To Catch or not Catch?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,273
Likes: 14
From: Austin TX
To Catch or not Catch?
That is the question.
What is the Conventional Wisdom on Catch Cans? Worth it or not for C5 that are driven primarily on the street?
Inquiring minds want to know..........
What is the Conventional Wisdom on Catch Cans? Worth it or not for C5 that are driven primarily on the street?
Inquiring minds want to know..........
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: The Sunshine State
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I am also intested to know the true benefits of adding these. I understand in concept that they "catch" the oil that would normally build up within the system and eventually turn into sludge that shows up on your exhaust tips. Outside of that, I really need an education on the pros/cons, etc.
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,470
Likes: 2
From: Portland OR
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12
Not sure there are any cons to it to be honest. Sometimes its not a casual build up either.
Just pop off the throttle body and see what you have. I don't even offer catch cans either, so its not a sales pitch...LOL
That sludge is on the valves and built up in the combustion chamber as well. It effects air flow as well as detonation.
Just pop off the throttle body and see what you have. I don't even offer catch cans either, so its not a sales pitch...LOL
That sludge is on the valves and built up in the combustion chamber as well. It effects air flow as well as detonation.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
My car is strictly for casual driving on weekends through winding roads of northern AZ mountains. I had doubts about whether I should add a catch can. I found a light coating of oil inside the throttle body and intake. I decided on an ELITE ENGINEERING USA catch can. It isn't flashy, looks almost oem.
I check it with each oil/filter change. I get about an ounce of oil. It's worth it to me. That ounce of oil isn't going into the combustion chamber or fouling plugs.
Personally, I found the catch can a better expense than a cup holder or Corvette embossed valve caps.
http://www.eliteengineeringusa.com/Catch_Can.html
I check it with each oil/filter change. I get about an ounce of oil. It's worth it to me. That ounce of oil isn't going into the combustion chamber or fouling plugs.
Personally, I found the catch can a better expense than a cup holder or Corvette embossed valve caps.
http://www.eliteengineeringusa.com/Catch_Can.html
Last edited by hotwheels57; Oct 12, 2010 at 01:57 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 4
From: Freeport, FL
Only pros if you want to install one. I guess the question is whether or not its cost effective and/or actually needed.
If you have $99 put one on and just keep up on the maintenance with it, you'll see how much it collects.
I cleaned my intake, which wasn't too dirty and installed a fixed orifice PCV valve and added a breather in place of the oil cap and the intake is still clean, after 20k+ miles since march this year. (but thats just my experience)
If you're intereted in an off-road idea to prevent oil contamination and still provide crankcase ventilation, look into crankcase evac systems. OFFROAD ONLY though (crankcase vapor and pressure gets pulled out by the exhaust)
Anyways, just my .02 and personal opinions here.
If you have $99 put one on and just keep up on the maintenance with it, you'll see how much it collects.
I cleaned my intake, which wasn't too dirty and installed a fixed orifice PCV valve and added a breather in place of the oil cap and the intake is still clean, after 20k+ miles since march this year. (but thats just my experience)
If you're intereted in an off-road idea to prevent oil contamination and still provide crankcase ventilation, look into crankcase evac systems. OFFROAD ONLY though (crankcase vapor and pressure gets pulled out by the exhaust)
Anyways, just my .02 and personal opinions here.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,273
Likes: 14
From: Austin TX
Any chance that GM engineers omitted this to insure a thin film of oil on intake system to reduce skin friction and increase intake velocity? Or to insure upper cylinder lubrication?
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Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Portland OR
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,237
Likes: 11
From: Lacombe Louisiana
Prob a waste of money if your engine doesnt see high rpm use.An once or so of oil in an oil change cycle is nothing.If you have oil on your pipes in a large enough amount to not be burned off by your cats,you have other problems!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 4
From: Freeport, FL
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Oil from blowby that reaches the cats will slowly damage the cats, resulting in failed smog tests. A catch can won't eliminate all blowby from getting into the exhaust but it will help quite a bit. Remember, an engine intake (by design) was never intended to have oil mixed in with intake air, yet that is exactly what is happening to those who have nothing in between the PCV valve and intake manifold.
