PCV Oil Catch Can, see what your engine is burning!

[2000blazerls]

Geez, it is pretty bad when the mod act that way. I would assume that if they have not installed this upgrade, they should not be preaching of the possible harms it could do.

I will be doing this upgrade myself in the next week or so. Thanks for th einfo LT.

[Brian R.]

Originally Posted by BlazerLT

Just looked at my filter will over 1000 miles on it.

Nope, none of these supposed solid plugging it up.

Why are people hypothetically arguing their point when they don't even have it installed or oven looked at the filter. Ask all the guys that have installed it and see if this filter is clogging up with this phantom solids that everyone is bringing up, yet doesn't seem to be in the filter I have?

OK, I've said all I can about possible problems associated with this mod. Good luck.

[Brian R.]

Originally Posted by 2000blazerls

Geez, it is pretty bad when the mod act that way. I would assume that if they have not installed this upgrade, they should not be preaching of the possible harms it could do.

I don't expect you to understand why I am posting about this. Although I made it quite clear in more than one post earlier in this thread, I don't expect you to read the entire thread to find out all you can about the various opinions associated with this mod. I know, it is a lot of work to read this much at one sitting.

The reason I am posting possible problems associated with this mod is I am and have been educated and employed as a scientist for around 30 years and a mechanic for just as long. I am not posting as a mod, I am posting as a scientist who happens to know a lot about this subject. Not everything, just a lot.

And I don't need a filter in my hand or one installed in my truck to know they plug.

[2000blazerls]

Hey, why wouldn't one of the work on my Blazer? I want that red on BAD!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=8011948135

I mean obviously it is for Ford but wtf is the difference in the two that would make it not work on my Blazer?

[drdd]

not to challenge the information you posted ... just wanting more info ...


How do you know what the PCV flow rate for a 4.3 is? Is it in the repair manual? Did you test it? If so, how do you test?

I agree with what you said about the breather hose. How does one know when the PCV system is "full" and the breather "comes into play"?

Originally Posted by herkyhawki

PSI is a measure of pressure. ACFM and SCFM are measurements of flow. There is no"conversion" factor to equate pressure to flow.
The PCV flow rate of a seasoned 4.3L is in the range of 8-10 ACFM (approx 6-8 SCFM).

24.8 SCFM( at 100 psi) = 3.2 ACFM. If this filter really has 5 psi pressure drop at 3.2 ACFM then it is too restrictive for use as described in this thread.
Those who leave this filter installed can do a reality check by monitoring the oil deposits in the PCV inlet breather line (fresh air inlet hose from air filter to valve cover) and deposits on the throttle butterfly. As flow is restricted in the PCV valve line, blowby will be forced to flow out the inlet and will then be mixed with intake air.
Use a Q-TIP to swab the inside of the inlet breather line. Oily residue would only be there if you are flowing backwards.

[BlazerLT]

Look at the shipping rates.

Here is a cheaper one here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/UNIVE...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OIL-C...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Oil-R...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chrom...QQcmdZViewItem

As with any of these ebay kits, I would upgrade the hose to fuel pressure grade. The stuff they supply is just too thin.

[2000blazerls]

Ahh, good finds! Yes, I will upgrade the tubing. Thanks for the info!

Will be going with this one!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/UNIVE...QQcmdZViewItem

[BlazerLT]

The only thing I dont like about them is how close the two ports are.

When you get it, pack the inside with extremely coarse stainless steel wool and also extend the intake tube inside of the catch can down so the oil won't come in and be instantly sucked out by the oulet if you catch my drift.

[2000blazerls]

Will do. Just purchased the one thru the link you gave me. Will post pics when done.

Why pack it with stainless steel wool?

I will extend the intake tube as suggested. Good call.

[BlazerLT]

Originally Posted by 2000blazerls

Will do. Just purchased the one thru the link you gave me. Will post pics when done.

Why pack it with stainless steel wool?

I will extend the intake tube as suggested. Good call.

Just asks as a way to slow the airflow and allow more oil to drop out of suspension.

Also keeps the trapped oil down in the catch can.

