Oil catch can
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 432
Likes: 38
Oil catch can
Has anyone ever installed an "oil catch can" in the line from the driver's side valve cover breather, to the carb airfilter housing? These "catch cans" have become a popular aftermarket item in the Corvette and Mustang communities. The idea is to run the crankcase "vapors" through the device to separate/remove the oil vapor before it makes it to the airfilter, carb, intake, etc. There are several after market vendors who sell universal units with pricey billet aluminum canisters, while others have assemble DIY kits using a common air compressor filter (glass bulb type with water separator vanes), fuel line hose, clamps, barb fittings, etc. I do get some blow-by from the valve cover breather, and all of it does not get trapped in the small filter that sits inside the air filter housing. I'm sure I'm not the only one with a "greasy" air filter housing.
Anyone have any pros/cons about this, and has anyone done it?
Anyone have any pros/cons about this, and has anyone done it?
Elder User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 514
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From: Northern Colorado
How exactly is your crankcase ventilation system plumbed? I haven't paid too much attention to mine yet, as it's still undergoing its resto, but I'm pretty sure my setup is like my Camaro - both have open element air cleaners, mind you, and they're like this: One cylinder bank has the PCV valve which routes to the carb. base/intake manifold. This creates the differential pressure flow (aka vacuum) through the crankcase from the other cylinder bank which is routed up to the air filter (or in my case, the flow just begins at a baffled open element valve cover breather). Either way, there should be no flow reversal on this bank - the air should be being drawn in, not blown out. I never see any residue on my valve cover under the breather, and, therefore, would not expect to see any accumulation on the PCV filter in the air cleaner housing if it were plumbed up as original. Maybe your PCV valve is a little gummed up/or inop?
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2001
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Nope--My PCV works as advertised. OEM crankcase venting for a 1976 F-350 with 460, has the PCV on the passenger side valve cover, connected to the carb/manifold as you describe. On the driver's side, there is a hose that attaches to a fitting on the crankcase breather in the valve cover, and then connects to the small filter (Napa part no. 2991) that sits inside the airfilter housing. This breather is attached with a c-clip that keeps the filter's hose barb sticking through the airfilter housing so it can be attached to the hose from the valve cover breather. I can't remember ever seeing an engine of this vintage that did not exhaust some crankcase emissions from the valve cover opposite the PCV. There is some cross-head ventilation, but there's still crankcase emissions at the breather on the opposite side.
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
My beater '77 LTD has so much blow-by that I couldn't keep breather filters in it. It throws oil into the air cleaner with a properly plumbed PCV system. To keep the air cleaner dry, I run a length of heater hose from the breather fitting on the valve cover down to the ground and let it throw it out there. It's not very environmentally friendly and not the proper way to solve the problem, but the car just won't die. 
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,593
Likes: 2
From: Prairieville, La
Has anyone used or seen this device called an "en-valve"? Kinda of curious. The people that sell it seem pretty forthright.
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2001
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Can you please shed a little more light on the "en-valve"; I've never heard of it. Do you have a picture? purpose? URL for more info?
Thanks
Thanks
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Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,593
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From: Prairieville, La
THE EN-VALVE THE SMART ENVIRONMENTAL PCV VALVE
It is a revamped pcv to eliminate blowby. I wound up rebuilding my engine. I found a clogged pcv tube after the rebuild and eliminated my blowby. The device sounds pretty good. I just have never seen it first hand. Since I have a fresh motor I do not know if it would be an improvement to use.
It is a revamped pcv to eliminate blowby. I wound up rebuilding my engine. I found a clogged pcv tube after the rebuild and eliminated my blowby. The device sounds pretty good. I just have never seen it first hand. Since I have a fresh motor I do not know if it would be an improvement to use.
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 432
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I think I'll take a pass on the "en-valve". Looked all over the site and never did find a price. Looks like a primitive PCV valve to me. Wonder how they settled on 9000 miles for oil change interval with their valve.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,593
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From: Prairieville, La
You got me.
There is another site that has the price . I think it is $50.00. The testimonials sound good.( if it is legit) They claim it will help you pass inspection. I do not know how a vacuum could be created in the crankcase. To me the oil dipstick tube would eliminate the chance to create a vacuum.
I was really curious.
Thanks,
Kyle
There is another site that has the price . I think it is $50.00. The testimonials sound good.( if it is legit) They claim it will help you pass inspection. I do not know how a vacuum could be created in the crankcase. To me the oil dipstick tube would eliminate the chance to create a vacuum.I was really curious.
Thanks,
Kyle
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 502
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I think the idea is good, provided it doesn't clog easy, and not ventilate the crankcase. To me, it sounds like a refined factory setup, which can perhaps re-claim oil.
The old dipsticks don't seal well, compared to the new O-ringed ones. If you have oil sweating, or leaking out, there is a good chance dirt can be sucked in.
The old dipsticks don't seal well, compared to the new O-ringed ones. If you have oil sweating, or leaking out, there is a good chance dirt can be sucked in.
