DIY: PCV catch can install - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

lawdogg149 · 12-29-2009, 02:18 PM

Well for those whom have knowledge of the LS engines and how much oil is sent back through the factory intake manifold. There is a mod known by many builders and race teams.

First thing is a LS engine is designed to be positive crank pressure in the bottom end of the engine. This has some advantages but many disadvantages for those performance minded people.

Oil and vapor is factory sent back through the PCV valve and into the factory intake tubing. A simple test is to take the factory intake tubing loose at the throttle body and push open the throttle body and look inside with a flash light. Oil everywhere if you drive the car the way it was designed. This then travels downward to your valves and onto the tops of your pistons. In which its now burnt. This in turn leaves a coating on the pistons that will effect performance alot.

So lets fix it...........

Needed:
PCV Catch Can -many can be bought I like Billet Technology in Floridas.
3/8 fuel line hose 3 ft
3/8 tee
3/8 rubber plug

First off.
Remove the factory hose that runs from the passenger valve cover to the air intake piping (factory is straight in the side of the piping before the throttle body)

Next look below the throttle body and remove the hose coming from the valley pan to the side of the intake manifold.Plug the manifold connection with the 3/8 rubber plug.

Now we need to run a hose from the valley pan to where the catch can will be. Next run a hose from the valve cover connection on the passenger side which we removed before to the catch can.

So now we have two hoses which need to be connected with the Tee and run a small hose to one side of the catch can. On the other side of the catch can we can add a filter there or run a hose and mount somewhere else. I ran my filter to the very bottom of the car so if oil did escape it wouldnt be all over the engine.

This simple mod will allow the engine to breath both in and out. Also will keep from the oil and vapor from being sent back into the intake track. Engines are not designed this way because they cannot legally be made to vent vapors into the air only through the exhaust pipe. Another good idea would be to just run the out tube to a welded in fitting in the exhaust so it wouldnt breath into the free world we live in.

I would be happy to explain more details if needed just pm me. I have nothing to sell from this or gain nothing at all. Just a performance minded racer passing on a good tip for performance minded people.

Thanks for reading

jeffny09 · 12-29-2009, 02:29 PM

great right up-now i just gotta figure out where those hoses are-and where to get a 3.8ths plug lol

lawdogg149 · 12-29-2009, 02:34 PM

The PCV valve cover one is easy. Only hose that connected to the factory air intake piping follow it back to the valve cover. The second one is directly below the Throttle body and angles towards the passenger side. This is the key port which is venting the whole lower crank case.

jeffny09 · 12-29-2009, 02:40 PM

alright cool-were can i get fuel line? and how long? and as for the 3/8 tee and rubber plug- i could get that at hd?

jeffny09 · 12-29-2009, 02:44 PM

and for last cuz ima pick this stuff up todaywhat does the rubber plug look like? i just checked out my home depot here-didnt see any 3/8hs plugs hmmm

lawdogg149 · 12-29-2009, 02:49 PM

fuel line or hose auto zone or such 3 foot plenty. Plug see photo #3 right side right behind the throttle body motor has a zip tie on it as well. All could be bought at the HD most likely. FrankT has a custom built one out of parts from HD. Air water separator near the air comp section. Thats the cheapest option.

jeffny09 · 12-29-2009, 02:56 PM

i went to look for a 3/8ths tee here-and all these dudes have that i saw is 1/2x 3/8ths either im blind or what not lol
is brass one ok?

lawdogg149 · 12-29-2009, 02:58 PM

Brass is great. Just make sure it connects with your hose good thats all.

jeffny09 · 12-29-2009, 02:59 PM

ok nm i see you used a pvc type t? still looking for the plug! lol i must be blind

jeffny09 · 12-29-2009, 03:26 PM

ok i think i see it-black plug right? yea ima little slow-what kinda plug is that? cuz i see nothing of such here at home depot

Coop · 12-29-2009, 05:03 PM

OK what do you mean into the air intake piping? You mean the CAI? So one of the hoses just vents straight down into the engine bay correct? The T is used to have the hose go back into the original location?

