oil catch can

[jesum]

my catch can just arrived. my problem now is trying to figure out where the hoses go and where to mount the tank. any pointers?

also, now i'm starting to feel paranoid. do i need to open up everything (intercooler, turbo, TIP, PCV etc) to check for tar / sludge???

[noone]

I'll show you, what catchcan are you getting.

[jesum]

a brandless, generic ebay unit. i just need something functional.

[noone]

I have not seen one on Ebay I'm happy with (by no means does it mean there is anything wrong with them).

So I am basing my install on a single input, single output design (maintaining 3/4" Connections do minimise flow restrictions).

Here is a pic from Vortex:

From this (one of many) thread

Basically, 1 line from join or 2 fresh lines into can, 1 back to PRV (Hockey Puck).

You can run an VTA (Vent to Atmosphere), but from what i've read the connection to the TIP provides some pull of the fumes / fluids.

So thats where i'm headed, as per usual there are a million ideas and a million idiots doing what someone else did without thinking too much about it.

IMO, read the 250 threads on Vortex and do some testing / check it after 10k's.

[vwthunder]

Guess it is nice to make it as simple as possible, venting to atmosphere keeps less hoses in the engine bay

I see on the Vortex, the way it is designed, something goes back to the oil filter ????

Can you get rid of the hockey puck ???

[noone]

VTA means you don't get any pull from the intake vaccum.

Removing the Hockey puck does not seem to be common with recirc designs, but i'm still reading.

When I am the master of Catch Can DIY threads (IE I only know what people have posted) then I'll put up some more info.

My 2c, recirc, leave the hockey puck and get a can that is properly designed, not just a can...

[Greg Roles]

Catchcans all come down to the mechanism inside, that is, just how much oil it actually "catches".

Not that I'm a world expert, but the TDI's suffer dramatically from oil blowby with their high compression, and I have a top end Mann and Hummell Provent and even it struggles to pull all the oil out of the blowby. The generic ones you see on ebay do very little, but adding some thick stainless scouring pads will help the oil condense and settle to the bottom. Just don't pack it too tight, it has to flow! The next step are the nicer ones from 42DD and Allards in the UK, both of which I'd love to get a sample of and test against the purpose built Provent. Allards seem to be a cheap yet possibly nice bit of kit, worth investigating, but I can't vouch for the effectiveness. I'm keen on a 42 DD cat back to be honest, so if you're not in a rush, perhaps we could combine and organise a 42 DD group buy.

Venting to atmosphere is illegal, and as I've played around with the oil blowby extensively, I have to say it's tremendously smelly at idle, enough to make you and those around you ill. I'd HIGHLY suggest venting the remainder back into the inlet, or at the very worst into the exhaust as the older muscle cars used to do. This is still an illegal mod these days.

Finally take it from me you really need to make sure your blowby system can flow the sheer amount of blowby gas, for my first early attempt saw me force oil out my turbo seals, which sure made for a bit of smoke. Be sure to keep your plumbing big, and remember elbows and the like often go down considerably in size, and a lot of hose etc that is readily available at the hardware will melt or in the very least deform in the engine bay heat. I spent eons trying all manner of hose until I stumbled upon the nice silicon stuff that is both flexible, oil and heat resistant. It's indeed tough to find, and I've wasted a lot of money at specific hose suppliers in my quest.

Interested to see how you go, but yeah, it's a highly recommended mod, especially in the oilers.

[noone]

Thanks Greg. I had been reading a thread about the Mann and Hummell ones, they look pretty good and I agree the catch can is much more of a requirement on the Diesels than Petrol.

I think the 42DD ones look great, come standard with 3/4" barbs, so should be good to go.
The reason I'm going the 42DD path is they have a flow emulation (if only 2 pics) on the Vortex site. It does not give you all the answers, but thats much more than I have seen on any of the other brands. I don't think sticking a can onto some tubing is going to do much, as it no doubt heats up, there is less option for condensation, so down to the design. the little grills in the 42DD ones seem to allow the gasses to collect and drip down somewhere. Also the asking price for the Stealth unit is very cost effective for what it is IMO.

Let me know if you are interested in a can, I can inquire into the catback as well, it may go down the path of being a big groupbuy (which I would then have to hand over to someone as I live in a 1 bedroom appt)... Hoping to get them landed and distributed for around $150 a piece, but until I have a quote, I may be dreaming.

[vwthunder]

it may go down the path of being a big groupbuy (which I would then have to hand over to someone as I live in a 1 bedroom appt)... Hoping to get them landed and distributed for around $150 a piece, but until I have a quote, I may be dreaming.

I would be interested in one if you went ahead

[ssman]

Almost finished, pics tomorrow

[Plautos]

This is a big problem in my car.... I'm going for my third setup and I'm not sure if the problem will be solved.

[noone]

What issues have you been facing Plautos? Any thoughts on the 42DD one?

If it flows well and still catches, can only do good from what I've read, but keeping the flow could be difficult.

[noone]

FYI, group buy in For Sale area for 42DD cans. Please express interest there, may help get the numbers together.

[Plautos]

Oil vapor condensing where it not should... I’m not sure if the problem is in the cylinder head, I think it is not deflecting the oil correctly.

I notice the major vapor flow come from the cylinder head, so I decided to connect the head’s breather to the engine block and from the engine block I don’t know what to do yet… maybe I will use a breather or a catch can.

In this picture one hose delivers vapor and fluids from the cylinder head and the other hose is the exit which I don't know what to do yet.

What issues have you been facing Plautos? Any thoughts on the 42DD one?

If it flows well and still catches, can only do good from what I've read, but keeping the flow could be difficult.

[noone]

So I take it you don't want to route it back into the intake.

I've read a few people feeding it into the dump / exhaust on an angle to help get rid of the fumes, makes sense if done right...

I'm going to make a dodgy DIY can to see what happens, welcome the siver bullet;