If you haven't perused this white paper already, take a look. It includes my analysis of various types of catch cans and their advantages and disadvantages.
http://www.conceptualpolymer.com/PCV...oval%20102.pdf
My experimentation is an ongoing thing; Stay tuned for more info.
If you haven't perused this white paper already, take a look. It includes my analysis of various types of catch cans and their advantages and disadvantages.
http://www.conceptualpolymer.com/PCV...oval%20102.pdf
My experimentation is an ongoing thing; Stay tuned for more info.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 552
Likes: 4
From: Mukilteo WA
I have an almost new LS2 and I checked my catch can after the first day I drove with it on. Drove about 40 miles and had about half a soda cap full in there.
The only cons appear to be the extra weight, maitenance and cost. I'm looking to do it on all my cars now.
The only cons appear to be the extra weight, maitenance and cost. I'm looking to do it on all my cars now.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Not sure there are any cons to it to be honest. Sometimes its not a casual build up either.
Just pop off the throttle body and see what you have. I don't even offer catch cans either, so its not a sales pitch...LOL
That sludge is on the valves and built up in the combustion chamber as well. It effects air flow as well as detonation.
Just pop off the throttle body and see what you have. I don't even offer catch cans either, so its not a sales pitch...LOL
That sludge is on the valves and built up in the combustion chamber as well. It effects air flow as well as detonation.
If you pop off the Throttle Body, you will see a coating of OIL on the floor of the intake manifold. If you have a PVC oil control issue, there will be LOTS of oil. A catch can will help that problem. It may not eliminate it but it will reduce it a significant amount. I added on to my C6 and it made a SIGNIFICANT difference!!
My C5 ZO6 is getting one. Its,,,still under going repairs.That oil can cause smoke under hard acceleration and ping. KR
BC
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 40,999
Likes: 9,764
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
I never installed one on my 97 or on my 03Z. Both saw extensive track usage and many miles of near the rev limiter operation. I kept each car for 6 years and never had an issue with the engine on either. The 97 had 24K miles when I sold it in 03 and the 03 had 43K miles when I sold it last year. Both engines still had their original plugs in them and they ran strong. Based on my experience I think the catch can thing is vastly overblown.
Bill
Bill
ISIS SUCKS FAT CHOAD
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,124
Likes: 53
From: Earth, United States
theres a plethora of debates on this very subject all over these forums. I say catch especially if your decently modded. i.e. heads, int. manifold, cam, the cost of a catch can from various vendors isnt that bad and installation is pretty straight foward. if your pretty handy you can make your own catch can with components that can pretty much be purchased at homedepot or lowes ect. it will save you even more money then buying.
ISIS SUCKS FAT CHOAD
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,124
Likes: 53
From: Earth, United States
I never installed one on my 97 or on my 03Z. Both saw extensive track usage and many miles of near the rev limiter operation. I kept each car for 6 years and never had an issue with the engine on either. The 97 had 24K miles when I sold it in 03 and the 03 had 43K miles when I sold it last year. Both engines still had their original plugs in them and they ran strong. Based on my experience I think the catch can thing is vastly overblown.
Bill
Bill
in defense of the catch can even though you say you raced both of your cars, they still had pretty low mileage when you got rid of them. In my oppinion its hard to make the statement that catch cans are overblown when your highest mileage vette only had 43K on the clock and by the sounds of it was not heavily modded. (not too sure maybe your car was heavily modded) either way. I'm pro catch can.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,535
Likes: 921
From: Communist Colorado
Its a hundred bucks. Just do it. Why have oil coating your valves, piston tops etc. when you dont have to? If you get little splatter of oil on your rear facia, this will also stop after adding the catch can. Ive owned 2 Z06's now and both have benefited from the catch can.
