Author Topic: Improving an ebay catch-can. (Read 4562 times)

cristimm · « **on:** June 20, 2010, 10:36:13 AM »

After I bought a ebay catch-can I opened it and realize that it is empty so it does not make such a good job in separating oil fumes. Rather than buy a more expensive one I decided to improve this one. I added a central baffle and 2 pieces of steel-wool, one on the inlet and the other on the outlet. Bellow are some pictures.

I'm going to install it soon.

Please tell me what you think.

Jesse Nystrom · « **Reply #1 on:** June 20, 2010, 01:29:17 PM »

This catches sludge or build up in your oil?

I like your mod, just confused as to what a "Catch Can" does.

cristimm · « **Reply #2 on:** June 20, 2010, 02:16:59 PM »

The can catches the oil fumes which condense on the plate and the steel-wool and collect on the bottom of the can. This prevents deposits build on the intake manifold, intake valves, top of cylinders and combustion chamber.

M42 has already some kind of oil separator in the cylinder head cover, after installing this we'll see just how effective the oem separator is.

jscribble · « **Reply #3 on:** June 20, 2010, 08:32:34 PM »

Please post some pictures when you get it installed. I'm interested in seeing how much gunk it catches as well. Nice mod.

cristimm · « **Reply #4 on:** July 04, 2010, 08:59:50 AM »

I have almost finished to install it (I'll post a picture when it's done).

Anyone else has a catch-can on M42?

bmwconnect · « **Reply #5 on:** July 04, 2010, 12:04:07 PM »

very cool mod!!

gearheadE30 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 04, 2010, 06:35:25 PM »

Hmm, I'm also interested in seeing this. I don't have a recirculated PCV valve right now; it's just got an air filter on it venting to atmosphere. I'm still looking for a good catch can.

cristimm · « **Reply #7 on:** July 05, 2010, 02:41:38 AM »

Quote from: gearheadE30;94279

Hmm, I'm also interested in seeing this. I don't have a recirculated PCV valve right now; it's just got an air filter on it venting to atmosphere. I'm still looking for a good catch can.

That is not a very good approach for 2 main reasons.

1. Technical reason: the vacuum in the crankcase keeps down the oil consumption by preventing oil to leak through worn valve seals.

2. Ecological reason: venting oil fumes to the atmosphere is not a good thing for the environment.

gearheadE30 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 05, 2010, 07:22:12 PM »

Quote from: cristimm;94282

That is not a very good approach for 2 main reasons.

1. Technical reason: the vacuum in the crankcase keeps down the oil consumption by preventing oil to leak through worn valve seals.

2. Ecological reason: venting oil fumes to the atmosphere is not a good thing for the environment.

yeah, I'm very well aware of this. unfortunately, I don't have much of a choice right now. The way it is all set up from the factory, running boost actually pressurizes the crankcase, which is bad for exactly the reasons you posted:any tiny internal oil leak will instantly be magnified. Once I find a good check valve, I will be hooking everything back up, with the catch can in the line.

cristimm · « **Reply #9 on:** July 07, 2010, 04:25:03 AM »

bad post