Name that liquid in my catch can (pics)
Name that liquid in my catch can (pics) I have been pulling this liquid out of my catch can (revextreme) since I purchased it about 3 months ago or so and was told it was just condensation but this kinda seems too extreme to be condensation? It kinda worries me. The amount drained in this jar is from about 775 miles worth of driving without emptying the catch can. It led me to believe there was a head gasket leak because of so much of this comeing out of the can but I did a coolant system compresion check with the pump thing on the radiator and it held pressure just fine. My radiator is still full of coolant as well as my coolant resevoir. I would think if all that liquid it was pulling out was coolant then I would definatly have noticed the coolant resevoir being low. If I pull the oil dipstick out it shows no signs of water in the oil. The oil fill cap will have a few drops of water under it and am about possitive that is condensation. It is really cold right now with the average temp probably around 40 or so. The average trip in the car is about 20 miles or so with a occasional long trip. It sits all week and driven on only on most weekends about 300 miles a month or so. I know the brownish liquid on top in the jar is oil which would be normal but what the heck is all that other liquid? It is driving me nuts!
it looks just like whats in my catch can. its condensation/oil. i have an aluminum block. every time i drive mine i get about an ounce of that crap in my catch can. i have dumped it after the motor warms up and continued driving and wont get any more in my catch can until i do another cold start up. you should try this just to see what happens.
it looks just like whats in my catch can. its condensation/oil. i have an aluminum block. every time i drive mine i get about an ounce of that crap in my catch can. i have dumped it after the motor warms up and continued driving and wont get any more in my catch can until i do another cold start up. you should try this just to see what happens.
I just moved to Milwaukee and I've noticed I get a lot more of this oil & water in my catch can than when I was in Los Angeles. Certainly makes sense since LA is a desert, but I'm surprise how much more I get here. There was hardly of this crap, usually just got oil, when I was in LA but here I was getting lots... until I put my car away for the winter a couple weeks ago 
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Verdad Gallardo I just moved to Milwaukee and I've noticed I get a lot more of this oil & water in my catch can than when I was in Los Angeles. Certainly makes sense since LA is a desert, but I'm surprise how much more I get here. There was hardly of this crap, usually just got oil, when I was in LA but here I was getting lots... until I put my car away for the winter a couple weeks ago
The stuff in the top of the jar is water (condensation) mixed with oil I believe. Hence the milky brown color.
where's it mounted? I'm seeing this as well. Smells and looks like an oil/water mix. The catch can used to be mounted to the passenger side cylinder head and would get hot along with the engine. Mounted there I never saw this type of fluid in the catch can, only oil. Since it's been relocated off the engine I've been getting lots of water. It's been cold here as well so I guess it's consistent with other guys. Maybe I'll just put it back on the engine and call it a day.
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,216
Likes: 236
From: Wichita KS / Rancho San Diego
Tracy
is it better to mount it on the head to keep the water as vapor? or to mount it on the side to let it condense?
ps...you'll be getting an order for a CC from me soon...yay 3 paychecks in Jan 2010!!!
is it better to mount it on the head to keep the water as vapor? or to mount it on the side to let it condense?
ps...you'll be getting an order for a CC from me soon...yay 3 paychecks in Jan 2010!!!
Here in FL and other warm states (at least it USED to be warm) the cooler the better, but they do fine on the cylinder head. In Northern cold climates I would say the cyl head. The water as vapor pulled through does not affect performance and is fine going through the combustion chamber, but if it is cold enough to congeal or freeze, you will have draining issues and you don't want a full can.
