2019 Oil Consumption update & Question

[RJay]

Oil from the catch cans does not go back into the crank case. It gets disposed of. So yes, you will continue to lose the oil.

So, I'm curious. Isn't oil vapor passing through mesh and dripping into the catch can basically "distilled oil"?

Why couldn't you just put it right back in the crankcase?

The 2020 GT500 factory oil-air separator has no catch can and drains directly back into the engine.

https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-6766-A52

Sponsored

 

[03reptile]

I have 5,500 miles on my 19 (non-R) with no oil usage. The dealer changed it at 1000 miles at my request. Haven't tracked it yet, but it has seen redline a number of times and it gets driven, briskly! I'm completely satisfied with the engine so far!

 

[Nfs1000f]

I may be wrong, but I understood that oil in the catch can should not be introduced back into the engine. According to the article below, oil in the catch can contains contaminants. Whether these contaminants are worse than the contaminants in the used oil in the crankcase I do not know. I’ll typically only catch a few ounces over 3 to 5k miles so I dispose of it.
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/buying-maintenance/a27182434/how-oil-catch-can-works/

 

[03reptile]

I may be wrong, but I understood that oil in the catch can should not be introduced back into the engine. According to the article below, oil in the catch can contains contaminants. Whether these contaminants are worse than the contaminants in the used oil in the crankcase I do not know. I’ll typically only catch a few ounces over 3 to 5k miles so I dispose of it.
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/buying-maintenance/a27182434/how-oil-catch-can-works/

Same here. I have a JLT passenger side catch can. I dump the oil it contains and don't put it back in the engine.

 

[key01]

I get so little oil in my FP catch can that I usually just paper towel it out. I have a syringe that used once I think.

 

[Coosawjack]

Crank Case vapor that is condensed in the catch can has water, fuel and oil mixed and I would NEVER return it to the Crank Case!!

The whole point of PCV is to remove this crap to extend oil and engine life!!

 

[JAJ]

One of the myths about catch cans is that they condense oil vapor. They don't. All they do is provide a way (usually a metal mesh or a screen) to capture very small droplets of oil that are carried along in the crankcase air. So, yes, there's no reason not to put the oil back in the crankcase. The new GT500 oil separator (a more precise name) puts the captured oil back in the engine where it belongs. The three generations of BMW "M" engines that I'm familiar with all have crankcase ventilation systems from the factory that work this way.

While there's no reason not to put the oil back in the crankcase, if you're emptying the can yourself, just recycle it. It's such a small amount you'll never miss it on the dipstick.

 

[Coosawjack]

One of the myths about catch cans is that they condense oil vapor. They don't. All they do is provide a way (usually a metal mesh or a screen) to capture very small droplets of oil that are carried along in the crankcase air. So, yes, there's no reason not to put the oil back in the crankcase. The new GT500 oil separator (a more precise name) puts the captured oil back in the engine where it belongs. The three generations of BMW "M" engines that I'm familiar with all have crankcase ventilation systems from the factory that work this way.

While there's no reason not to put the oil back in the crankcase, if you're emptying the can yourself, just recycle it. It's such a small amount you'll never miss it on the dipstick.

You're saying the design engineers created a system to return "Oil Lights" (yes low boiling oil vapor), Fuel Blowby and Moisture back into the Crank Case??

If what your saying is "correct" why even vent the Crank Case in the first place.....pray tell??

 

[Rainier42]

You're saying the design engineers created a system to return "Oil Lights" (yes low boiling oil vapor), Fuel Blowby and Moisture back into the Crank Case??

If what your saying is "correct" why even vent the Crank Case in the first place.....pray tell??

The new GT500 with carbon package comes standard with an oil/air separator that recycles oil back into the engine via a modified cam cover. The cam cover and GT500 oil/air separator fits the GT350 but is pricey.

I believe the reason why the GT500 uses the recycling design is that the engineers found more oil than normal was being drawn into the PCV during hard cornering.

 

[Coosawjack]

I have a feeling that the danger of detonation in a forced induction application due to oil in the intake is why they've chosen this route.......then to keep the environmental peeps happy they dump the "Crank Case Crud" back into the Crank Case.....probably the lesser evil?? Also, the "Crud" would definitely not be good for the internals of a PD Supercharger or Intercooler!!

If I ever owned one I'd dispose of the crud and NEVER allow it back into the Crank Case period......that's just me!!

 

[JAJ]

You're saying the design engineers created a system to return "Oil Lights" (yes low boiling oil vapor), Fuel Blowby and Moisture back into the Crank Case??

If what your saying is "correct" why even vent the Crank Case in the first place.....pray tell??

"Oil lights" may have existed 40 years ago, but not today. The whole notion that oil distills out of the engine is nonsense. Think about it - if the oil used in a GT350 has a NOACK of 12%, then every 10 quart sump GT350 would distill 1.2 quarts out of the sump between oil changes. Not just some cars - every last one of them. Those that actually burn oil would go down by even more. But that just doesn't happen - lots of GT350 owners report zero oil consumption. How can that be? Well, it's because oil doesn't distill out of the engine.

The reason the crank case is vented is because blowby from combustion has to be routed back through the intake manifold to keep it from polluting the atmosphere, producing the smog that nobody loved back in the 1950's and 1960's. All a catch can/oil separator does is remove oil droplets that get swept up in the flow so they don't contribute to carbon buildup.

 

[Coosawjack]

Oil and fuel are definitely better these days so MAYBE your statements are valid (maybe) but what about the moisture generated.......why the HELL would you want that back into the Crank Case??

 

[JAJ]

Oil and fuel are definitely better these days so MAYBE your statements are valid (maybe) but what about the moisture generated.......why the HELL would you want that back into the Crank Case??

The stuff that goes back into the crankcase is oil. The unburned fuel and moisture are gases and vapor and go straight through the oil separator into the intake where they're consumed. All the oil separator collects is oil.

Oil separator companies have marketing strategies that try to scare consumers into buying something they mostly don't need. All those frightening words are just fluff. If you want to reduce the risk of having knock or pre-ignition caused by deposits from burning crankcase oil under heavy load or boost, then get an oil separator. If you don't have that concern, save your money.

 

[Coosawjack]

You must have a lot of SNOW up yonder......calm down and do as you please!!

On the other hand.....I shall do as I please and any catch can on my car shall be emptied.....the contents WILL NOT BE RETURNED TO THE CRANK CASE.....THE END!!

Oh......and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

 

[Coosawjack]

FYI......DIRECT FROM FORD PERFORMANCE!!

Please Note: This oil separator needs to be emptied out periodically. We recommend emptying it every oil change.

Sponsored