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Should I get a catch can?

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Old Apr 10, 2022 | 11:03 PM
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Default Should I get a catch can?

Per the video it looks like I now have blowby. Haven't pulled the plugs yet but I'm going to. Engine is a 383 LS1. 243 heads and Fast 90/90. Has the LS6 valley cover I believe. Been in the car 12 yrs. But only has around 10,000 miles on it. I'm not happy with the smoke considering it has that few miles. But that's life. Would a catch can help any? I haven't checked inside the intake yet but will do that also. Thanks.


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Old Apr 11, 2022 | 12:17 AM
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big fan of catch cans in any scenario, turbo or NA. Mighty Mouse and Motion Raceworks both make great kits in various hose sizing and options.

Last edited by theunderlord; Apr 11, 2022 at 12:41 AM.
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Old Apr 11, 2022 | 06:29 AM
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Could be the valve seals, maybe its moisture/condensation burning off, what type of oil have you been using? Years ago I had a older vehicles that had ring blow by and it looked like a exhaust pipe and would blow the dip stick tube out.
on my LS I use a catch can but it barely has anything in it. When I use a high shear oil like Motul 300v or 8100 x-cess.

Last edited by jasons69chevelle; Apr 11, 2022 at 06:39 AM.
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Old Apr 11, 2022 | 09:16 AM
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Originally Posted by jasons69chevelle
Could be the valve seals, maybe its moisture/condensation burning off, what type of oil have you been using? Years ago I had a older vehicles that had ring blow by and it looked like a exhaust pipe and would blow the dip stick tube out.
on my LS I use a catch can but it barely has anything in it. When I use a high shear oil like Motul 300v or 8100 x-cess.
I use Valvoline VR1 Race oil. 10w-30. The high zinc. That's what the engine builder said to use. Tick Performance did the engine for me back in 2010. Its been in the car a long time but like I said only has about 10,000 miles on it. If I pull my dipstick out smoke is coming out the tube also.
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Old Apr 11, 2022 | 09:32 AM
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Originally Posted by 98LS1auto
I use Valvoline VR1 Race oil. 10w-30. The high zinc. That's what the engine builder said to use. Tick Performance did the engine for me back in 2010. Its been in the car a long time but like I said only has about 10,000 miles on it. If I pull my dipstick out smoke is coming out the tube also.
black bottle or silver? 12 years maybe the valve seals shrinking/drying out. Do you get the oil changed out yearly?


Last edited by jasons69chevelle; Apr 11, 2022 at 09:51 AM.
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Old Apr 11, 2022 | 11:12 AM
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Originally Posted by jasons69chevelle
black bottle or silver? 12 years maybe the valve seals shrinking/drying out. Do you get the oil changed out yearly?
Silver bottle. I change it every 6 months generally.
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Old Apr 11, 2022 | 12:21 PM
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Originally Posted by jasons69chevelle
black bottle or silver? 12 years maybe the valve seals shrinking/drying out. Do you get the oil changed out yearly?
Valve stem seals are not going to stop blow by. It sounds like your piston rings are losing their seal. I would perform a cylinder lead down test.

Last edited by bbond105; Apr 11, 2022 at 10:57 PM.
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Old Apr 11, 2022 | 02:03 PM
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What you're seeing coming from the oil fill cap is to be expected in a crankcase venting scenario. Are you running a PCV system or venting the crankcase to atmosphere? Keep in mind that if you are using the intake manifold to pull air through the crankcase the smoke/moisture that you are seeing is going back into the engine pre-ignition which decreases the octane points of the air/fuel mixture to some degree. Also not uncommon to see smoke coming out of the dipstick tube but if you are having excessive blowby getting past the rings then you should see evidence of this comin from your tail pipe and on the spark plugs.

I'm a fan of breather cans!

Last edited by 01CamaroSSTx; Apr 11, 2022 at 02:11 PM.
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Old Apr 11, 2022 | 03:51 PM
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Originally Posted by 98LS1auto
Per the video it looks like I now have blowby. Haven't pulled the plugs yet but I'm going to. Engine is a 383 LS1. 243 heads and Fast 90/90. Has the LS6 valley cover I believe. Been in the car 12 yrs. But only has around 10,000 miles on it. I'm not happy with the smoke considering it has that few miles. But that's life. Would a catch can help any? I haven't checked inside the intake yet but will do that also. Thanks.


https://www.youtube.com/shorts/VzbyWvOixlI

Short answer, yes.
Long answer, yes.

Big fan of adding a catch can
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Old Apr 11, 2022 | 04:01 PM
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The catch can debate is up to you, but FIRST I would address any oil consumption issues with your engine. A catch can ahead of doing that is nothing but a bandaid.
Keep in mind that hundreds of thousands of LS engines are getting by nicely without a catch can.
Is the PCV system perfect? NOPE.
Is oil in the intake a huge issue? Not really.
I bet most of the LS engines on the road have some oil pooled in the manifold and running quite nicely that way.
It is what it is.
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Old Apr 11, 2022 | 06:32 PM
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Old Apr 11, 2022 | 07:18 PM
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Old Apr 11, 2022 | 08:42 PM
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I live in TN which has similar in weather to NC, my car always does that especially as the weather is changing. Looks like its just burning off moisture, I get alot under my valve covers since I have a low temp thermostat and dont drive it very far at a time.
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Old Apr 11, 2022 | 10:28 PM
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Originally Posted by 98LS1auto
Per the video it looks like I now have blowby. Haven't pulled the plugs yet but I'm going to. Engine is a 383 LS1. 243 heads and Fast 90/90. Has the LS6 valley cover I believe. Been in the car 12 yrs. But only has around 10,000 miles on it. I'm not happy with the smoke considering it has that few miles. But that's life. Would a catch can help any? I haven't checked inside the intake yet but will do that also. Thanks.


https://www.youtube.com/shorts/VzbyWvOixlI
You blowing smoke out the tails?
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Old Apr 11, 2022 | 10:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Ls7colorado
I live in TN which has similar in weather to NC, my car always does that especially as the weather is changing. Looks like its just burning off moisture, I get alot under my valve covers since I have a low temp thermostat and dont drive it very far at a time.
Its funny you mention this I just put in a 160 thermostat and aluminum radiator. It wasn't doing this before that. My buddy did see a little smoke come out the exhaust one time before I put in the thermostat and aluminum radiator. But I never saw any coming out of the oil fill or dipstick before changing over the thermostat and radiator. The car sits mainly. Like I said 10,000 miles in 12 yrs. Just a weekend warrior and I generally don't drive it a lot when I do get it out on the weekend. Back and forth to the track is 60 miles. It's not driven a lot.
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Old Apr 11, 2022 | 10:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Bspeck82
You blowing smoke out the tails?
This was 2 weeks ago. You can see it blow some out on the 2nd gear shift but not much.
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Old Apr 11, 2022 | 11:15 PM
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And this is a new problem?
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Old Apr 11, 2022 | 11:18 PM
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id do a compression test. its not billowing but appears to be puffing out with some pressure.
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Old Apr 12, 2022 | 05:29 AM
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Originally Posted by 98LS1auto
This was 2 weeks ago. You can see it blow some out on the 2nd gear shift but not much.
Per the video it looked more like its really rich on the 1/2 shift as it appeared to be (atleast from my phone) black smoke.
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Old Apr 12, 2022 | 07:09 AM
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Originally Posted by Bspeck82
And this is a new problem?
Yes. I've never noticed it before.
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