Racor ccv4500

Who has mounted one of these catch cans? Can you show some pics of where you mounted and thoughts on the set up?

Thanks in advance

 

I cannot remember the model number of the contraption that @Y2KW57 has, but I believe he has/had something similar to the Racor you are asking about.

 

The model I have is the

• CCV3550-FRD-02

The "FRD" in the part number is short for, and you guessed it, FORD.

Racor was hot and heavy in the midst of several lucrative product development and supplier contracts with Ford for not only the 7.3L PSD, but also for the 6.0L (creating the first frame mounted all in one DCFM for the 6.0L).

As relayed to me by the Racor engineer who designed the release mechanism on the valve cover for the CCV3550-FRD-02 (Revision 2, as the first version didn't work out too well, delaying the release of the product another year), it was Ford who insisted that the CCV drain back into the valve cover, rather than be plumbed into a port on the side of the block with a check valve.

The only CCV filter cartridge unit that would fit between the valve cover and the cowl was the CCV-3500, which was developed for smaller liter VW TDI engines. It flows 3 CFM of vent aerosol.

On the other hand, the CCV-4500, which was the first CCV filtering system that Racor had developed more than a decade earlier, flows 10 CFM, which is more appropriate for the HP that regular tunes push the 7.3 PSD to.

So I don't blame the OP for wanting the CCV-4500. Only there is no kit, nor any easy way, to mount the CCV-4500 properly.

Sure, folks have mounted the CCV-4500, and even the larger CCV-6000, under the truck... but those installations contravene Racor's instructions, as well as the laws of physics, and thus might be considered improper.

I have seen plenty of properly mounted CCV-4500's connected to 7.3L diesel engines, but none were in Ford pickups or chassis cabs. They were all in T-444e applications in school buses and International medium duty trucks that had the room under the hood to mount the CCV-4500 properly.

This is the only reason why I chose the CCV-3550-FRD-02. There is no other easy and validated way to properly mount a CCV-4500 under the hood of a 99-03 pickup.

I have designed a combination engine mounted brackets for the CCV-4500 that comes close to meeting the recommendations that Racor specifies, but the available height above the sump while remaining under the hood and out of the way of the master cylinder and steering lines still falls a bit short. I've always intended to continue that project, but it falls lower and lower on my priority list as time goes on.

I was tagged into this thread by Sous, and will remained subscribed to see if anyone has mounted a CCV-4500 under the hood, rather than under the truck, as getting the vent, filtration, and drain higher than the short block is of some importance and of great interest to me as well.

 

Would also be eager to see if this has been accomplished. Either this or the Donaldson Spiracle

 

Donaldson discontinued the Spiracle several years ago.

 

If I am running a hydra and wicked wheel but no other major mods, would the 3500 be safe to run or does it not flow enough?

 

Stock HP ratings for the 7.3L PSD range from 235 HP to 275 HP, depending on transmission and model year.

Without knowing what tunes you are running on your Hydra, and likewise without knowing how much additional HP those tunes promise or produce... let's assume a range from 30HP to 120 HP.

Taking the highest stock HP, and adding the highest tune HP promised, adds up to 395 HP.

The 4500 flows 10 CFM, which is adequate for up to 400 HP.

The 3500 flows 3 CFM, which is adequate for up to 120 HP.

For intermittent lightly loaded usage, the CCV-3550-FRD-02, when directly coupled to the valve cover, can work ok with stock tuning, until the media depth loads with soot.

Since tunes typically tweak values that ultimately result in more fuel being burned, which also increases the probability that more fuel may be unburned (what we see as puffs of smoke), a tuned truck is more likely to have a higher byproduct soot in the oil aerosol of the crankcase vent gasses.

Therefore, it appears that if you want to run a Hydra, and you want to coalesce the oil vapors out of your intake stream, then you will be better off with the CCV-4500.

 

Y2KW57 What is the equation for CFM of crank case flow vs. horsepower? I currently have my CCV routed under my truck to air, and it's frankly a little annoying the amount of smoke/haze it puts out under certain conditions as I live in a small town and find myself at stop lights feeling a little bad about smoking out the neigbhoring car. I'd like to reduce this smoke if possible, but not at risk of over pressurizing my crank case, and I don't want to go back to dumping all that oil into my turbo/intercooler.

Do you know what the stock system was putting out CFM wise? Just trying to find a catch can system that doesn't overly restrict/over pressurize the crank case and can match flow to output.

 

The rough rule of thumb that Racor suggests using is to divide the rated horsepower by 40 to get the CFM of cranckcase flow..

Following Racor's formula, a 250 HP PSD divided by 40 is approximately 6.25 CFM crankcase flow.

 

Ok, thanks good info. Do you know of any Catch Cans that meet this flow besides the Racor?

 

Maybe.

However, the solution isn't enveloped in merely a can. Height, plumbing, temperature, vacuum, ambient environment, and a host of other factors enter into a CCV filtration solution beyond the mere can.

I'm aware of filtration mechanisms for crank case vapors that meet or exceed the cfm requirements of a 7.3L PSD, and even a hopped up (higher HP) PSD.

But I do not have any recommendations at this point.

I did read your post with interest and understanding, and I can relate to a lot of the catch 22's you are debating about in your search for a catch can that is least of all evils.