What's with the oil catch cans?

[securityguy]

Well I got one and yes, it runs smoother, as for performance? mpg is still the same, cleaner intake? yes, plugs look great, the only down side, you'll be emptying it out once a week.

If you are emptying it out once per week, you have a problem. Except in the winter with high condensation, it should not be collecting that much that fast.

 

[HSKR R/T]

Well I got one and yes, it runs smoother, as for performance? mpg is still the same, cleaner intake? yes, plugs look great, the only down side, you'll be emptying it out once a week.

How many miles do you drive a week to need to empty it that often? I empty mine about every 2k miles, just to make sure it's still collecting a "normal" amount, which is about 1oz every 1k miles.

 

[Darksteel165]

I only empty out mine once a year... Yall must have some really small cans or leaking problems.

If it's every 2 weeks I think you connected to an oil line not an air line.

 

[Eighty]

I only empty out mine once a year... Yall must have some really small cans or leaking problems.

If it's every 2 weeks I think you connected to an oil line not an air line.

The member that posted this also uses pure coolant (not diluted). Engine probably runs hotter than normal and has increased blow-by.

 

[DeanM2]

Just installed a Mishimoto can on mine. It is beatifully engineered and built. But it was the much larger capacity than the other ones that convinced me to buy Mishimoto. I hope to be able to go an entire oil-change cycle, and then empty it when I change the oil.

 

[DeanM2]

Just trying to figure out I should install one when I get my truck in the near future.

If you are not anal enough to regularly check and drain the can, then DO NOT get one.

 

[Rlaf75]

Just installed a Mishimoto can on mine. It is beatifully engineered and built. But it was the much larger capacity than the other ones that convinced me to buy Mishimoto. I hope to be able to go an entire oil-change cycle, and then empty it when I change the oil.

I don't have the mishimoto can but when I dump mine every oil change there's only about a shot glass (1oz) worth of oil in it. Unless the engine has some problems the size shouldn't matter. But that's what they all say lol

 

[ZombieSlayer]

I check mine the day of or the day before an oil change. So every 5K ish miles. I did forget once and went two changes before checking and it was about 3/4 full.

 

[User_38976]

I started using a Speedlogix oil catch can in 2009 on my Challenger SRT8 6.1L - when I installed the 180* thermostat. The idea was that while the engine made slightly better power at the lower operating temp, it was hindering the engine's ability to completely burn off the oil mist and there was a slightly increased possibility of sludge building up without the collection of the catch can.
After initial installation, I checked the volume every two weeks, then every oil change after I was finding only about two tablespoons of oil every two weeks. Throughout the seven years I owned that car, the most I ever took out of the catch can was 1/8 cup between oil changes.
I haven't added an oil catch can to my RAM since the engine has been left completely stock. YMMV....

 

[Darksteel165]

I started using a Speedlogix oil catch can in 2009 on my Challenger SRT8 6.1L - when I installed the 180* thermostat. The idea was that while the engine made slightly better power at the lower operating temp, it was hindering the engine's ability to completely burn off the oil mist and there was a slightly increased possibility of sludge building up without the collection of the catch can.
After initial installation, I checked the volume every two weeks, then every oil change after I was finding only about two tablespoons of oil every two weeks. Throughout the seven years I owned that car, the most I ever took out of the catch can was 1/8 cup between oil changes.
I haven't added an oil catch can to my RAM since the engine has been left completely stock. YMMV....

Maybe you have a bad catch can that isn't catching anything.
I took out 12oz (measured by weight) in the last 5k miles.

 

[User_38976]

Maybe you have a bad catch can that isn't catching anything.
I took out 12oz (measured by weight) in the last 5k miles.

Again, that was on a '09 6.1L that I traded in October of '15. The friends who were running the same catch can systems on 5.7's in their Challengers at that time had varying results. I never put one on my Ex's '06 Charger 5.7L since that engine was stock.
I'm not discounting or minimizing the benefits of running a catch can. I was simply explaining why they were offered and recommended at the time.
Since the numbers produced by the RAMs are a fair bit higher now, I'd imagine something changed in the tuning or architecture since 2009.

 

[HSKR R/T]

Again, that was on a '09 6.1L that I traded in October of '15. The friends who were running the same catch can systems on 5.7's in their Challengers at that time had varying results. I never put one on my Ex's '06 Charger 5.7L since that engine was stock.
I'm not discounting or minimizing the benefits of running a catch can. I was simply explaining why they were offered and recommended at the time.
Since the numbers produced by the RAMs are a fair bit higher now, I'd imagine something changed in the tuning or architecture since 2009.