[herkyhawki]

Originally Posted by drdd

How do you know what the PCV flow rate for a 4.3 is? Is it in the repair manual? Did you test it? If so, how do you test?

I agree with what you said about the breather hose. How does one know when the PCV system is "full" and the breather "comes into play"?

The PCV flow rates will vary alot due to condition of the engine. The flow rates I posted were based on testing I did with a blow-by flow meter like this one.. http://www.j-tecassociates.com/Engine%20inline2005.htm

If you are backflowing out the breather you will only know it if you see oily residue, or have sludge buildup on your intake piping and throttle butterfly. If you are finding oily deposits on your throttle body / butterfly, it is likely coming from the breather tube.

[BlazerLT]

Originally Posted by herkyhawki

The PCV flow rates will vary alot due to condition of the engine. The flow rates I posted were based on testing I did with a blow-by flow meter like this one.. http://www.j-tecassociates.com/Engine%20inline2005.htm

If you are backflowing out the breather you will only know it if you see oily residue, or have sludge buildup on your intake piping and throttle butterfly. If you are finding oily deposits on your throttle body / butterfly, it is likely coming from the breather tube.

GM is now using a different PCV valve in some engines to stop excessive oil burning and you can see the difference here.



This PCV valve in a 5.3L V8 puts a lot more restriction in the PCV system but you don't see any problems do you?

[drdd]

my oil catch seems to be catching less. Any ideas or thoughts?

here's the scoop ...

First thirty miles filled almost half the bottle.

Lately, I did a 500 highway trip and about 2 1/2 weeks of 1 miles short trips to work and back. And the bottle is at about 1/4 full.

No driveability problems or noticeable changes in idle. Weather has gotten colder recently. The filter in the oil catch looks like a light brown, "iced-tea" color ...

maybe the question might be, "why did it catch so much in the first 30 miles?"

Originally Posted by BlazerLT

GM is now using a different PCV valve in some engines to stop excessive oil burning and you can see the difference here.



This PCV valve in a 5.3L V8 puts a lot more restriction in the PCV system but you don't see any problems do you?

[BlazerLT]

Originally Posted by drdd

my oil catch seems to be catching less. Any ideas or thoughts?

here's the scoop ...

First thirty miles filled almost half the bottle.

Lately, I did a 500 highway trip and about 2 1/2 weeks of 1 miles short trips to work and back. And the bottle is at about 1/4 full.

No driveability problems or noticeable changes in idle. Weather has gotten colder recently. The filter in the oil catch looks like a light brown, "iced-tea" color ...

maybe the question might be, "why did it catch so much in the first 30 miles?"

That is completely normal and EVERYONE is seeing that for some reason.

First 100 miles they see it fill up fast and then barely anything for the remainder of the oil change.

The light tea color is normal and the filter is still perfectly clean.

[blazee]

I've been waiting to reply to this until I had more information on the subject. Reading this thread was the first time that I had heard of doing this. I liked the idea and the theory behind it seemed to have merit, so I tried. I purchased all the parts at AutoZone for $26 and installed it a little over four weeks ago. I noticed that it immediately started collecting stuff, so it seemed to be doing what it was supposed to do. Brian R.'s points made me think about the possible damaging effects the may be caused by the flow restriction. After the first week I had collected about the same amount as shown in the picture that BlazerLT had posted:

I then removed the filter by unscrewing it, and removed the little air deflector as well. I noticed absolutely no change in the engine performance at speed or at idle. I ran it like this for a week and was surprised to see that it was nearly full.

In order to test the results I reinstalled the filter assembly, I ran it like this again for a week and only collected the same amount as I had when the filter was in place before.

I removed the filter assembly again and again it was nearly full in less than a week.

After seeing these results, I've decided to leave the system in place and use it with the filter assembly removed. I recommend all of you that have installed this air/water seperator try it at least for a week without the filter and compare your results to when you had the filter installed, and make your descision on whether or not to use the filter based on your independant results. I expect that most if not all of you will see results similar to what I have seen. The results are obviously due to the flow restriction of the filter.

For those of you that haven't tried it, my suggestion would be to save your money, the amount that you're removing from the sysetm isn't enough to have hurt anything, so overall I'd say that it isn't a very worthwhile mod.