2014 GMC Sierra 5.3L issues

Jacoby · April 11, 2019

1 hour ago, njk4o5 said:

most the guys on here with over 100k on these motors, myself included, do not have a stupid catch can.

Waste of $$

Yay

Morpheus · April 12, 2019

21 hours ago, HeySkippyDog said:

I'm confused man. What exactly would a catch can do to blow oil seals? It doesn't increase pressure.

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Here is an article in this forum regarding most of the research I have also found.

I emptied my catch can every 1000 miles. The amount of actual oil was minimal but the amount of condensation was ridiculous. In any way the check valve on the exit side of the catch can fails or a line freezes/plugs, you will over pressurize your crank case.

Elite Engineering's logic says that there is still a clean side to the system preventing any kind of over-pressure. However, the evidence is clear not only through GM that it is very possible.

Morpheus · April 12, 2019

20 hours ago, Jacoby said:

Sorry OP I gotta call BS on the catch can being the culprit.

Look at my previous reply. At first, I thought the same as you. After hours of research and understanding how the system is designed to operate, I believe it to be very possible. Lucky for me, the dealership is still trying to repair the vehicle.

Morpheus · April 12, 2019

12 hours ago, diyer2 said:

I agree a catch can can't be the cause of blown seals.

I live in the mountains and have a catch can on my 2012.

Some of my trips cause our ears to plug up due to the elevation changes.

Now there is less atmospheric up here I believe.

One of my trips the elevation goes from 9200 feet to 5000 feet.

I would think these elevation changes would have more affect on pressures than flat landers.

Your changes in pressure would absolutely have more affect than where I'm at in the Texas panhandle. It effects efficiency of the motor, fuel usage among many other things. The 2014-2018 5.3L motors are different in seals and in oil pans as well. From what I gather, your 2012 would be a lot stouter with the seals than my 2014. The mechanic I spoke with today said that the RMS are really thin on the 2014s as well.

Regarding the catch can, refer to my previous post referring to an article in this forum. It has a better explanation than I'm willing to summarize for everyone.

Morpheus · April 12, 2019

9 hours ago, TXGREEK said:

Thank you very much for bringing this up and for your honesty, I too have been contemplating on having one installed on my 6.2. If it makes you feel any better, a couple months ago, while outside on the AutoZone parking lot looking under my hood I ran into an employee of AutoZone and he’s running a catch can too, raves about it and on a recent visit to stock up on detailing spray he warned me against using it cause his warranty was eradicated due to the damage the catch can “apparently” did to his truck. My truck only has 16k miles on it but I’ve sworn that if I ever have major issues that are caused by crappy engineering and can’t be fixed then I’d go out and purchase the newest twin turbo Raptor without having to lift or modify.

Good luck to you and definitely wish you better future experiences

Sent from above

I wouldn't put one on if I were you. The 6.2L is a way better motor than the 5.3L in my opinion. Its more fuel efficient, obviously more powerful, cost less on an oil change etc etc. Catch cans have their purpose on vehicles that run all out all the time. Not for daily drivers that putt their trucks around town/country side and haul a few things on the weekend. I remove my catch can and installed the stock PCV system to the truck. When removing my catch can system, I noticed the same kind of condensation build up I'd empty from the can in the bottom of my throttle body. When I installed it, it never had anything like that in the throttle body and the intake was clean. Catch cans are crap IMO, but I know a lot of people swear by them and love them. I guess to each their own.