Mar 25, 2006 at 04:22 PM.

Mar 25, 2006 | 04:30 PM

#22

MrLeadFoot

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Joined: Jul 2004

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From: Folsom Lake CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warp Factor

My point is that there IS indeed a safety net. And, should oil get blown into the throttle body area, it would only be at a point of too much restriction, right? And, if you think about it, even if that were to happen, how different would that be from letting all that oil I'm trapping now get past my PCV valve to begin with? A the end of the day, that oil, no matter which hose it came through would all end up in the same place... on my pistons, right?

So, it sounds like the bottom line is, restrictive or not, the CH filter with stone element is still better than nothing, right?

FWIW, I was first told about this mod by someone with FI, who saw no problems over an extended period. I figured if anyone was going to have issues, he was more prone to have them than me with my NA stock motor.

Mar 25, 2006 | 04:50 PM

#23

Warp Factor

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From: Metro Detroit Michigan

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrLeadFoot

So, it sounds like the bottom line is, restrictive or not, the CH filter with stone element is still better than nothing, right?

I think so. Is it as good as the CH without the filter element though?

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrLeadFoot

FWIW, I was first told about this mod by someone with FI, who saw no problems over an extended period. I figured if anyone was going to have issues, he was more prone to have them than me with my NA stock motor.

The FI might be altogether a different animal. The throttle body supply is usually disconnected (otherwise you pressurize the crankcase with boost) and most of us run a K&N style valve cover breather which vents blowby to the atmosphere when it exceeds the capacity of the PCV. So there's no way oil can get to the throttle body anyway.

Mar 25, 2006 | 05:01 PM

#24

MrLeadFoot

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From: Folsom Lake CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warp Factor

I think so. Is it as good as the CH without the filter element though?

The FI might be altogether a different animal. The throttle body supply is usually disconnected (otherwise you pressurize the crankcase with boost) and most of us run a K&N style valve cover breather which vents blowby to the atmosphere when it exceeds the capacity of the PCV. So there's no way oil can get to the throttle body anyway.

I can't see HOW running without the element would be better for extracting contaminants from the vapors. Sure you'd still have centrifugal wicking but you should see how much the filter extracts.

Can't speak for the FI setup, but based on what I've learned here on this thread, you should be able to tell right away, because I would think that your vent-to-the-atmosphere filter should start spitting oil if you had a restriction problem.

Mar 25, 2006 | 05:44 PM

#25

Warp Factor

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From: Metro Detroit Michigan

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrLeadFoot

I can't see HOW running without the element would be better for extracting contaminants from the vapors. Sure you'd still have centrifugal wicking but you should see how much the filter extracts.

I'm not saying it would extract more oil without the element. Only that it might better preserve the factory calibrated airflow through the PCV system, and that there would be less chance of blowing oil into the throttle body. Another route might be to use a larger compressor filter assembly. Don't know if any of it's necessary. Your system seems to work for you so

One could try it the way you've described, and if oil shows up in the throttle body line, then try removing the element.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrLeadFoot

Might be hard to tell, because under boost, all the blowby exits through that filter anyway.
They do start to make a mess though when an engine gets tired and blowby is excessive.

Mar 25, 2006 | 06:13 PM

#26

allmee

Racer

Joined: Dec 2005

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From: North Las Vegas Nevada

I thought the idea was to STOP the oil from getting into the intake. I am not so worried about filtering the oil as I am stopping it all together. I want to let the PCV breath as easily as possible and stop oil at the same time. I think my setup is achieving this but I need to keep an eye on my 3rd filter, ( with a little breather element in it ), because a tiny bit of oil gets through and caught here.

Mar 25, 2006 | 08:14 PM

#27

MrLeadFoot

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From: Folsom Lake CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warp Factor

One could try it the way you've described, and if oil shows up in the throttle body line, then try removing the element.

Might be hard to tell, because under boost, all the blowby exits through that filter anyway.
They do start to make a mess though when an engine gets tired and blowby is excessive.

There is a larger air compressor filter, about the size of an AMW can. The element is relatively larger, too, so that IS a viable option for those who are concerned, and maybe better suited for an FI engine, but all I know is this little guy works well, and I wanted something small. But, now that you mention it, maybe the larger one would work even better... larger filter surface, larger bowl for centrigufal wicking, etc. Plus, I be that larger element alone eases the restriction significantly. Maybe you should try it. It's only like $29.

Oh, no, now you got me thinking about this issue again.

Am I going to have to try it?

Mar 25, 2006 | 08:19 PM

#28

MrLeadFoot

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From: Folsom Lake CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by allmee

Yes, the idea is to STOP the oil, but nothing's going to COMPLETELY stop it. I don't think a tiny bit is going to hurt as much a large amount, the likes of which my little compressor is trapping. I simply can't believe the amount that would go into the intake without it. I think a quart of it going in over the time between oil changes has GOT to be bad for any engine. I'm sure we all agree on that. And, if someone comes up with something better than the air compressor filter installed backward with a stone still in it, I'd be damned surprised, as well as willing to try it. Because I know for a fact that this little thing is better than an after-market catch-can, because I compared it firsthand to an AMW, and an AMW is probably the best in design. Obviously, it's not better in practice, though.