How often you empty catch cans
I have been looking at catch cans recently and am not sure if it would be worth while for me. I have a bone stock 2002 LS1 that has the "fancy" intake that the CETA's were fitted with. The car just turned 45k miles. I am thinking about catch cans to keep the intake system clean and help keep the valves from gumming up. Are these only worth while for boosted/supercharged applications? Is it just overkill for the amount of benefit? Thanks!
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I have been looking at catch cans recently and am not sure if it would be worth while for me. I have a bone stock 2002 LS1 that has the "fancy" intake that the CETA's were fitted with. The car just turned 45k miles. I am thinking about catch cans to keep the intake system clean and help keep the valves from gumming up. Are these only worth while for boosted/supercharged applications? Is it just overkill for the amount of benefit? Thanks!
Tip: the LS3 driver side valve cover has a much improved baffle to stop air borne (suspended) oil inside the valve cover from being sucked into the intake (NA)
If you have some oil contamination inside the intake, you might try changing the driver side valve cover first and check results before purchasing a more expensive catch can system.
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/th...nstall.251305/
Last edited by dlandsvZ28; Jan 31, 2021 at 10:56 AM. Reason: edit content
What was the mixture like in your can? How much oil versus water? The oil and water should have separated out if you let it sit overnight. What do your spark plugs look like? Signs of oil? How much boost are you running and what HP did the engine make?
Last edited by QwkTrip; Jan 30, 2021 at 01:40 PM.
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Joined: May 2013
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From: Detroit
Come on dude, why did you hold this information back earlier? Your PCV system can definitely use some improvements, but you might just have a lot of piston blow by.
What was the mixture like in your can? How much oil versus water? The oil and water should have separated out if you let it sit overnight. What do your spark plugs look like? Signs of oil? How much boost are you running and what HP did the engine make?
What was the mixture like in your can? How much oil versus water? The oil and water should have separated out if you let it sit overnight. What do your spark plugs look like? Signs of oil? How much boost are you running and what HP did the engine make?
It seemed like mostly oil to me, but it would have remixed when I drained it. I honestly did not pay the at close attention. Had it not been dripping I wouldn’t have even noticed it. I have not pulled any plugs. It runs great, not smoking at all.
I am leaning it filled on the dyno, when the line was removed but just not sure. I plan to monitor it this summer when I get it back out. It was in the body shop almost all last year after the dyno.
I will still welcome any critique of the PVC setup, if there are concerns. Based on my research here, and elsewhere, even OEM boosted solutions, it seems like a classic setup.
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Strictly a FWIW post here , my set up is this
home made catch can with 2 check valves
Factory orifice on drivers side VC drilled out to max size bit i could get in there , basic sbc gen 1 pcv valve adapted to cover with a few sizes of hose
3/8 hose to bottom of can ( below filter medium )
2 check valves in top of can, 3/8 hose to intake ( Factory pcv port )
another 3/8 hose to pre turbo / post filter
pass side VC port 3/8 hose to pre turbo/post filter
Under boost or WOT both covers get a slight vacuum from air filter restrictions -- haven't measured but it works well
this set up worked well but got a lot of oil - 3-4 oz per tank of fuel . Was a real pain on HRPT.
As mentioned above gm revised the valve cover baffling a couple of times, there are pictures on line so I basically copied what I could to my 04 covers by rtving same thin material over some of the holes and making shields around others . I did both covers as it vents out of both at Wot that change reduced oil in can by 2/3.
other factors , ring gaps are unknown 180k un opened, pump gas WM injection 15lbs max. No dyno but about 600 rwhp from calculation. No open vents as you can get a 300+$ fine for that around here . As far as I can tell just oil in the can , a bit darker than what's in the engine
home made catch can with 2 check valves
Factory orifice on drivers side VC drilled out to max size bit i could get in there , basic sbc gen 1 pcv valve adapted to cover with a few sizes of hose
3/8 hose to bottom of can ( below filter medium )
2 check valves in top of can, 3/8 hose to intake ( Factory pcv port )
another 3/8 hose to pre turbo / post filter
pass side VC port 3/8 hose to pre turbo/post filter
Under boost or WOT both covers get a slight vacuum from air filter restrictions -- haven't measured but it works well
this set up worked well but got a lot of oil - 3-4 oz per tank of fuel . Was a real pain on HRPT.
As mentioned above gm revised the valve cover baffling a couple of times, there are pictures on line so I basically copied what I could to my 04 covers by rtving same thin material over some of the holes and making shields around others . I did both covers as it vents out of both at Wot that change reduced oil in can by 2/3.
other factors , ring gaps are unknown 180k un opened, pump gas WM injection 15lbs max. No dyno but about 600 rwhp from calculation. No open vents as you can get a 300+$ fine for that around here . As far as I can tell just oil in the can , a bit darker than what's in the engine
Remove the throttle body intake and look inside the intake. If it's reasonably clean and dry inside then perhaps not. On the other hand, if it's a mess inside, then IMO install a catch can but get a good one (MightyMouse catch cans have good reviews).
Tip: the LS3 driver side valve cover has a much improved baffle to stop air borne (suspended) oil inside the valve cover from being sucked into the intake (NA)
If you have some oil contamination inside the intake, you might try changing the driver side valve cover first and check results before purchasing a more expensive catch can system.
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/th...nstall.251305/
Tip: the LS3 driver side valve cover has a much improved baffle to stop air borne (suspended) oil inside the valve cover from being sucked into the intake (NA)
If you have some oil contamination inside the intake, you might try changing the driver side valve cover first and check results before purchasing a more expensive catch can system.
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/th...nstall.251305/
Top looks pretty dirty
I can see some of the back
Was able to get some reflections off of the interior
