Catch Can Question

[czellers]

So I've been seeing a bunch of install videos for the baffled oil catch cans, pcv side.

Is there sound cause/reason this should be installed? ie, certain driving conditions like track etc leaving the engine more susceptible to degraded performance/carbon buildup?

[NoHaveMSG]

Forced induction.

I haven't seen a reason to run one on my NA car. I could go 7500 miles and 4-6 track days and have no noticeable difference in oil level.

[DarkPira7e]

I ran one on my NA car. Didn't catch anything unless I was hammering it hard; still didn't accumulate much, but I'd rather keep anything I can catch out of my intake.
I used the Radium PCV side can. I vent the crankcase side to atmosphere and have never had anything show up in that line, NA or turbo. I think each car will have its own propensity for blow-by; I know that mine does so it helped me.

The idea is that oil vapor gets forced into the intake. Our systems recycle this, and oil lowers octane rating- eventually possibly leading to an issue.
If you plan on beating the car, it's worth the small investment to have one on the PCV side at least, in my opinion.

[x808drifter]

Track and or Boost get one.
Otherwise peace of mind if NA and not run hard.

[Breadman]

Originally Posted by czellers

So I've been seeing a bunch of install videos for the baffled oil catch cans, pcv side.

Is there sound cause/reason this should be installed? ie, certain driving conditions like track etc leaving the engine more susceptible to degraded performance/carbon buildup?

well i mean besides not sucking oil vapor through your intake? NA, thats the only real reason. with that said every oil change i have about an ounce ounce and a half in mine. it makes absolutely no sense to me why anyone would allow that to be run throught their engine when they could stop it

[Turdinator]

I am NA with bolt ons and flex fuel and my catch can on the pcv side catches about a tablespoons worth every two weeks. I plan on keeping my car a long time so it seemed like cheap peace of mind.

[czellers]

Originally Posted by Turdinator

I am NA with bolt ons and flex fuel and my catch can on the pcv side catches about a tablespoons worth every two weeks. I plan on keeping my car a long time so it seemed like cheap peace of mind.

This is kinda where my head is at..

[norcalpb]

Originally Posted by Breadman

well i mean besides not sucking oil vapor through your intake? NA, thats the only real reason. with that said every oil change i have about an ounce ounce and a half in mine. it makes absolutely no sense to me why anyone would allow that to be run throught their engine when they could stop it

I think that even though the PCV forces crankcase blow by back into the intake, our port injectors clean the valves? I am by no means an expert on our engines though.

I personally have never run one and I'm at 150k miles. I do know that our direct injection system is much more efficient than say the one on my old Audi A4 which would gunk up the intake valves in no time.

Who knows what my valves look like but the engine feels as good as ever.

[czellers]

Originally Posted by Breadman

well i mean besides not sucking oil vapor through your intake? NA, thats the only real reason. with that said every oil change i have about an ounce ounce and a half in mine. it makes absolutely no sense to me why anyone would allow that to be run throught their engine when they could stop it

As in, there's a good case to be made this should be a factory/OEM part, right? If so, I would agree with that..

[Breadman]

Originally Posted by czellers

As in, there's a good case to be made this should be a factory/OEM part, right? If so, I would agree with that..

no because your average car driver puts gas in their tank and doesnt do scheduled maintenance. it would over flow on 99% of cars. i know people that seriously have like 20k miles on their oil because it is a "dealership scam to get you in"

[Turdinator]

Originally Posted by norcalpb

I think that even though the PCV forces crankcase blow by back into the intake, our port injectors clean the valves? I am by no means an expert on our engines though.

I personally have never run one and I'm at 150k miles. I do know that our direct injection system is much more efficient than say the one on my old Audi A4 which would gunk up the intake valves in no time.

Who knows what my valves look like but the engine feels as good as ever.

Gunking up the valves on DI only engines is a big issue and one we don't have to worry about. I have done ~100k miles and I can tell you my valves are nice and clean.

That said, burning oil lowers the effective octane rating of the fuel you use which can lead to knock. The oil also is unmetered so doesn't burn cleanly, you can end up with gunk through your exhaust. It can damage cat converters and over time reduce your exhaust diameter.

They aren't big issues but for long term ownership it is something to consider.

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by norcalpb

I think that even though the PCV forces crankcase blow by back into the intake, our port injectors clean the valves? I am by no means an expert on our engines though.

I personally have never run one and I'm at 150k miles. I do know that our direct injection system is much more efficient than say the one on my old Audi A4 which would gunk up the intake valves in no time.

Who knows what my valves look like but the engine feels as good as ever.

Yes, that is correct. Port injection helps keep the intake side clean.

I had mine apart at.....I can't remember 80k+ and it didn't look any worse then any engine I have ever seen before. There actually is an injection cleaner that is part of regular maintenance. I had never heard of it until recently.

[norcalpb]

Originally Posted by NoHaveMSG

Yes, that is correct. Port injection helps keep the intake side clean.

I had mine apart at.....I can't remember 80k+ and it didn't look any worse then any engine I have ever seen before. There actually is an injection cleaner that is part of regular maintenance. I had never heard of it until recently.

Anymore details on the injection cleaner? I haven't done anything like that yet.

[czellers]

Originally Posted by norcalpb

Anymore details on the injection cleaner? I haven't done anything like that yet.

I worked in the service dept at Honda about 8 years ago. We sold something called a fuel system clean. Basically a can of something slowly discharged into the intake (post filter) while the car ran on the lift at low rpm.. tons of smoke like seafoam but not really sure about the specifics but it sounds kinda similar?