Excessive oil in catch can remedy - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

ronniels3 · 12-02-2014, 08:48 AM

For those of you that do not have a catch can on your car it is a definitely a must do modification. I installed my catch can after about 10,000 miles on my car because of severe oil consumption. I first installed the RX can which had major issues and there customer service is the worst in the world and it never worked properly as it leaked all the time. I then installed the Elite Engineering catch can which is a work of art. However the catch can would fill to the brim after only a couple of hundred miles of driving. I said that this cant be right. The can is doing its job however why is so much oil passing through? I did a lot of research and spoke to a couple of very close friends of mine Erik and Josh at Lashway Motorsports and we came up with the idea that the baffle located on the underside if the valley cover was leaking air. I really fully don't understand how the valley cover works in conjunction with the PVC system but I said lets change it anyway. I ordered a new valley cover and installed it and drove the car for a very long time. Maybe a thousand miles or so. I then checked the can and there was very little oil in there maybe less than 1 ounce. Its not hard to change maybe an hour or 2 but if you are having this problem the chances are its the valley cover. My car is a 2010. Not sure if other years are affected as well. If anybody has any questions please call me at 954-325-7722. All the catch can does is collect the oil however it doesn't solve the problem.

Thanks

Ronnie

trashmanssd · 12-02-2014, 09:14 AM

Nice write up. Yeah I have heard of something similar that most cars where the PCV Valve screws in there is a baffle/cover to keep splash up oil from going in the breather. If that splash guard breaks off splash up oil gets in the breather and dumps tons on oil. Old days the breather would just dump it on the ground which was dead giveaway (oil stains/drips every where you park) now it goes into the intake tract to be burned and fouls the intake and valves very quickly (usually before you can notice the problem). They newer direct injection engines really all should come with a dirty side catch can and emptying it should just be part of doing oil changes.

Spartan01 · 12-02-2014, 09:22 AM

I have also noticed that during the colder months, the oil in the catch can mixes with condensation in the air, and produces a creamy, frothy mess, because of the frothiness, there appears to be more in the catch can.

ronniels3 · 12-02-2014, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trashmanssd

Nice write up. Yeah I have heard of something similar that most cars where the PCV Valve screws in there is a baffle/cover to keep splash up oil from going in the breather. If that splash guard breaks off splash up oil gets in the breather and dumps tons on oil. Old days the breather would just dump it on the ground which was dead giveaway (oil stains/drips every where you park) now it goes into the intake tract to be burned and fouls the intake and valves very quickly (usually before you can notice the problem). They newer direct injection engines really all should come with a dirty side catch can and emptying it should just be part of doing oil changes.

I agree.

ronniels3 · 12-02-2014, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spartan01

I have also noticed that during the colder months, the oil in the catch can mixes with condensation in the air, and produces a creamy, frothy mess, because of the frothiness, there appears to be more in the catch can.

Don't have that problem here in South Florida. LOL

376LS3 · 12-02-2014, 04:26 PM

I had the same problem that was remedied the same way!

Destructo09 · 12-02-2014, 04:55 PM

Never had that issue on my 2010, nor my brother and he's got over 66k miles on his 2010.

Good to know though for future reference.

ronniels3 · 12-03-2014, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Destructo09

Never had that issue on my 2010, nor my brother and he's got over 66k miles on his 2010.

Good to know though for future reference.

Not to sure why or how the valley cover baffle gets screwed up. Mine ate oil since day one. Took a long time to figure out but I am glad I got it fixed. Took about an hour and a half in the garage. The part is $100.

Destructo09 · 12-03-2014, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronniels3

Not to sure why or how the valley cover baffle gets screwed up. Mine ate oil since day one. Took a long time to figure out but I am glad I got it fixed. Took about an hour and a half in the garage. The part is $100.

Not too bad, my brother and I both have oil catch cans and haven't noticed any excessive consumption at all, so far I think I can just empty it with each oil change.

Mean Green Z28 · 12-03-2014, 09:01 AM

Great write up and explanation, thanks!

Most every oil catch can story we see here only deals with the catch can doing a great job blah blah blah, here's a post that actually helps the issue, rather than the fix.

ronniels3 · 12-03-2014, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mean Green Z28

Great write up and explanation, thanks!

Most every oil catch can story we see here only deals with the catch can doing a great job blah blah blah, here's a post that actually helps the issue, rather than the fix.

Thank you. Let me know if you have any questions.

Camaro Dude · 12-03-2014, 12:09 PM

Is there are a DIY writeup on how to replace the Valley Cover on the LS3?

Rico · 12-03-2014, 12:21 PM

In 3 weeks of driving mine gets pretty full.

