Ghetto Tech: I made a catchcan (not looking to sell them, just offer up an idea)

[KenV]

Hey all.

I had planned to buy a nice catch can before the budget for my employer went into jeopardy (may be jobless when the FY changes over). So, to at least keep the engine in the best shape possible, I made one out of ABS:

2 x 1.5" caps
2 x 1.5" threaded stubs (one male, one female)
~3" of 1.5" tube
2 x 3/8" brass barbs
~5' of 3/8" fuel injection hose
ABS cement and couple of smears of black RTV

The inlet is down low, and the outlet (to the TB) is near the top. There's room below the inlet for......a lot of oil. :D

I just put it in (in all of 3 minutes) and had no leaks. It's routed past the A/C lines and between the + stub on the strut tower and brake junction. After 5+ minutes with the hood down, it was warm but not close to hot.

That being said, does anyone care to hear how well it works? This shouldn't run afoul of the machined cans, as they are sturdy works of art and no doubt will last longer. I just thought that some might see this as an interim solution, at least to keep the intake dry until getting a machined unit. So lemme know if it's worth snapping pics.

K

BTW the 3/8" line slid past the 'barb' on the TB with a little effort. No clamps yet, and the engine runs as if unaltered. I have hose clamps in my work bag if the status changes.

[-Ray-]

Of course post pics. Not everyone had the mod money for catch cans. These engines do need 'em.

[Kermit]

Of course post pics. Not everyone had the mod money for catch cans. These engines do need 'em.

+1

[SRG963]

Yes, please post some pictures :)
:TTIWWP:

[GM_Fan]

Post what you got fabricated up.

[todds87ss]

Search around...I fabbed up one back in November, but used a tractor part, vice PVC. There are pics there.

[cobrakid]

I bought a trusty Home Depot thingy..... $12 total. Mounted to dr side shock tower..nice and neat.
Had one on both Lightnings, no problems, and worked.

[SRG963]

I bought a trusty Home Depot thingy..... $12 total. Mounted to dr side shock tower..nice and neat.
Had one on both Lightnings, no problems, and worked.

again :TTIWWP: and please define thingy :)

[KenV]

Search around...I fabbed up one back in November, but used a tractor part, vice PVC. There are pics there.

Pfft, this was ABS, not some PVC abomination... :nah:

Glad to know I may be able to give something back to GRRRR8 here. I just arrived home. If I get the chance (after my daughter goes to sleep, 16 months old and all) I'll snap pics of it in place and pulled out into the open.

FWIW the first day with it has been splendid. No vacuum leaks without hose clamps either: I'm up to 17mpg in town now so it must not be hurting in any way. (I know the catchcan has nothing to do with my mpg, but I'm just bragging. lol)

Edit: Camera batt is dead. It's on the charger for tomorrow.

[Big Daddy G8]

Pardon for the Newbie question, but just what does an oil catch can do? (and please no "it catches oil" comments.

Thanks,


Big Daddy

[-Ray-]

Pardon for the Newbie question, but just what does an oil catch can do? (and please no "it catches oil" comments.

Thanks,


Big Daddy

Uhhhhh, well, it's self explanatory. :)
It keeps oil from going through the intake manifold. It collects in the can, and you empty it.

[KenV]

....it catches oil. Oh come on, you saw it coming. :devil:

It's placed in the line between the (US) driver side valve cover and the TB to give oil/contaminants a place to drop out. Every so often, it is emptied. No biggie to do, but a big help to the engine.

In one of these pics there's the amount of oil in just about two days of driving. About fifty miles and it already had that amount in the bottom. It doesn't look like much but after a month it will add up. BTW nothing moved at all, even after some MPG reduction exercises.

