Catch-cup runeth over?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,327
Likes: 166
From: Summerton SC
Tech Contributor
Catch-cup runeth over?
I ordered the "see-through" catch-can and installed it 3 days ago. After about 125 miles of driving (some 20 miles being spirited) the cup is already about 1/3 full? I checked it this morning and took the photo.
Seems to be a lot, what do you think? Does this seem normal? Maybe I need a bigger can, as the jar is only 2.5" tall?
Lastly I'm supposed to pour the oil back into the crankcase, right?
Thanks O' Great Forum ...
Seems to be a lot, what do you think? Does this seem normal? Maybe I need a bigger can, as the jar is only 2.5" tall?
Lastly I'm supposed to pour the oil back into the crankcase, right?
Thanks O' Great Forum ...
Track Junky
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,074
Likes: 36
From: Orlando Area
Tech Contributor
My see through was about half full in about 100 miles of spirited driving. I thought that was a bit much, but it looks like you are I the same boat as me. When I pulled my heads for a H/C swap, I couldn't believe the amount of carbon buildup on the pistons, most likely attributed to the oil.
I would not pour the oil back in. There is a possibility that it could have contaminants in it and I wouldn't take the risk.
I would not pour the oil back in. There is a possibility that it could have contaminants in it and I wouldn't take the risk.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,327
Likes: 166
From: Summerton SC
Tech Contributor
My see through was about half full in about 100 miles of spirited driving. I thought that was a bit much, but it looks like you are I the same boat as me. When I pulled my heads for a H/C swap, I couldn't believe the amount of carbon buildup on the pistons, most likely attributed to the oil.
I would not pour the oil back in. There is a possibility that it could have contaminants in it and I wouldn't take the risk.
I would not pour the oil back in. There is a possibility that it could have contaminants in it and I wouldn't take the risk.
Track Junky
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,074
Likes: 36
From: Orlando Area
Tech Contributor
This was after about 100 miles of driving. Notice the specs of dust/dirt mixed in - that's why I wouldn't re-use. Just chalk it up to "used" oil...
Pics when I first popped the stock heads off at 38k miles. The catch can was only installed about 1000 miles at this point. There were places where the carbon buildup was 1/16" thick! I couldn't believe it for such low mileage.
Remember that these carbon deposits can cause hot spots and create detonation and reduced engine performance. I have recently switched to an Elite Engineering catch can, a much better design and much larger catch reservoir. This means less frequent dumps. I couldn't go a full gas tank with the see through one.
Hope this helps, Sean
Track Junky
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,074
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From: Orlando Area
Tech Contributor
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Summerton SC
Tech Contributor
It's really easy to pull the hoses off and if you put your own loop-hose that can come on and off easily (not using clips), that way a switch out would only take a minute ...
Track Junky
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,074
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From: Orlando Area
Tech Contributor
One additional thought. After a few months I noticed that the oil collection slowed down and thought it may be that cylindrical filter at the top. After drilling several angled 1/16" holes, the oil collection went back to "normal". I'm not sure if that made a difference or I just happened to change driving habits for a short period of time, but I though it may be worth mentioning.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
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From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
Those compressed air filters are made to get water out of compressed air. They don't work long term for collecting oil mist.
I suggest you get a real catch can. I have an AMW, Tracey Lewis makes a good one with a real pcv valve. He has a great write up here.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...-catchcan.html
Don't dump that oil back in the crankcase. It's full of nasty stuff.
I suggest you get a real catch can. I have an AMW, Tracey Lewis makes a good one with a real pcv valve. He has a great write up here.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...-catchcan.html
Don't dump that oil back in the crankcase. It's full of nasty stuff.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,001
Likes: 2,702
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
I ordered the "see-through" catch-can and installed it 3 days ago. After about 125 miles of driving (some 20 miles being spirited) the cup is already about 1/3 full? I checked it this morning and took the photo.
Seems to be a lot, what do you think? Does this seem normal? Maybe I need a bigger can, as the jar is only 2.5" tall?
Lastly I'm supposed to pour the oil back into the crankcase, right?
Thanks O' Great Forum ...
Seems to be a lot, what do you think? Does this seem normal? Maybe I need a bigger can, as the jar is only 2.5" tall?
Lastly I'm supposed to pour the oil back into the crankcase, right?
Thanks O' Great Forum ...
Oil consumption on our stock 2009 LS3 (no catch can) is so low that it's difficult to measure, would probably work out to one qt per 20k-24k miles. Many other people report similar numbers. So even if we had a system that caught all of the oil being used, it still wouldn't be catching as much as you are.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,231
Likes: 451
From: Maryland
I installed one of these in my 2010 GS. Even with a few trips to the 1/4 mile track in 150 miles of driving I collected one teaspoon of oil in the cup which looks like a lot; but the math works out to be 1/2 QT. in 14,400 miles. So I would measure the amount your actually collecting to the miles traveled.
