Oil catch can?

sdeeter19555 · September 23, 2014

Here is a product from CRC that I'm thinking about giving a try: http://crcindustries.com/auto/intake-valve-cleaner.php

CRC makes good stuff...

bladz1454 · September 23, 2014

I'm running across oil catch cans with breathers on top... is this necessary/will it be any different than the closed systems? Did a little Google research and they all said that performance cars should have breathers on top... obviously I do not fall into that category haha

sdeeter19555 · September 23, 2014

You don't want a breather...emissions.

Crf450r420 · September 24, 2014

Only an issue if your state test emissions.

Crf450r420 · September 24, 2014

This is the RX can for the Silverado/Sierra: http://www.revxtreme.com/chevrolet/rx-catch-can-single-check-valve

Quick look only shows it available through them and C6 Performance. Are there any big brands that make good ones?

Silverado-Hareek · September 24, 2014

Quick look only shows it available through them and C6 Performance. Are there any big brands that make good ones?

I honestly don't know. I've just seen RX as the most recommended brand by Corvette and Camaro gurus and the guys here on this forum. RX seems to design stuff for GM engines and that's what you want a company that's focusing on certain engine types. I have a buddy that's about to get one for his Mazda Speed 3 from a company that specializes in Mazda performance parts. I guess the best advice is to avoid the "one size fits all" catch cans and from what I can tell, you generally get what you pay for (i.e. cheaper can means it probably won't do much).

Crf450r420 · September 24, 2014

I honestly don't know. I've just seen RX as the most recommended brand by Corvette and Camaro gurus and the guys here on this forum. RX seems to design stuff for GM engines and that's what you want a company that's focusing on certain engine types. I have a buddy that's about to get one for his Mazda Speed 3 from a company that specializes in Mazda performance parts. I guess the best advice is to avoid the "one size fits all" catch cans and from what I can tell, you generally get what you pay for (i.e. cheaper can means it probably won't do much).

Other needing to be larger for some, I size should fit all. It is just seperating the liquid from the gas so the motor injest what is blown passed the rings withouy the oil that is picked up from splash and evaporation. Which brings up a good thought. If we tie the can to cold low side line more oil would condensed into the can instead of going through the motor.

Silverado-Hareek · September 24, 2014

Other needing to be larger for some, I size should fit all. It is just seperating the liquid from the gas so the motor injest what is blown passed the rings withouy the oil that is picked up from splash and evaporation. Which brings up a good thought. If we tie the can to cold low side line more oil would condensed into the can instead of going through the motor.

You have to consider the construction of the can. Some cheaper cans are no more than a hollow metal cylinder with the inlet and outlet ports at the top for the hoses to connect to.....that can basically doesn't do anything at all. RX has their own patented design of internal filtration components as does the can my buddy is getting for his Mazda. I don't know enough about engines to address your last statement but me personally, I'm going to go with the trusted can by GM owners, RX, and I'm going to install it where RX says to install it.

Crf450r420 · September 24, 2014

Not saying all cans are good, but all good cans will work on all motors if they fit in the engine bay and don't fill up to fast.

Silverado-Hareek · September 24, 2014

Not saying all cans are good, but all good cans will work on all motors if they fit in the engine bay and don't fill up to fast.

Yeah true. I guess it's hard to tell what's good and what isn't. I would pay attention to the brands the guys here are recommending. There's been some others besides RX that GM owners have had success with for sure.

bladz1454 · September 24, 2014

Im personally still on the fence... i spoke with some buddies who race stock cars and the two mechanics literally laughed at me when i said i wanted to put one on my truck. they run pretty complex catch cans/systems that filter and re-enter the oil into the crankcase on their race cars but i argued with all the pictures and research from forums and they still said at the end of the day - the impact is there but minimal on a n/a vehicle like ours. when i showed them the pics people were posting i got even more flak. so i dont know what to do haha

ill finish by saying the older/wiser of the two asked me these questions:

do you follow service intervals? yes

do you run a synthetic blend? yes

do you beat the shit out of your truck? no

do you run a cleaner every couple thousand? yes, techron

... 'you're fine, you can easily run that DI motor over 200-300k with no major problems'

Edited September 24, 2014 by bladz1454

Silverado-Hareek · September 24, 2014

Im personally still on the fence... i spoke with some buddies who race stock cars and the two mechanics literally laughed at me when i said i wanted to put one on my truck. they run pretty complex catch cans/systems that filter and re-enter the oil into the crankcase on their race cars but i argued with all the pictures and research from forums and they still said at the end of the day - the impact is there but minimal on a n/a vehicle like ours. when i showed them the pics people were posting i got even more flak. so i dont know what to do haha

ill finish by saying the older/wiser of the two asked me these questions:

do you follow service intervals? yes

do you run a synthetic blend? yes

do you beat the shit out of your truck? no

do you run a cleaner every couple thousand? yes, techron

... 'you're fine, you can easily run that DI motor over 200-300k with no major problems'

What is an "n/a" vehicle?