Mean Green Z28 · 12-03-2014, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camaro Dude

Is there are a DIY writeup on how to replace the Valley Cover on the LS3?

not much to it. remove intake, replace cover, reinstall intake

Typing fat fingered on my GS3...excuse any sfelling mitcakes

12-02-2014, 08:48 AM	#1
ronniels3 Drives: 2010 Camaro SS/RS Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 205	Excessive oil in catch can remedy For those of you that do not have a catch can on your car it is a definitely a must do modification. I installed my catch can after about 10,000 miles on my car because of severe oil consumption. I first installed the RX can which had major issues and there customer service is the worst in the world and it never worked properly as it leaked all the time. I then installed the Elite Engineering catch can which is a work of art. However the catch can would fill to the brim after only a couple of hundred miles of driving. I said that this cant be right. The can is doing its job however why is so much oil passing through? I did a lot of research and spoke to a couple of very close friends of mine Erik and Josh at Lashway Motorsports and we came up with the idea that the baffle located on the underside if the valley cover was leaking air. I really fully don't understand how the valley cover works in conjunction with the PVC system but I said lets change it anyway. I ordered a new valley cover and installed it and drove the car for a very long time. Maybe a thousand miles or so. I then checked the can and there was very little oil in there maybe less than 1 ounce. Its not hard to change maybe an hour or 2 but if you are having this problem the chances are its the valley cover. My car is a 2010. Not sure if other years are affected as well. If anybody has any questions please call me at 954-325-7722. All the catch can does is collect the oil however it doesn't solve the problem. Thanks Ronnie Last edited by ronniels3; 12-03-2014 at 08:08 AM.

12-02-2014, 09:22 AM	#3
Spartan01 Drives: Evil Eva, 2010 2SS LS3 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Falls Church, Virginia Posts: 3,600	I have also noticed that during the colder months, the oil in the catch can mixes with condensation in the air, and produces a creamy, frothy mess, because of the frothiness, there appears to be more in the catch can. __________________ "You simply cannot trust quotes found on the internet." -Abraham Lincoln

12-02-2014, 04:26 PM	#6
376LS3 Eh, that'll happen Drives: 2010 2SS Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Mesa, Arizona Posts: 1,841	I had the same problem that was remedied the same way! __________________ 2010 Camaro SS LS3 - No Modz

12-02-2014, 04:55 PM	#7
Destructo09 Drives: 2010 CGM Camaro 2SS/LS3 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Raleigh-Durham Posts: 1,409	Never had that issue on my 2010, nor my brother and he's got over 66k miles on his 2010. Good to know though for future reference. __________________ 2010 2SS BMR 1" Springs Koni Orange struts/shocks 1LE rear sway bar SRP Racing Pedals Hurst Billet short shifter Square tire/wheel setup Elite Engineering Catch Can Stainless Power longtubes/highflow cats K&N Typhoon CAI RPM Motorsports of Garner, NC dyno tune (421 RWHP)

12-03-2014, 09:01 AM	#10
Mean Green Z28 Drives: 2010 2SS Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Annapolis, MD Posts: 941 View My Garage	Great write up and explanation, thanks! Most every oil catch can story we see here only deals with the catch can doing a great job blah blah blah, here's a post that actually helps the issue, rather than the fix. __________________ 2010 2SS - CAI Intake, ADM Scoop, RotoFab Washer relo. LT Headers and off-road pipes, X-pipe, Muffler Deletes, ZL1 Spoiler, Technostalgia Tail-lights '98 T/A (Sold) - Forged 6.0ltr, MS3, P&P'd Heads/Valves, 90MM FAST/TB, Headers, 3" Y-pipe, 4" Mufflex Catback. Koni Adjustables w/GC coilovers (550/175), Strano Sway Bars '94 Z28 (Sold) ... LS1 swap (basically same setup as the T/A), TH350/3500 stall ... swapped it all into the T/A -- >> Some of my Projects My Fquick Page

12-02-2014, 09:14 AM	#2
trashmanssd Drives: Black 14 2SS/1LE/RS 14 Tundra Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Plymouth, Ma Posts: 2,414	Nice write up. Yeah I have heard of something similar that most cars where the PCV Valve screws in there is a baffle/cover to keep splash up oil from going in the breather. If that splash guard breaks off splash up oil gets in the breather and dumps tons on oil. Old days the breather would just dump it on the ground which was dead giveaway (oil stains/drips every where you park) now it goes into the intake tract to be burned and fouls the intake and valves very quickly (usually before you can notice the problem). They newer direct injection engines really all should come with a dirty side catch can and emptying it should just be part of doing oil changes.

12-03-2014, 12:09 PM	#12
Camaro Dude Drives: ‘13 1LE Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Earth Posts: 3,904	Is there are a DIY writeup on how to replace the Valley Cover on the LS3?

12-03-2014, 12:21 PM	#13
Rico Flying da helicopter Drives: Black SS/RS Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: HI Posts: 1,215 View My Garage	In 3 weeks of driving mine gets pretty full.