420A Catch Can

[IIv SHaDoW vII]

Car - 98 GS 420A

My goal here is simple. My car burns a little oil and I would like to catch it and put it back into my engine.
I read a while ago that catch cans are bad for your engine, etc.. Other places claim its great for your engine.. So..
What is a catch can design that works? is reliable and safe?

Why is it a bad idea to run a breather on the catch can in place of the line back to the manifold? I don't understand why this wouldn't be better than running a line back to the manifold.. I just want to understand. Wouldn't the worst case scenario be oil seeping from the breather? Why even allow the oil to get to the manifold?

I know ebay catch cans arent the best, but if I was to get one, what do you guys use as a baffle to separate oil and air.
I saw people using steel wool, and other similar stuff.. Isn't there a little less questionable method I could use.. like a simple screen.. if so, where could I buy one? This is why I want to know what you guys use.

 

[david-b]

Car - 98 GS 420A

My goal here is simple. My car burns a little oil and I would like to catch it and put it back into my engine.
I read a while ago that catch cans are bad for your engine, etc.. Other places claim its great for your engine.. So..
What is a catch can design that works? is reliable and safe?

Why is it a bad idea to run a breather on the catch can in place of the line back to the manifold? I don't understand why this wouldn't be better than running a line back to the manifold.. I just want to understand. Wouldn't the worst case scenario be oil seeping from the breather? Why even allow the oil to get to the manifold?

I know ebay catch cans arent the best, but if I was to get one, what do you guys use as a baffle to separate oil and air.
I saw people using steel wool, and other similar stuff.. Isn't there a little less questionable method I could use.. like a simple screen.. if so, where could I buy one? This is why I want to know what you guys use.

Why are ebay ones not the best? Think about what it is... basically a container with 2 connections. Really, how can you go wrong with that?

What I've seen done is basically just put the can inline with where ever you want to stop the oil coming from (PCV).

 

[#40Fan]

I don't think a catch can will help with your oil burning problems. If it isn't leaking out of the back drivers side of the head gasket, then it is going past the valve seals. If you are anywhere near 100k miles, or over, and neither have been done, get them done as soon as you can.

 

[VelocitàPaola]

My goal here is simple. My car burns a little oil and I would like to catch it and put it back into my engine.
I read a while ago that catch cans are bad for your engine, etc.. Other places claim its great for your engine.. So..
What is a catch can design that works? is reliable and safe?

You should probably find out why your engine is burning oil.

Catch cans aren't necessarily good or bad for your engine, as long as they're installed right.

Why is it a bad idea to run a breather on the catch can in place of the line back to the manifold? I don't understand why this wouldn't be better than running a line back to the manifold.. I just want to understand. Wouldn't the worst case scenario be oil seeping from the breather? Why even allow the oil to get to the manifold?

Because it undermines the purpose of the PCV system. The PCV system uses vacuum to scavenge the crankcase for blow-by. Putting a breather on the catch can forces it to rely on the semi-gaseous blow-by flowing into the catchcan on its own.

If the catchcan is installed properly, oil won't get into the manifold.

I know ebay catch cans arent the best, but if I was to get one, what do you guys use as a baffle to separate oil and air.
I saw people using steel wool, and other similar stuff.. Isn't there a little less questionable method I could use.. like a simple screen.. if so, where could I buy one? This is why I want to know what you guys use.

I agree with david-b; catchcans are relatively simple devices... not much to screw up. As for baffling... you'll either have to make your own, or use a "questionable" method like steel wool. I've never used steel wool, but it doesn't seem so questionable to me.

 

[turbobrian]

I am going to try this guys catch can. It uses a coalescence filter which is exactly what we need. They are $50 until the 31st $75 after. I have thought of this idea for a long time and just never got a chance to try it. Its worth the $50 to me to get one made.

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