Dump the oil before it reaches the bottom of the so called filter which does not take long for me.
Edit: Go back and look at "taken19" pic of just the clear container and notice how big the end of his thumb looks compared to the container and/or oil in the container. PS: looks to me that these things are doing their job.
Dump the oil before it reaches the bottom of the so called filter which does not take long for me.
Edit: Go back and look at "taken19" pic of just the clear container and notice how big the end of his thumb looks compared to the container and/or oil in the container. PS: looks to me that these things are doing their job.
Last edited by C7/Z06 Man; Aug 1, 2011 at 01:41 AM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 264
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
I don't doubt your honesty, but I don't understand how you can be catching that much oil.
Oil consumption on our stock 2009 LS3 (no catch can) is so low that it's difficult to measure, would probably work out to one qt per 20k-24k miles. Many other people report similar numbers. So even if we had a system that caught all of the oil being used, it still wouldn't be catching as much as you are.
Oil consumption on our stock 2009 LS3 (no catch can) is so low that it's difficult to measure, would probably work out to one qt per 20k-24k miles. Many other people report similar numbers. So even if we had a system that caught all of the oil being used, it still wouldn't be catching as much as you are.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 357
Likes: 2
From: San Diego ,CA, USA
I do not know or pretend to know the reason some LS engines have this problem and others don't. My present LS3 doe snot seem to use any oil at all that I can measure between oil changes. Prior LS engines I have owned did use oil, maybe 1 qt every 1,500 miles (more when driven spirited, less on the hwy.
Either way that top end lubrication excuse strikes me as BS and if I had an oil user again I would try to catch all I could.
There have been some good write ups on this. I have a co-worker that routed the back valve cover opening and merged it with the existing path, says he reduced oil usage a bunch. Theory was less suction in one path vs two reduced the bad effect. He found the suggestion on this awesome forum a coupe years ago.
Also there are some not so great write ups on this topic so keep your BS detector on at all times when reading.
Either way that top end lubrication excuse strikes me as BS and if I had an oil user again I would try to catch all I could.
There have been some good write ups on this. I have a co-worker that routed the back valve cover opening and merged it with the existing path, says he reduced oil usage a bunch. Theory was less suction in one path vs two reduced the bad effect. He found the suggestion on this awesome forum a coupe years ago.
Also there are some not so great write ups on this topic so keep your BS detector on at all times when reading.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,106
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
If the rate collected is about 1/2 quart in 10K miles, where does the 5 quarts go in a 100K motor that never had a catch can?
Track Junky
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,074
Likes: 36
From: Orlando Area
Tech Contributor
The goal of this forum is to share ideas and best practices among fellow car enthusiasts. Readers should consider the information they read here and filter it for themselves when making decisions.
To answer your other question, the oil that the catch can does not collect goes into the intake manifold and the combustion chamber. This can cause carbon deposits and potential hot spots. I pulled my heads at 38k and couldn't believe the amount to carbon buildup without the catch can. Look at the pics I posted above to get an idea
Last edited by taken19; Aug 4, 2011 at 04:24 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,106
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
The truth is that there may be no difference at all. The concern is that you could be putting bad (contaminated) oil back into the engine. It could have no effect or it could end up damaging the motor or accelerating the normal wear. But why would you take the risk for a few dollars of new oil? Is it worth risking potential damage to the motor? Not in my opinion.
The goal of this forum is to share ideas and best practices among fellow car enthusiasts. Readers should consider the information they read here and filter it for themselves when making decisions.
To answer your other question, the oil that the catch can does not collect goes into the intake manifold and the combustion chamber. This can cause carbon deposits and potential hot spots. I pulled my heads at 38k and couldn't believe the amount to carbon buildup without the catch can. Look at the pics I posted above to get an idea
The goal of this forum is to share ideas and best practices among fellow car enthusiasts. Readers should consider the information they read here and filter it for themselves when making decisions.
To answer your other question, the oil that the catch can does not collect goes into the intake manifold and the combustion chamber. This can cause carbon deposits and potential hot spots. I pulled my heads at 38k and couldn't believe the amount to carbon buildup without the catch can. Look at the pics I posted above to get an idea
I knew where the oil went, but was joking. I suspect the carbon in your engine was more the result of the gas you use and your driving habits. I pulled my heads at 71K and had almost no buildup and had not used a catch can.