At any rate, I think your buddies need an update on DI engines and how they operate. Techron does absolutely nothing for the valves as there is no fuel passing over them. Thus oil blow by will still build up on them. An oil catch can will prevent most of that build up, but you still need to have specialized cleaning services done (Google products by BG) to clean the valves every 15,000 miles. Synthetic oil blend helps, but does not prevent or stop the problem and any benefit is mostly negligible. Honestly I've heard opinions like theirs before and no offense but it comes from a position of not understanding DI engines completely and relying on years of information on typical port injection engines that does not apply to DI engines. That last statement about 200-300k miles is flat out wrong and should be completely ignored. The DI engine in my wife's car was already having valve problems at 45,000 miles and we had to do the BG cleaning service to fix it. She's been running synthetic blend since day 1.

Edited September 24, 2014 by Silverado-Hareek

bladz1454 · September 24, 2014

What is an "n/a" vehicle?

At any rate, I think your buddies need an update on DI engines and how they operate. Techron does absolutely nothing for the valves as there is no fuel passing over them. Thus oil blow by will still build up on them. An oil catch can will prevent most of that build up, but you still need to have specialized cleaning services done (Google products by BG) to clean the valves every 15,000 miles. Synthetic oil blend helps, but does not prevent or stop the problem and any benefit is mostly negligible. Honestly I've heard opinions like theirs before and no offense but it comes from a position of not understanding DI engines completely and relying on years of information on typical port injection engines that does not apply to DI engines. That last statement about 200-300k miles is flat out wrong and should be completely ignored. The DI engine in my wife's car was already having valve problems at 45,000 miles and we had to do the BG cleaning service to fix it. She's been running synthetic blend since day 1.

I think n/a means naturally aspirated (no forced induction)? And no, trust me - I completely agree with you. Its just the more i read/talk to people, i feel like there's such a big divide. I definitely think you are spot on though with the 'not understanding DI engines completely' because im sure the stuff they work on is not DI nor have they been to a class about modern cars in years lol.

Blahhh, thats such a bummer about the wifes car too. I'm thinking of getting a can just for peace of mind. I plan on turning this truck into a work horse after using it as a daily driver for a few more years so i want it to be clean.

Also, good thing you said that about the techron - i've run 2 bottles (one very 5k) through my truck and if its not doing anything ill stop wasting my money!

Edited September 24, 2014 by bladz1454

Silverado-Hareek · September 24, 2014

I think n/a means naturally aspirated (no forced induction)? And no, trust me - I completely agree with you. Its just the more i read/talk to people, i feel like there's such a big divide. I definitely think you are spot on though with the 'not understanding DI engines completely' because im sure the stuff they work on is not DI nor have they been to a class about modern cars in years lol.

Blahhh, thats such a bummer about the wifes car too. I'm thinking of getting a can just for peace of mind. I plan on turning this truck into a work horse after using it as a daily driver for a few more years so i want it to be clean.

Also, good thing you said that about the techron - i've run 2 bottles (one very 5k) through my truck and if its not doing anything ill stop wasting my money!

Yeah there's definitely a big divide. Everyone means well but the more I research, the more sure I am that DI engines will have dirty valve problems and something will need to be done to address it. I wouldn't consider my wife's car a bummer because what she had done (the BG cleaning service) is becoming a routine maintenance item for DI engines as common as changing your oil. It's just a fact of life if you have a DI engine that you will need to clean them and you may want to install a catch can too but it's not really 100% necessary to install one if you're going to get the engine cleaned anyway.

As for the Techron, I was going to start doing that as well until I read up on DI technology. It may help keep your injectors clean but people have opinions about that as well since DI engines shoot gas at such a high PSI the injectors will probably stay clean anyway. I basically stick with Shell gasoline to help keep the fuel system as clean as possible and I'll be doing the BG cleaning service once a year which has a Technron-like component as part of that process. The rest of the BG cleaning service is designed to specifically address the dirty valves and clean them. There's a bunch of videos on youtube about this service if you want to check it out. It ran about $160 on my wife's 4 cylinder Hyundai hatchback.

Edited September 24, 2014 by Silverado-Hareek

bladz1454 · September 24, 2014

Sorry to beat a dead horse but I have a question in regards to my breather comment earlier. If you get a can with a breather on top and just cap the exit so that all crap gets caught in the can and then whats ever left exits the breather... and then you completely cap off the intake inlet where the venting was going to go... doesnt that get rid of this "reintroducing harmful vapors into the intake" problem all together? or will this cause some sort of vacuum problem?