lawdogg149 · 12-29-2009, 06:53 PM

Air intake piping is the cold air kit if some have installed or the factory air intake piping. Two things plug into the air intake tube a MAS sensor and a PCV hose. You can do either vent straight out into the open or vent back into the original place on the air intake tubing. I personally like out into the open. The T is used to connect the hose from the valve cover and the hose from the valley pan in which creates one hose that goes to one side of the catch can. Other side of catch can is used as a vent to either free air or back into the intake piping.

jeffny09 · 12-29-2009, 07:03 PM

ima order my cath can this weekend- and then autozone has brass t
but if your using pvc tees then i can get thqt from hd, then i just need to find the rubber plug

SC2150 · 12-29-2009, 07:16 PM

Easy install.....Here is how much oil was in the intake at 800 miles:

I have a question on the Tee to an open hose....

1. Is there a filter on the open hose? If not, whats to prevent dust & dirt getting in through any reversion?

2. For the crankcase to be properly "flushed" of the harmful combustion byproducts (unburnt fuel, carbon particles, sulferic acid, etc.) vacuum must be pulled with a filtered fresh air source (the air coupler on a stock system allows air filtered from the main air filter in, and the intake manifold vacuum pulls it through flushing the nasty crap out) so ideally you have a cross flow of filtered fresh air through the crankcase where the flashed off byproducts can be removed. The catch can trps the vapors long enough for the oil to fall out of suspension & be trapped in the can to remove later.

So how is the flow pulled through the crankcase with a "Tee" in the line? Just making sure the purpose of the PCV system is not being inadvertantly defeated.

The oil is a very real problem not only for the power loss, but the carbon buildup on the piston tops & valves.

Here are some diagrams of a proper system. Anyone that wants the whole file of all applications for every Gen LS motor, N/A and FI just PM me your email & I'll send it:

This is the one that applies to the 2010 LS3:

12-29-2009, 02:18 PM	#1
lawdogg149 Drives: Corvette ZO6 CSR edition #47 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Calhoun, GA Posts: 767 View My Garage	DIY: PCV catch can install Well for those whom have knowledge of the LS engines and how much oil is sent back through the factory intake manifold. There is a mod known by many builders and race teams. First thing is a LS engine is designed to be positive crank pressure in the bottom end of the engine. This has some advantages but many disadvantages for those performance minded people. Oil and vapor is factory sent back through the PCV valve and into the factory intake tubing. A simple test is to take the factory intake tubing loose at the throttle body and push open the throttle body and look inside with a flash light. Oil everywhere if you drive the car the way it was designed. This then travels downward to your valves and onto the tops of your pistons. In which its now burnt. This in turn leaves a coating on the pistons that will effect performance alot. So lets fix it........... Needed: PCV Catch Can -many can be bought I like Billet Technology in Floridas. 3/8 fuel line hose 3 ft 3/8 tee 3/8 rubber plug First off. Remove the factory hose that runs from the passenger valve cover to the air intake piping (factory is straight in the side of the piping before the throttle body) Next look below the throttle body and remove the hose coming from the valley pan to the side of the intake manifold.Plug the manifold connection with the 3/8 rubber plug. Now we need to run a hose from the valley pan to where the catch can will be. Next run a hose from the valve cover connection on the passenger side which we removed before to the catch can. So now we have two hoses which need to be connected with the Tee and run a small hose to one side of the catch can. On the other side of the catch can we can add a filter there or run a hose and mount somewhere else. I ran my filter to the very bottom of the car so if oil did escape it wouldnt be all over the engine. This simple mod will allow the engine to breath both in and out. Also will keep from the oil and vapor from being sent back into the intake track. Engines are not designed this way because they cannot legally be made to vent vapors into the air only through the exhaust pipe. Another good idea would be to just run the out tube to a welded in fitting in the exhaust so it wouldnt breath into the free world we live in. I would be happy to explain more details if needed just pm me. I have nothing to sell from this or gain nothing at all. Just a performance minded racer passing on a good tip for performance minded people. Thanks for reading Attached Images __________________ Nationwide Turf "artificial turf factory"

12-29-2009, 02:29 PM	#2
jeffny09 Drives: 2010 camaro Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: new york Posts: 5,618	great right up-now i just gotta figure out where those hoses are-and where to get a 3.8ths plug lol __________________ top 10 reason why real men drive stick. 10. A manual transmission is the ultimate in control 9. You can use automotive jargon and not sound like a total tool 8. You can't spell "manual" without "man" 7. Manual transmissions prove you can do more than one thing at a time 6. You can't drift in an auto 5. You can't pull fancy moves in an automatic 4. You get better fuel economy with a stick 3. You’ll never look like a chump if you can drive stick 2. Manual transmission cars are faster 1. Women like a guy who is good with his hands.