Oh yeah, a few pics. I just grabbed the entire set, including the "dirty G8 of the month" pic at the end. Two weeks in Central CA does this to every car:

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i137/KenV_2006/DSC02900.jpg
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i137/KenV_2006/DSC02901.jpg
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i137/KenV_2006/DSC02902.jpg
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i137/KenV_2006/DSC02903.jpg
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i137/KenV_2006/DSC02904.jpg
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i137/KenV_2006/DSC02905.jpg
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i137/KenV_2006/DSC02906.jpg
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i137/KenV_2006/DSC02907.jpg
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i137/KenV_2006/DSC02908.jpg
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i137/KenV_2006/DSC02909.jpg
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i137/KenV_2006/DSC02910.jpg
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i137/KenV_2006/DSC02911.jpg
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i137/KenV_2006/DSC02912.jpg

I took a dozen to make sure placement questions would be answered down to the hoses. If any need deleting due to space/worthlessness, anyone with the power to do so won't hurt my feelings by pulling them out.

[Crazy Paul]

Pardon for the Newbie question, but just what does an oil catch can do? (and please no "it catches oil" comments.
Thanks,
Big Daddy

XYZ brand

" PCV Catch Cans are designed by automotive enthusiasts for those who expect a higher standard of performance from their vehicle and wish to help extend the life of their engine by decreasing oil contamination from the intake tract to the combustion chamber. Months of research and testing has provided XYZ with a unique and functional kit that has worked flawlessly on many makes of vehicles, from turbo applications, imports, late model domestics, to early model muscle. The internal design of the XYZ catch can is superior in function to other catch cans on the market. Oil vapors and other contaminates are first caught and condensed by a stainless mesh and then dropped to the bottom of the can where a series of under-cuts in the walls prevent the oil from climbing back to the top and exiting back into the intake tract."


"Oil contamination derives from the positive crankcase ventilation valve common on most internal combustion engines where vacuum is pulled on the crankcase by the intake or in some cases the throttle body. This contamination occurs when oil vapors exit the crankcase via the PCV valve, enter the intake tract, and create adverse effects such as carbon build-up on valves, pistons, and plugs, as well as cause harmful detonation. Detonation in many cases causes the ECM/PCM to retard timing, thus creating a reduction in horsepower. Power adders such as turbos, blowers, or nitrous can benefit greatly due to the removal of oil contamination in the combustion process. Poor emissions could also be traced back to high levels of oil residue being burned in the combustion process. By removing this oil, a clean burning engine could help the environment as well as improving the performance of a vehicle."

[MtbDoc]

The main thing is will it allow the oil vapors to condense? That is where the issue of the stainless mesh and whatever else comes in. Simply dumping the vapor into the can and then having an outlet is NOT likely to be optimal. You need more condensing surface. Not saying this isn't working, but it is likely letting more oil vapor through than you would like.

[KenV]

True. Offsetting the barbs helps but isn't the best. I don't have a final solution for that but may look at PCV screens at the local store. If nothing else, part of one of those coarse stainless scrubbing pads will help. Then I'll be at about $11 for the kit. lol

That's still a lot of oil btw. It's just two days' worth in the pic. That extrapolates out to what some folks are pulling out of their aftermarket cans...

[cobrakid]

here is my ghetto version 4 yall.

Home Depot, total cost about $16.

Works great, looks fine.

[GTX]

I went to Lowes and picked up an air compressor filter, fence post clamp, 1/4" threaded rod, and metal bracket pre-drilled. Then went to Auto Zone and picked up 6.5 feet of 3/8 vacuum/fuel line, and scrapped together some nuts and washers. Adjusted all the spacing so installation and removal would be easy as well as no rubbing. Mounted very securely. I have pictures if anyone is interested. It looks really clean under the hood.

[-Ray-]

Good creative work guys.

[todds87ss]

Emptied mine yesterday. about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of oil. Alot more than I thought at 5000 miles.

[BigRed585Lbs]

Love these Cheap-*ss Mods!

Here's my Lowe's/Kobalt catchcan. Ain't billet, but I've got money left in my pocket!

http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy294/BigRed585Lbs/100_0011.jpg