Catchcans?

[Chance Neel]

So what's the deal with these? I know zero about catchcans. I've never had one. I've dealt a lot with jet engines and heavy equipment but when it comes to vehicles i've always just stayed on top of the maintenance but never tore one apart or anything. So there's a lot of new things I'm always learning here. I keep hearing people mention catch cans but I don't know if its something I need now or wait to see if I make oil or what. What keeps this pool of fuel or oil from not leaking out everywhere when I hit a bump or rut? How much of a difference do they really make? are they all the same or is it something actual brand name matters?

[Rawyzf]

You're going to get all kinds of mixed replies.

 

Personally, I am a fan of them and thank you for the reminder to empty it. I just dumped about 3oz out of the can.

[Andy Seibel]

If you use the website's search function you can read literally thousands of posts related to catch cans.

 

here's a long thread, for example: http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/154204-oil-catch-can/page-1?hl=catch%20can

 

Just like with any other mod there are some who swear by it, but many more who don't use it and have no problems. If it was really necessary, don't you think GM would include it on the truck? Put one on if it makes you feel better. I don't use one and never gave it a second thought.

[Aldila]

I am a fan and believer in a catch can. I first learned of them when I had a 2014 5.3 silverado with 14k miles. I purchased one and installed it. Prior to install, I bought the CRC intake valve cleaner and performed the cleaning. I was amazed at the white smoke and it lasted for several minutes during acceleration. Since then, I've owned a 2015 6.2 and (2) 2016 5.3 trucks. They all had a catch can soon as I got them home from a dealer. For precautionary methods, I used the CRC cleaner on each of these with 0 white smoke after cleaning. A little disappointed i couldnt get them to smoke..lol.. The crud that these cans catch is amazing. I dump my can routinely and it's always filthy.

[HawkeyeSierra]

This thread is gonna get real ugly real soon.

[Hey_Fam]

i purchased one this year. I drive very short distances and my truck never gets to operating temp before i turn it off. during the cold days i catch a lot of condensation. kinda crazy to think this would all be passed through the intake manifold.

 

my opinion is that your vehicle will be fine without it, but it definitely looks like it will help in the long run.

[15 Z71]

My friend just put a new air intake on his 15 5.3 and said there was nothing on or around where boot fits intake. That was at 20,000 miles. But he also uses top teir fuel.

[Aldila]

My friend just put a new air intake on his 15 5.3 and said there was nothing on or around where boot fits intake. That was at 20,000 miles. But he also uses top teir fuel.

Majority of buildup will be farther back on 5.3 according to the couple of dealership mechanics I've spoken with.

['17 Sierra]

They're good to have for preventative maintenance for sure. They're placed in-line of the PCV system so that when the gases are pulled from the crankcase, the oil vapor/mist condensates and drops to the bottom of the can then the separated air flows back into the intake manifold. It's more important with a direct injection (GDI) engine like we have now as opposed to a port injection system that has air and fuel going past the intake valves. With a GDI engine, there's no fuel going past the intake valves (only air) to help keep them free of oil from the PCV system. Also, you'll build carbon in the combustion chamber including the top of the piston. I ran one on a C6 Z06 which pulled a good amount of oil mist through because of the high revs. You'll get a fair amount of condensation too but that'll get burned off when the can gets warm enough to assist in evaporation so you'll end up with mostly oil in the can and emptying it at around 5,000 miles is usually good. There's also a "clean side" separator option that runs off the oil fill cap on the valve cover for low vacuum events which I decided against since I really don't hot rod my truck or tow with it. Here's what my E2 can looks like from Elite Engineering.

 

[HoosierZ]

This was caught in about 2k mi this winter. I'm a believer in the benefits of catch cans.

 

['17 Sierra]

My friend just put a new air intake on his 15 5.3 and said there was nothing on or around where boot fits intake. That was at 20,000 miles. But he also uses top teir fuel.

The intake will only get oil when running it hard and that will come from the hoses leading from the valve covers up to the air box. It only happens with low vacuum situations as the positive pressure from the crankcase will vent through the breathers on each valve cover rather than being sucked through the crankcase vent by the intake manifold inlet. For those events, the clean air separator will help.

[CbrownGT]

It's a mixed bag. Some swear by it, others bash it. To each their own.

 

Personally, I don't have one because I'm not convinced it would significantly prolong life of the engine and/or parts. And I'm one of those people that runs a lot of miles and plans to run a ton on these trucks. I have 51k on my '14 (bought new November 2014, only driven 26/28 months owned because of wreck. I run 23-25k a year), and I intend to run 100k minimum.

 

Do some research on it on this site and determine what YOU feel is best. Not what I say or anyone else says.

[amxguy1970]

^ This

 

I do a ton of research on everything and although I can see some of what these guys saying in needing it the facts just aren't there for me. All the time spent to make these engines last 100's of thousands of miles GM knew what they were doing, this isn't new technology, it has been around for over a decade and refined. I did a ride along to pin point a squeak with a lead tech at a large dealer in DFW, I asked him about that and he said they have seen tons of trucks with over 100k (14+ trucks with DI) and has never seen an issue or had any signs it was running poor or throwing codes or anything even after seeing the valves.

 

I just do a yearly intake valve cleaner just for that little extra. Does having one help, I bet it does some in a very minor way. But another thing that scared me off is hearing there have been some warranty denials on engine failures because of it. So I will let the truck stay stock engine wise as it is a truck and it will never be fast and I am not trying to get all the power out of it and enjoy a quiet and reliable ride. Your call, won't hurt anything most likely...

 

Tyler

['17 Sierra]

^ This

 

I do a ton of research on everything and although I can see some of what these guys saying in needing it the facts just aren't there for me. All the time spent to make these engines last 100's of thousands of miles GM knew what they were doing, this isn't new technology, it has been around for over a decade and refined. I did a ride along to pin point a squeak with a lead tech at a large dealer in DFW, I asked him about that and he said they have seen tons of trucks with over 100k (14+ trucks with DI) and has never seen an issue or had any signs it was running poor or throwing codes or anything even after seeing the valves.

 

I just do a yearly intake valve cleaner just for that little extra. Does having one help, I bet it does some in a very minor way. But another thing that scared me off is hearing there have been some warranty denials on engine failures because of it. So I will let the truck stay stock engine wise as it is a truck and it will never be fast and I am not trying to get all the power out of it and enjoy a quiet and reliable ride. Your call, won't hurt anything most likely...

 

Tyler

You're probably spot on. It is an "over the top" mindset and a money maker for the manufacturers of these cans; $300 bucks for basically a can, 6ft of hose, a few fittings and a couple other little things inside of that can. I bought one LOL!! Actually, I've seen what crankcase vapor does to the top of the pistons on a Harley.They even put catch cans on those but most just take the venting out of the throttle body and vent it to the atmosphere.

[Rolling Thunder]

I have a couple neighbors, one with a 2000 F150 5.4L V8 and another with a 98 1500 Chevy 350 V8. The former haas 238,000 miles on it and the latter is pushing 330,000 miles. Both are nicely maintained using common sense. They asked me "Wots a catchcan?"

 

So essentially the sky isn't falling............and they don't get their oil analyzed either.