12-29-2009, 02:40 PM	#4
jeffny09 Drives: 2010 camaro Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: new york Posts: 5,618	alright cool-were can i get fuel line? and how long? and as for the 3/8 tee and rubber plug- i could get that at hd? __________________ top 10 reason why real men drive stick. 10. A manual transmission is the ultimate in control 9. You can use automotive jargon and not sound like a total tool 8. You can't spell "manual" without "man" 7. Manual transmissions prove you can do more than one thing at a time 6. You can't drift in an auto 5. You can't pull fancy moves in an automatic 4. You get better fuel economy with a stick 3. You’ll never look like a chump if you can drive stick 2. Manual transmission cars are faster 1. Women like a guy who is good with his hands.

12-29-2009, 02:44 PM	#5
jeffny09 Drives: 2010 camaro Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: new york Posts: 5,618	and for last cuz ima pick this stuff up todaywhat does the rubber plug look like? i just checked out my home depot here-didnt see any 3/8hs plugs hmmm __________________ top 10 reason why real men drive stick. 10. A manual transmission is the ultimate in control 9. You can use automotive jargon and not sound like a total tool 8. You can't spell "manual" without "man" 7. Manual transmissions prove you can do more than one thing at a time 6. You can't drift in an auto 5. You can't pull fancy moves in an automatic 4. You get better fuel economy with a stick 3. You’ll never look like a chump if you can drive stick 2. Manual transmission cars are faster 1. Women like a guy who is good with his hands.

12-29-2009, 02:49 PM	#6
lawdogg149 Drives: Corvette ZO6 CSR edition #47 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Calhoun, GA Posts: 767 View My Garage	fuel line or hose auto zone or such 3 foot plenty. Plug see photo #3 right side right behind the throttle body motor has a zip tie on it as well. All could be bought at the HD most likely. FrankT has a custom built one out of parts from HD. Air water separator near the air comp section. Thats the cheapest option. __________________ Nationwide Turf "artificial turf factory"

12-29-2009, 02:34 PM	#3
lawdogg149 Drives: Corvette ZO6 CSR edition #47 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Calhoun, GA Posts: 767 View My Garage	The PCV valve cover one is easy. Only hose that connected to the factory air intake piping follow it back to the valve cover. The second one is directly below the Throttle body and angles towards the passenger side. This is the key port which is venting the whole lower crank case. __________________ Nationwide Turf "artificial turf factory"

12-29-2009, 02:56 PM	#7
jeffny09 Drives: 2010 camaro Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: new york Posts: 5,618	i went to look for a 3/8ths tee here-and all these dudes have that i saw is 1/2x 3/8ths either im blind or what not lol is brass one ok? __________________ top 10 reason why real men drive stick. 10. A manual transmission is the ultimate in control 9. You can use automotive jargon and not sound like a total tool 8. You can't spell "manual" without "man" 7. Manual transmissions prove you can do more than one thing at a time 6. You can't drift in an auto 5. You can't pull fancy moves in an automatic 4. You get better fuel economy with a stick 3. You’ll never look like a chump if you can drive stick 2. Manual transmission cars are faster 1. Women like a guy who is good with his hands.

12-29-2009, 02:58 PM	#8
lawdogg149 Drives: Corvette ZO6 CSR edition #47 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Calhoun, GA Posts: 767 View My Garage	Brass is great. Just make sure it connects with your hose good thats all. __________________ Nationwide Turf "artificial turf factory"

12-29-2009, 02:59 PM	#9
jeffny09 Drives: 2010 camaro Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: new york Posts: 5,618	ok nm i see you used a pvc type t? still looking for the plug! lol i must be blind __________________ top 10 reason why real men drive stick. 10. A manual transmission is the ultimate in control 9. You can use automotive jargon and not sound like a total tool 8. You can't spell "manual" without "man" 7. Manual transmissions prove you can do more than one thing at a time 6. You can't drift in an auto 5. You can't pull fancy moves in an automatic 4. You get better fuel economy with a stick 3. You’ll never look like a chump if you can drive stick 2. Manual transmission cars are faster 1. Women like a guy who is good with his hands.

