What to do with catch can oil?

[Tomster]

Real men drink it

You go first.

Bottoms up! :cheers:

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[Mspeedster]

Sorry if this question seems ridiculous, but can I just pour my catch can oil back into the motor? I have been dumping it out in my used oil container, but it seems like a complete waste. Car sees no track use, driver side catch can is always bone dry, passenger side catch can with 1-2oz every 1,000 miles or so. The only possible source of contamination I see is if dirt falls into the catch can as I'm removing it. I have the JLT 3.0 cans that hold 3oz each.

BTW, if you don't have at least a passenger side catch can, you MUST get one. With how much it catches it should have come from the factory with one.

According to the Track Tips pamphlet, that came with my owner's supplement kit, the catch cans are recommended for car's seeing intensive track use. It also says to return the car to the stock configuration after the track day is done, as the catch cans are not intended for street use.

So I'm surprised so many here seem to be using them for the street.

 

[KiLLeR2001]

According to the Track Tips pamphlet, that came with my owner's supplement kit, the catch cans are recommended for car's seeing intensive track use. It also says to return the car to the stock configuration after the track day is done, as the catch cans are not intended for street use.

So I'm surprised so many here seem to be using them for the street.

They probably say that because they aren't expecting people to be dumping them out periodically and also think people are doing 10k+ oil changes, which in that amount of time, might fill up and cause a problem.

Best thing to do is see how much you accumulate over X amount of miles and figure out a dump interval for yourself, or use a catch can that has a little level checker incorporated.

 

[Tomster]

According to the Track Tips pamphlet, that came with my owner's supplement kit, the catch cans are recommended for car's seeing intensive track use. It also says to return the car to the stock configuration after the track day is done, as the catch cans are not intended for street use.

So I'm surprised so many here seem to be using them for the street.

My passenger's side catches enough oil that I would leave it installed.

I think the reason Ford says to take them out or disconnect would be for the reason stated above. ^^^^^^^

 

[04Terminator]

I know this is probably a very stupid question, but what happens to that lost oil if you DON'T have catch cans?

 

[Mike02z]

I know this is probably a very stupid question, but what happens to that lost oil if you DON'T have catch cans?

That combination of oil and water stays in the system until the oil is changed. Most cars could use a catch can but manufacturers don't want another maintenance item for the user to have to deal with. Will it hurt your engine? Probably not. Is it worth it? It depends who you talk too. My feeling is it can't hurt to get that crap out of your engine.

 

[CANTWN4LSN]

Is the engineering such that most ventilation occurs out the passengers side? Except for heavy track use, is the drivers side needed at all? Seems like nobody with non track use is reporting any in the drivers side catch can. Seems like a good idea to have passengers side installed to protect the intake even without track use.

 

[Mike02z]

^^ Yes. If you don't track your car you likely don't need the driver side catch can. I have both as I do a few track days per year. It's just cheap insurance in my opinion.

 

[J_Maher_AMG]

That looks great. Can you get the part number off the small hose; I'd like to start there.

It is the same hose the air/oil separator comes with. Simply take the corrugated hose and reverse it; if you install it as per the instructions, you have that ugly bend in the hose. Simply switch the hose around opposite of the instructions and it fits much better IMO, identical to the picture above. No need to buy any other parts

 

[Maineiac]

It is the same hose the air/oil separator comes with. Simply take the corrugated hose and reverse it; if you install it as per the instructions, you have that ugly bend in the hose. Simply switch the hose around opposite of the instructions and it fits much better IMO, identical to the picture above. No need to buy any other parts

Thanks so much! I just went out and reversed the hose. Perfect - no kink/crimp in the hose. If you make you way to Maine, look me up. I've got a beer/soda/coffee for ya.

 

[Hack]

I know this is probably a very stupid question, but what happens to that lost oil if you DON'T have catch cans?

The oil and vapors go through the intake tract and are burned in the engine. On the way they coat various components and cause a build up of gunk over time. They may cause some carbon to form on the valves. Oil vapor burns very easily, and so it may also cause some detonation or the ECU in the car to retard the timing more to prevent that detonation.

The main reason I bought the catch cans was to reduce the amount of oil vapor going through the combustion chamber of the engine. I think the engine will last longer this way.

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