Catch can filter media

[eclipsh]

I'm working on making filtered catch cans for myself and my friend. While the ones ones on the market are probably worth every penny, they are expensive and I'm a DIY kind of guy anyway.

I've been spending a lot of time searching for filter media that won't quickly corrode or melt with all the heat and chemicals they will be exposed to.

So far the best budget solution I've come up with is a combination of Super Corrosion Resistant Type 316 Stainless steel wire discs that have 140 micron openings and continuous strand fiberglass air filter media pads. I am thinking of using two of the wire discs to loosely sandwich some fiberglass inside a cylindrical catch can. I could also just use a stack of the wire mesh as the round pieces come in a pack of 10.

I could also use Stainless Steel Wire Cloth that filters down to 40 microns.

I think both of these wire meshes would require a support grate of some kind so if anyone knows of a disc that is already made up and ready to go in I'd be happy to hear about it. Also, any other thoughts or suggestions are welcome.

I'm planning to build dual catch cans to filter both the PCV and the breather lines so I'm thinking square housing will probably make the most sense but might to round just because it is simple.

 

[scotthidley]

Are you trying to filter the air that can vent out of or into the can, or are you trying to filter the oil that could be spraying into it?

 

[Gamble97]

Why not just put in a baffle and call it a day? Don't try to reinvent the wheel here.
Stainless steel brillow pads are not a good idea as they will break down over time, but stainless steel scrubbers I don't think will. Cheap, can be found at any store and done.
I don't use any filters, personally, I just put a baffle in mine that I make.

This may or may not be a good idea, but why not take a cheap or old k&n air filter and cut it up and use that as a filter? The oil will keep it lubed up

 

[eclipsh]

I actually thought about using an old K&N air filter but I don't have one around. As it turns out, my dad found some awesome commercial air/oil separators at a metal scrap yard that I'll probably be using. Once I have one in hand I'll take it apart and see what they're using and post up pics.

Scott, the goal of the catch can is to capture airborne oil and combustion fumes from the valve cover so it doesn't make its way into the intake system of the car via the breather line or the PCV line.