Excess oil in the PCV system

[IndeedSS1]

SC2150 - If I'm looking at this PCV thing correctly, there doesn't seem to be an easily replaceable PCV valve on the LS3, is there?

[jtzako]

So far my car is not consuming oil so I havent really needed to deal with a catch can. Hopefully I got lucky and dont have one that leaks. (I know a very small amount of oil will go through there but it should not be noticeable between oil changes)

[IndeedSS1]

I got this picture from ls1tech and have included it here for completeness. And to answer my own question about not having what we normally think of as a standard PCV valve...it doesn't. You can easily see the PCV baffle.

[yyz28]

Oil Consumption has been a problem since the first LS1 came out in 1997. There have been various attempts by GM to resolve the issue, some with varying success. The best solution is available from the aftermarket, not GM, in the form of a catch can. Lots of variations on that theme available from most vendors here.

[SC2150]

Originally Posted by IndeedSS1

SC2150 - If I'm looking at this PCV thing correctly, there doesn't seem to be an easily replaceable PCV valve on the LS3, is there?

Your next pic answered it. It is a combination baffel & fixed orfice. The problem with the fixed orfice is it does not vary the amount of flow as needed like a PCV valve does, so the issue of excess blow-by is not addressed. It is a band-aid try by GM for this issue. With stroker big cube builds I cap off the valley and run a breather, and evac from the drivers side rear valve cover as the fixed orfice will not flow enough to allow for the extra crankcase pressure that needs to be vented. If this is not done you quite often see oil leaks as well as the oil useage due to the seals leaking when the crankcase pressure builds to high.

Originally Posted by jtzako

So far my car is not consuming oil so I havent really needed to deal with a catch can. Hopefully I got lucky and dont have one that leaks. (I know a very small amount of oil will go through there but it should not be noticeable between oil changes)

Take your TB off and reach in with a clean white rag or paper towel as far as you can to see if your intake is coated. If it is, you need a can even though your not having excess oil consumption. Two issues.

Originally Posted by IndeedSS1

I got this picture from ls1tech and have included it here for completeness. And to answer my own question about not having what we normally think of as a standard PCV valve...it doesn't. You can easily see the PCV baffle.

You are correct and yyz28 also has it right.

[BowlingSS]

I have a spare catch can from my 4th gen. I just need to make a bracket when I get my car.

Bill

[Jose]

Originally Posted by BowlingSS

Anyone have a L99 with this problem or is it just the LS3?

Bill

Mine is L99, after my first oil change, there was less than a tablespoon of oil in the catch can, my catch can is an Elite Engineering.

Thanks

[IndeedSS1]

Originally Posted by Jose

Mine is L99, after my first oil change, there was less than a tablespoon of oil in the catch can, my catch can is an Elite Engineering.

Thanks

Your sounds like it's perfectly healthy.

[IndeedSS1]

Originally Posted by BowlingSS

I have a spare catch can from my 4th gen. I just need to make a bracket when I get my car.

Bill

Git-r-done

[Ject]

Originally Posted by csjcsj

I will do this starting this weekend. Thanks for pointing this out. I just wonder if my mods will keep a dealer from correcting the problem!!!!!!!!

If you find a good dealer, I'd assume they'd take care of you since it is a pre-existing problem with their cars already... the Tune tho if they catch it, may void warranty after they fix the problem.

[Ject]

Okay, for anyone wondering about the L99, here is my experience with mine on this topic.

I just now went out to empty my Catch Can, I currently have 3,750-3,765 Miles on car. I last emptied it @ about 3,400-3,500 miles. So I have put about 200-300 Hard miles on the car. By "Hard" i mean auto cross events and constant pounding of the pedal on streets/highways taking it to 6k rpm several times.

Results; Not a single drop of oil from catch can for the past 200 some miles.

The very first time I emptied it I had put about 900 miles on the car and it had a little oil in it, about 1OZ worth.

[IndeedSS1]

Originally Posted by Ject

Okay, for anyone wondering about the L99, here is my experience with mine on this topic.

I just now went out to empty my Catch Can, I currently have 3,750-3,765 Miles on car. I last emptied it @ about 3,400-3,500 miles. So I have put about 200-300 Hard miles on the car. By "Hard" i mean auto cross events and constant pounding of the pedal on streets/highways taking it to 6k rpm several times.

Results; Not a single drop of oil from catch can for the past 200 some miles.

The very first time I emptied it I had put about 900 miles on the car and it had a little oil in it, about 1OZ worth.

That's good news for the L99 people, thanks for sharing your info. Unless I'm mistaken, the L99 and LS3 don't share the same valley cover.

[BowlingSS]

Originally Posted by IndeedSS1

That's good news for the L99 people, thanks for sharing your info. Unless I'm mistaken, the L99 and LS3 don't share the same valley cover.

The two systems are different. I am still going with one on my L99.

Bill

[IndeedSS1]

Originally Posted by BowlingSS

The two systems are different. I am still going with one on my L99.

Bill

I couldn't agree more with getting a catch can anyway. It still will help with a normal functioning system. But for those with abnormal systems, the cc isn't optional.

Because of a recent family emergency I just put another 1200 miles on my car. Very soon (week or two) I'll be able to show pictures of the 2600 mile water bottle of oil I took to the dealership versus 2600 miles after the new valley cover. I beleive the difference between the two will be impressive.