Anyone NOT run with a catch can?

[RLHMARINES]

I'm not sure if it will work on our LSA equipped cars or not.

[JamesZL1]

This is a crankcase breather with a one way check valve to vent excess pressure. I installed this on my car because I noticed some oil on the back of the motor where it meets up with the transmission. since putting a crankcase filter on my car, I have had no more oil in that area.

[ForcFed93]

It wasn't an LSA, but ever since I pulled the intake off of my LS6 CTS-V with 90k on it and saw this in the intake runners, I'll always run a catch can.

You can see the where the injector spray pattern kept the oil from building up. Definitely not good for airflow/performance.

[Blueclyde]

Most people aren't going to understand this but there is a planned amount of oil carry over in these crankcase vent systems. That picture above looks really good for 90K miles. There will always be some carbon based deposit formations and you can see it is much cleaner closer to the valve due to the fuel detergents performing as intended.

[Blueclyde]

Originally Posted by JamesZL1

This is a crankcase breather with a one way check valve to vent excess pressure. I installed this on my car because I noticed some oil on the back of the motor where it meets up with the transmission. since putting a crankcase filter on my car, I have had no more oil in that area.

I fail to see how an open breather vent helped what sounds like an oil leak. Likely any remnants of function of the crankcase ventilation system have drastically changed with this open breather. OEM's must use closed crankcase vent systems per the Federal Clean Air Act. These crankcase vent systems function based on calibrated orifices and fresh air vents fed with filtered air. They are designed with a very specific purpose and are crucial to the long term emission durability and general engine durability. These catch cans and open breathers look slick but provide 0 benefit.

[JamesZL1]

Originally Posted by Blueclyde

I fail to see how an open breather vent helped what sounds like an oil leak. Likely any remnants of function of the crankcase ventilation system have drastically changed with this open breather. OEM's must use closed crankcase vent systems per the Federal Clean Air Act. These crankcase vent systems function based on calibrated orifices and fresh air vents fed with filtered air. They are designed with a very specific purpose and are crucial to the long term emission durability and general engine durability. These catch cans and open breathers look slick but provide 0 benefit.

running 15 lbs. of boost...I think that it pushed some oil past the rear main seal. I was not running a catch can or a Crankcase breather at the time, now I am and there is no more oil in the area that I had originally spotted it in...Cleaned with some break cleaner and its still dry. it mush have had some benefit.

[Holliss69]

..So NOT trying to start/continue an argument BUT, the (PCV) Catch Can from MM bypasses the factory PCV function (bottom valley/intake connection is capped) and Moves it to the can. As pressure/vacuum changes from engine RPM It WILL allow excess pressure to Vent through breather. It is a one way breather set-up & hooked to the OIL fill in the valve cover, the PCV valve supplied by MM is built to function With the can in this manner.

I DO NOT claim to be any kind of expert I am just trying to help educate and get educated at the same time. David at MM has helped me and others and welcomes ANY and ALL questions regarding his can and can FAR better explain how and why it is like no other can sold currently.

I dont know if that helped anyone lol .....
also here is the PCV can on the dyno ....

[Chrispy]

If you ever tear down your top end you'll notice the oil film / buildup without the catchcan in most boosted motors. With the catch can it'll be clean as new.

The catch can itself is near zero maintenance, just empty it at each oil change. Also If you think it looks cluttered in the engine bay you can buy longer hoses and mount it out of sight whereever you like.

[Stephen12ZL1]

There are truly no downsides to a catch can, so why not run one? I realize everybody wants to understand how these things work. If they are catching oil, they are working as intended. On higher boosted applications, they should be vented (or the valve cover) to prevent excess crankcase pressure from causing oil leaks.

[el ess A]

Most people don't even understand the operation of the catch can, so that in and of itself, is a problem for some when it comes to justifying the cost of a can. If they don't understand what it does, they don't spring for the money. No moving parts, nothing flashy, so why buy it?

It does NOT add to performance gains that will make you faster at the track. It MAY keep your performance from degrading long-term due to potential for gunk to build up over time in your intake system. Kinda like build up of gunk in your arteries if you eat pizza and burgers all your life. Not a problem for a while, but COULD be later on as the stuff builds over time. As someone says, why do dealers offer the upper engine cleaning service? There's nothing in your Camaro's intake system that needs a lubricating mist sprayed on it.

But, with that, if you know how an inline water separator works on an air line in your garage compressor, you'll know that over time, without one, your air tools get water in them and potentially causes problems. It's the same in principal.
Everyone is partly correct. A little oil vapor won't kill it. Some engines are naturally better than others at keeping oil mist to a minimum, others, not so much. You don't absolutely have to have one. Just like you don't absolutely have to have a 1LE, or a Z/28, or even a Camaro for that matter. Your car will likely function fine without it. But for those of us that want to filter that crap out BEFORE it becomes a potential problem, it's a peace of mind. I know MY engine won't have that build up. Those who don't have a can couldn't be assured of that.

Those that think there are zero benefits to it must also have zero application knowledge of vapor/fluid separation principals. Back to the air hose reference, I know some that have in-line lubricators for air tools. Those must provide zero benefit as well, since a couple of drops of 20w before use in the inlet tube of the tube works just as well.

There are long-term benefits, but does the reward outweigh the risks? Are the cans worth the $$? That's another separate topic and in the end, it's all up to you. No words will ever change anyone's mind about this, but since we're discussing it, we all have our opinions. I'll opt for it. It doesn't HURT performance either, so either way, as long as you're happy...

[KaBoom1701]

Engine clutter....

Mount it out of the way if it bothers you...

[Bretts]

Originally Posted by Holliss69

..So NOT trying to start/continue an argument BUT, the (PCV) Catch Can from MM bypasses the factory PCV function (bottom valley/intake connection is capped) and Moves it to the can. As pressure/vacuum changes from engine RPM It WILL allow excess pressure to Vent through breather. It is a one way breather set-up & hooked to the OIL fill in the valve cover, the PCV valve supplied by MM is built to function With the can in this manner.

I DO NOT claim to be any kind of expert I am just trying to help educate and get educated at the same time. David at MM has helped me and others and welcomes ANY and ALL questions regarding his can and can FAR better explain how and why it is like no other can sold currently.

I dont know if that helped anyone lol .....
also here is the PCV can on the dyno ....

Nice! sure is venting blow by gases effectively there! that's worth a million words, nice action at the pipes too

[1hevy_chevy]

Originally Posted by CAM....ZL1

So that large can is just for engine oil? very interesting. I see a dip stick and a oil cap on it, maybe someone that knows can elaborate on it's purpose.
None the less I really don't think for the money you could go wrong with CC on the ZL1 plus it might just might keep the top end a little cleaner.

dry sump lol

[Bretts]

I'm routing the MMS can in a naturally aspirated LS3.
I am planning to run the fresh air in for ventilation, to the lower valley port (yours is plugged, different application) from after the MAF prior and to throttle body, and pull into the can from the valve covers and at the can outlet have the vacuum pull on the one way pcv M.M. valve from the pitot tube built into the intake manifold I figure I won't see much atmospheric venting at this stage in the game but for the future mods its nice to see this can will preform as required (with different plumbing)