Catch cans have been promoted to be used, even on stock Hemis, since the mid 2000s. I even had one on my 2008 V6 Charger and it caught a lot of crap.

 

[Rlaf75]

Catch cans have been promoted to be used, even on stock Hemis, since the mid 2000s. I even had one on my 2008 V6 Charger and it caught a lot of crap.

And they could've been used on any vehicle with a PCV system dating back to the 80's. The older vehicles just vented into the atmosphere via a literal filter on top of the valve covers.. The can's didn't start to become popular until the 2000's.

 

[HSKR R/T]

And they could've been used on any vehicle with a PCV system dating back to the 80's. The older vehicles just vented into the atmosphere via a literal filter on top of the valve covers.. The can's didn't start to become popular until the 2000's.

My 66 Poly 318 has a PCV valve. How "older" are you taking?

 

[c3k]

Catch cans didn't do much to keep the valves clean...until direct injection became a thing. (Carburetors and injectors clean off the valves.) Now, if you're talking about keeping the oil away from the plugs or exhaust valves (soot), then that's another reason for them, though admittedly minor.

I added one to my diesel. (Direct injection, like all diesels. ) RAM ecodiesels come with a factory-installed oil separator...and I've found out that my OEM separator is VERY good. My catch can gets about a teaspoon every couple thousand miles.

 

[HSKR R/T]

Catch cans didn't do much to keep the valves clean...until direct injection became a thing. (Carburetors and injectors clean off the valves.) Now, if you're talking about keeping the oil away from the plugs or exhaust valves (soot), then that's another reason for them, though admittedly minor.

I added one to my diesel. (Direct injection, like all diesels. ) RAM ecodiesels come with a factory-installed oil separator...and I've found out that my OEM separator is VERY good. My catch can gets about a teaspoon every couple thousand miles.

Plugs, exhaust valves, build up on top of pistons, oil film inside intake manifold and back of throttle body. It's more than just keeping valves clean. It's keeping the whole engine cleaner.

 

[CalvinC]

Wow, the snake oil is strong in this thread!
(ducks flying tomatoes)

Hmmm, so many different accounts of experiences running catch cans...
It's almost like there is a huge variety in manufacturer quality.

While it might be debatable if the cans do any good, its well known that the less reputable can setups can cause more problems than solutions. Collapsing hoses, mounts in front of the radiator, poor separators.

Shop wisely, lots of money-grabbing shops out there! Ask yourself - does this vendor sell anything other than catch cans? And if so, hopefully not just hats, throttle body spacers and Turbonators!

 

[HSKR R/T]

Wow, the snake oil is strong in this thread!
(ducks flying tomatoes)

Hmmm, so many different accounts of experiences running catch cans...
It's almost like there is a huge variety in manufacturer quality.

While it might be debatable if the cans do any good, its well known that the less reputable can setups can cause more problems than solutions. Collapsing hoses, mounts in front of the radiator, poor separators.

Shop wisely, lots of money-grabbing shops out there! Ask yourself - does this vendor sell anything other than catch cans? And if so, hopefully not just hats, throttle body spacers and Turbonators!

Understanding the design of the "good" catch cans will help you to shop for, and save money, with cheaper cans that use same design. My Amazon special $50 billet catch can uses the same style separator as the fancy UPR, Speedlogix, BilletTech cans at less than half the price. Even comes with the Hemi specific Z bracket. And has ball valve on bottom to drain it that the more expensive ones don't. Only thing I did was bought better hoses for it.

As far as snake oil, the "benefits" will always be questioned. The results can't. Anyone who thinks keeping all the crap, a catch can catches, out of the engine isn't a good thing doesn't care about their vehicle. Nobody is sneaking under my hood and adding fluid to my catch can while I'm not looking. And having ran catch cans in multiple vehicles I have seen first hand how much cleaner the intake track and throttle bodies were compared to before the catch can. Of course my Ram had one installed within the first 1000 miles.

 

[HSKR R/T]

Heres a $25 catch can that uses the same style separator as the $160+ Mishimoto one.

SPEEDWOW Universal Oil Catch Can Tank Filter Baffled With Hose Kit,300ML(Black) https://a.co/d/4GxAHAd

 

[6of36]

Heres a $25 catch can that uses the same style separator as the $160+ Mishimoto one.

SPEEDWOW Universal Oil Catch Can Tank Filter Baffled With Hose Kit,300ML(Black) https://a.co/d/4GxAHAd

It even comes with hose claps. What language do they speak? I had a toaster oven once with a poewr button.