12-29-2009, 03:26 PM	#10
jeffny09 Drives: 2010 camaro Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: new york Posts: 5,618	ok i think i see it-black plug right? yea ima little slow-what kinda plug is that? cuz i see nothing of such here at home depot __________________ top 10 reason why real men drive stick. 10. A manual transmission is the ultimate in control 9. You can use automotive jargon and not sound like a total tool 8. You can't spell "manual" without "man" 7. Manual transmissions prove you can do more than one thing at a time 6. You can't drift in an auto 5. You can't pull fancy moves in an automatic 4. You get better fuel economy with a stick 3. You’ll never look like a chump if you can drive stick 2. Manual transmission cars are faster 1. Women like a guy who is good with his hands.

12-29-2009, 05:03 PM	#11
Coop Drives: 2010 Camaro 1SS Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Lawton/Fort Sill, OK Posts: 1,632	OK what do you mean into the air intake piping? You mean the CAI? So one of the hoses just vents straight down into the engine bay correct? The T is used to have the hose go back into the original location? __________________ 2010 Camaro 1SS Inferno Orange Magnusson Supercharger Installed and Tuned by ADM Performance, Roto Fab CAI IOM painted, MBRP Cat Back Exhaust, Barton Industries Short Shifter, Clear Image Headers, Pedders coilovers, BMR Front/Rear sway bars Trailing Arms and End Links, VMax ported TB

12-29-2009, 06:53 PM	#12
lawdogg149 Drives: Corvette ZO6 CSR edition #47 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Calhoun, GA Posts: 767 View My Garage	Air intake piping is the cold air kit if some have installed or the factory air intake piping. Two things plug into the air intake tube a MAS sensor and a PCV hose. You can do either vent straight out into the open or vent back into the original place on the air intake tubing. I personally like out into the open. The T is used to connect the hose from the valve cover and the hose from the valley pan in which creates one hose that goes to one side of the catch can. Other side of catch can is used as a vent to either free air or back into the intake piping. __________________ Nationwide Turf "artificial turf factory"

12-29-2009, 07:03 PM	#13
jeffny09 Drives: 2010 camaro Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: new york Posts: 5,618	ima order my cath can this weekend- and then autozone has brass t but if your using pvc tees then i can get thqt from hd, then i just need to find the rubber plug __________________ top 10 reason why real men drive stick. 10. A manual transmission is the ultimate in control 9. You can use automotive jargon and not sound like a total tool 8. You can't spell "manual" without "man" 7. Manual transmissions prove you can do more than one thing at a time 6. You can't drift in an auto 5. You can't pull fancy moves in an automatic 4. You get better fuel economy with a stick 3. You’ll never look like a chump if you can drive stick 2. Manual transmission cars are faster 1. Women like a guy who is good with his hands.

12-29-2009, 07:16 PM	#14
SC2150 Account Suspended Drives: 2012 Camaro RS, RX supercharged Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 6,063	Easy install.....Here is how much oil was in the intake at 800 miles: I have a question on the Tee to an open hose.... 1. Is there a filter on the open hose? If not, whats to prevent dust & dirt getting in through any reversion? 2. For the crankcase to be properly "flushed" of the harmful combustion byproducts (unburnt fuel, carbon particles, sulferic acid, etc.) vacuum must be pulled with a filtered fresh air source (the air coupler on a stock system allows air filtered from the main air filter in, and the intake manifold vacuum pulls it through flushing the nasty crap out) so ideally you have a cross flow of filtered fresh air through the crankcase where the flashed off byproducts can be removed. The catch can trps the vapors long enough for the oil to fall out of suspension & be trapped in the can to remove later. So how is the flow pulled through the crankcase with a "Tee" in the line? Just making sure the purpose of the PCV system is not being inadvertantly defeated. The oil is a very real problem not only for the power loss, but the carbon buildup on the piston tops & valves. Here are some diagrams of a proper system. Anyone that wants the whole file of all applications for every Gen LS motor, N/A and FI just PM me your email & I'll send it: This is the one that applies to the 2010 LS3:

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