Best Oil Catch Can / Oil Separator Set-Up's

[CFK]

Actual ? now, Long story later...............

 

What is the best Catch Can / Oil Seperator set-up :?: ( Especially for the Turbo models due to excess blow-by)

 

Options:

 

1: A single 3-port Catch can

 

2: 2 separate Catch cans ( 1 for the VC's, 1 for the PVC system )

 

3: An actual Oil Separator ( Returns oil to crankcase )

 

And when I say "best", option 3 is probably, but is also the most expensive. So lets just lay out the options and decide which is "best" for you :smt045

 

Oil Separators:

 

http://store.crawfordperformance.com/store/products/510

http://www.grimmspeed.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=91&products_id=191

http://www.jegs.com/i/Moroso/710/85474/10002/-1

 

3 port:

 

2 port:

 

DIY:

http://www.aaronreedbaker.com/oil.html

 

 

 

Long Story ( OPTIONAL )

 

So after seeing some of the sludge through the intake during my TMIC install I decided that a Oil Catch Can was in order. During my internet research and part searching I discovered that finding a cheap decent set-up was definitely a challenge. Especially with the PVC system on the EJ22T being somewhat complicated.

 

So I figured I would just find 2 CC's locally and be done with it. At the local performance parts store they found me a cheap Moroso catch can for $40, he said it was a sealed type so I headed on down there to pick it up. Turns out he was originally looking at a coolant overflow with a single inlet up top and re-circ port on the bottom. So he then brought another one which had one inlet port and a place to drill another since it was made from urethane, the problem being is that it was a vented unit.

 

http://www.shop.speedunlimited.com/p-4618-moroso-85402-breather-tank-black-plastic-10-an.aspx

 

After bringing it home I decided to do a little more research and discovered that it probably wasn't the best unit to install due to it creating more blow-by and probably not emissions friendly.

 

Don't be afraid to post some pics of your own set-ups :!:

 

I Started this same thread on Legacy Central but aren't getting any immediate responses due to small amount of BC owners. Might as well start one here since it really would apply to all Subies.

 

Thanks.

[CFK]

Does anyone have any experiences in trying the breather type ?

 

Definitely harder to find a 3 Port type :

 

http://www.rexnet.com.au/forum/index.php?/topic/63773-diy-hyperflow-catch-can-install/

 

They don't even have a 3-port listed anymore, 2 or 4. & $$$$

 

http://www.hyperflow.com.au/index.php?widget=products&section=-oil-catch-can-occ&id=hyocc-my04v2k

[CFK]

I will be doing this on a EJ22T which seems to be different than most since it has an extra set of Valve Cover ports which T into the block, otherwise most likely the same.

 

Sounds like some people are just venting to atmosphere and blocking the PCV Valve and running all 3 vents into the Catch Can.

 

http://bbs.scoobynet.com/general-technical-10/709078-oil-catch-tanks.html#post8098950

 

Obviously not to emissions compliant, but I was under the impression that you want to keep your crankcase under a slight vacuum when under low loads, venting to atmosphere would not allow this.

 

Or I have seen some run everything into the catch can and I believe you would end up pressurizing the valve covers under heavy load :-\

 

If someone would clarify this before I go ahead and do something :banana: or just plain go zzz. That would be great.

[Fairtax4me]

There are some easy options for homemade setups if you want to save some coin at the expense of aesthetics.

 

The most popular that I've seen are coffee cans filled with any number of different types of "filter" media. Usually one or two chambers full of stuff like a fine mesh type of material such as those copper kitchen scrubbers, hardware cloth, or expanded sheet metal. Then another chamber with cotton or paper air filter media, with some room at the bottom for runoff and a drain plug. Using a PCV valve attached to the side of the container would keep liquid oil from being sucked into the engine.

The basic idea is that the breather hoses are routed to the can, along with a source of fresh air. The PCV hose draws any leftovers out and burn it in the intake stream.

You can design your catch to just introduce the drippings back into the sump to be circulated with the rest of the oil, or manually drain it at each oil change.

 

Obviously not to emissions compliant, but I was under the impression that you want to keep your crankcase under a slight vacuum when under low loads, venting to atmosphere would not allow this.

Screw emissions. The most important reason for having a crankcase ventilation system is for air to circulate through the crankcase and pull oil vapor out. Oil vapor will collect in corners and turn to sludge. The vapor is mostly oil that is full of contaminants, such as water or gasoline, which have a lower "flash point" (boiling temperature). For the most part whatever "oil" is in the vapor is too far degraded to protect the engine properly anyway, so discarding it can prevent wear, but in small quantities, it does no more harm than starting the engine when it's cold. Proper oil change intervals will vastly decrease the chance of wear.

 

A larger PCV valve by itself will help keep blowby to a minimum, by providing a larger source of vacuum to carry vapors out of the engine, preventing them from being forced out through the breather hoses into the intake.

 

Search for Homemade oil catch can on google and you'll get like a million hits. NASIOC has a nice FAQ about it too, specifically for subaru.

[CFK]

Screw emissions.

 

I like your attitude

 

Awesome, Thanks. Very good explanation.

 

Yesterday I got impatient and ended up just ordering 2 cheap Ebay ones cause I worked it out and it ended up being cheaper by the time you buy a decent can of somesort and fitting + time etc. I will definitely be filling it with a mesh and baffle.

 

The one thing im confused about now is finding what I thought was a right answer and then someone else stating that it was wrong I know right, I thought the Interwebz would never lie to me...............

 

So what I was going to do was run the crankcase vent into the CC, then T the outlet and run separate lines back to the PCV valve and intake tract. Then a seperate can for the heads, T'd in, then back out to the inlet.

 

A DIY thread on NASIOC stated that each of the crankcase vent and PVC valve should be run to separate Catch can's.

 

I know the crankcase vent being the most crucial and another for the heads might be a little overkill, but I have no idea why you would want to run separate one for the PVC valve and crankcase ?

Edited December 17, 2010 by CFK

[CFK]

Stated in NASIOC Thread :

 

How should a catch can be installed?

 

There are a variety of ways to install a catch can. There's one right way, two sort-of right ways, and some would argue that at least one common installation method which is wrong.

 

Sort of right ways:

1) Disconnect the hose which runs between the PCV valve and the turbo inlet pipe. Run a line from the PCV to the catch can, and another line from the catch can to the turbo inlet hose.

 

2) Disconnect the hose running between the crank case breather lines and the turbo inlet pipe. Run new hose between the breather line and the catch can and another hose between the can and the inlet pipe.

 

Right way:

Use two catch cans. Configure one as discussed in option one and the other as described in option 2. For optimal effectiveness, this is the way to go.

 

Wrong way:

Disconnect the PCV<->Inlet line as well as the Crank Vent<->Inlet line. "T" the PCV and Crank vent lines together, and run the remaining end of the "T" to a single nipple on the inlet pipe. Cap the remaining nipple on the inlet. You'll be sending boost into places that definitely shouldn't ever see any. Bad idea.

 

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=754710

 

Legacy777 (Josh) seems to have it set-up just right and I think I will be running it exactly the way he did .

 

http://www.bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=39620