DIY: PCV Catch-Can *PICS*

[NCJack]

SO I decided to install an in-line catch can post PCV valve. I purchased all my materials at my local ace hardware store. Using a compressor's water/air separator, and some 3/8ths inch fuel line, some fittings and ring clamps, I now have an inexpensive system to remove oil and other contaminates from re-entering the intake manifold and thereby helping to keep the upper engine assembly much cleaner for much longer. This should reduce the amount of buildup occurring on the throttle body, intake plenum, valves and from entering the combustion chamber.

Here is the water/air separator. I got it from ACE for like 25 bucks and removed the small filter that was in it. It has a bleed valve on the bottom so you can drain it, but its faster to just screw the bottom off and dump it out.



This second pics shows the entire assembly. From the PCV valve, to the catch-can, and back to its normal vacuum line.



PCV Valve:



I made my own mount out of a piece of sheet metal. The top of the catch-can had 2 pre-drilled holes, but I had to tap them out for the screws I had on hand.



The underside of the mount, I used industrial strength Velcro and It works great. Using Velcro, I am able to dismount the can with no tool and easily manipulate it to discard the oil inside.


Overall, I love it. It looks clean and well thought out. And best of all, If I want, I can remove the system VERY easily and attach the engine vacuum hose back to the PCV since I cut no hoses on the car itself. Peel the velcro off and Its like it was never there for those stealership checkups and whatnot.

Hopefully, This system will have proved beneficial in the long run since I plan on keeping this car till the wheels come off. By removing oil, This system should keep the engine cleaner and therefore less maintenance in the end.

Any thoughts?

Regards,
Jack

[Pwnin O'Brien]

That looks really clean and really well put together, I like the velcro idea (I might have to steal that idea from you).

You should place a piece of stainless steel scrubber inside the catch can so the oil vapors have something to condense onto. You'll collect more oil and prevent the oil vapors from making their way back into the intake manifold.

[NCJack]

Thats a great idea. Do you think steel wool would be an equivalent? Would you use coarse or fine? I liked how it turned out, and after I was all said and done, I trimmed a lot of the excess hoses. It now looks like this:




Any other good ideas?

Regards,
Jack

[TryingDrive]

hmmm. good idea!

[Pwnin O'Brien]

Well you want to use the coarsest possible, a Chore Boy stainless steel scrubber from your local grocery store works perfectly. I paid like 99 cents for three scrubbers and cut it in half (I have the larger in-line filter so you could probably cut it in thirds or quarters).

[Promise Land]

do you have enough pictures to make a DIY thread with step by step instructions? It'd be good to put this on our tech page.

[NCJack]

Thats all the pics I took. However, because of the simplicity of this, I can easily take it all apart and start over in about 10 minutes. Let me know what steps you want photographed and I'm sure I can find the time to contribute them.

Also, I did buy some stainless steel scrubber, cut a good size piece and then decided that it by some how, a small piece broke away, it would be sucked straight into the engine. I didnt feel comfortable with this idea. Maybe, if I install a mesh screen, I will feel more comfortable with cut up scrubber inside the canister. For the time being, I put the filter back into the unit that came with it and it works fine.

Regards,
Jack

[Pwnin O'Brien]

Also, I did buy some stainless steel scrubber, cut a good size piece and then decided that it by some how, a small piece broke away, it would be sucked straight into the engine. I didnt feel comfortable with this idea. Maybe, if I install a mesh screen, I will feel more comfortable with cut up scrubber inside the canister. For the time being, I put the filter back into the unit that came with it and it works fine.

Regards,
Jack

I thought the same exact thing when I cut my scrubber in half. What you have to do is cut it then pull at it to see if any pieces break free. I was able to pull some off pretty easily but it eventually got to a point where nothing would pull off. I also blew some compressed air through it just to make sure nothing broke free and it was good.

[NCJack]

Do you think it will work better than the filter?

Regards,
Jack

[Pwnin O'Brien]

The filter is known to fall apart when soaked in the used oil and it could get sucked into the engine under high acceleration; you definitely don't want to use the filter. It's not a requirement to use the stainless scrubber, it just collects the oil vapors that would normally pass without any baffling in the filter cup. You also want to stay away from anything more fine than the stainless scrubber.

[Promise Land]

I'd just want to see any part numbers, prices, where to buy all pieces, lengths to cut everything, etc. If someone wanted to duplicate the job, what would it take?

[steed77]

I have used the same ones (ran 2) on my Lighting. under boost it would catch some oil... BUT ... the filter needs to be installed......W/o it it would almost never catch anything. As far as sucking that filter up.... it will be fine... These line dryers are meant for 100+psi, your vac will do 20hg tops.

At the end, I swapped it out for something that catches a bit more oil.

I run this on the EVO VIII
http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/PROD/10-2072

the Truck uses a custom self recirculation catch can..

not sure a motor that is N/A would need one of these thu...