Catch Cans - Do They Really Do Anything Beneficial?

[Junkyard Dog]

FWIW, the "Track Use" section of my owner's manual does mention Catch Can. I've used catch can concepts on all my Harley motorcycles.

If it is beneficial for tracking then why do they not use two of them? Did you know that your engine has two places from which crankcase gases are recirculated, not just one?

Why is everybody just installing one?

We are "catching" the "gunk" from condensation in one, but not in the other?

Also, this mentions a part from Ford that is self draining and does not require any maintenance. Any idea into where it is "self-draining?" Probably not draining into the used oil collection tank at your local auto parts store.

Does Ford still sell this part?

Can you get two of them and let them both catch gunk and nasty looking crud and both drain that nasty looking crud straight back into the engine from which it came?

By the way, where are all of you folks disposing of your "gunk" and "nasty looking crud?"

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[Junkyard Dog]

I notice that Lethal Performance installed two of them, not just one.

https://www.mustang7g.com/forums/threads/upr-s650-catch-can-development-lets-gooo.158383/

 

[Zig]

If it is beneficial for tracking then why do they not use two of them? Did you know that your engine has two places from which crankcase gases are recirculated, not just one?

Why is everybody just installing one?

We are "catching" the "gunk" from condensation in one, but not in the other?

Also, this mentions a part from Ford that is self draining and does not require any maintenance. Any idea into where it is "self-draining?" Probably not draining into the used oil collection tank at your local auto parts store.

Does Ford still sell this part?

Can you get two of them and let them both catch gunk and nasty looking crud and both drain that nasty looking crud straight back into the engine from which it came?

By the way, where are all of you folks disposing of your "gunk" and "nasty looking crud?"

The ‘gunk’ is mostly water. Circulation demonstrates it flows a specific direction. The self draining version mentioned in the manual drained into the valve cover (returned from whence it came).

 

[Junkyard Dog]

It’s called vapor residue, akin to a smokers house. Aftertime simply moving a picture exhibits the collection of residue. Short term not noticeable long term quite evident.

Zig, thanks. Just to be clear, I do understand what you are saying, and I also understood when I posted the original post that this is the hypothesis. Over time, there is a build up.

Has this hypothesis been tested? By anybody? Has installing one (or two, lol) catch cans lead to some measurable benefit, and, if so, what is it?

Noticing something does not mean that the something is affecting the car. We do not even know if installing a single catch can while allowing the other line to recirculate without a can affects "noticing something." For that matter, we do not know if installing two cans affects this. And we have to at least get there before we can go on to the next issue, which is, if there is a difference in "something," is it affecting my car in a negative way, and is the catch can(s) doing anything beneficial? Merely not noticing something, or noticing less of something does not mean that there is a benefit.

I truly am looking for the answer, and I bet somebody somewhere has done this testing and knows the answer.

Until then, this is all just marketing by folks who make and sell these things.

We would demand some evidence if this were a horsepower mod. Just look at all the debate over things like a cold air intake or removing the carbon traps.

 

[DarkMatterGrey]

I look at it as risk/reward tradeoff. Installing one and not properly maintaining or running it in less than ideal weather conditions has its risks.

Having one has its potential for reward, cleaner intake, less carbon buildup somewhere (pistons, intake valves), higher octane.

You won’t know how much it does in your application until you install one. Maybe there’s no gunk, maybe there’s excessive gunk.

Bottom line it’s a tradeoff like anything else and you must do your own cost/benefit given your situation, how long you plan on keeping the car, how hard you drive it, is it NA or forced induction, how much you actually enjoy maintenance.

You can always buy it, try it, sell it on OfferUp or Facebook marketplace if your situation changes.

 

[msquad]

If it is beneficial for tracking then why do they not use two of them? Did you know that your engine has two places from which crankcase gases are recirculated, not just one?

Why is everybody just installing one?

Wow, you really have a lot of time on your hands to be typing so many replies and so much.

So the answer, yes, I know, 2 places. But with my car I will do what I want and with your car you can do what you want. Come to your own conclusions and don't worry about what others say.

 

[Junkyard Dog]

I look at it as risk/reward tradeoff. Installing one and not properly maintaining or running it in less than ideal weather conditions has its risks.

Having one has its potential for reward, cleaner intake, less carbon buildup somewhere (pistons, intake valves), higher octane.

You won’t know how much it does in your application until you install one. Maybe there’s no gunk, maybe there’s excessive gunk.

Bottom line it’s a tradeoff like anything else and you must do your own cost/benefit given your situation, how long you plan on keeping the car, how hard you drive it, is it NA or forced induction, how much you actually enjoy maintenance.

You can always buy it, try it, sell it on OfferUp or Facebook marketplace if your situation changes.

I guess that is what I am asking. What is the risk/reward calculation, and what is the evidence for it?

I think I reject the notion that "gunk" in the catch can by itself is evidence that the can is doing anything beneficial.

Wow, you really have a lot of time on your hands to be typing so many replies and so much.

So the answer, yes, I know, 2 places. But with my car I will do what I want and with your car you can do what you want. Come to your own conclusions and don't worry about what others say.

LOL about the too much time on my hands. Maybe so. The problem is really more of my insatiable curiosity.

As for reaching my own conclusions, I do not reach conclusions without evidence. Going along with the crowd is not a conclusion based on evidence, and neither is "gunk" (condensation in oil) in the catch can. I do not yet have a conclusion.

 

[Zig]

LOL about the too much time on my hands. Maybe so. The problem is really more of my insatiable curiosity.

If the oil is fresh why do we use a filter?

 

[DarkMatterGrey]

I guess that is what I am asking. What is the risk/reward calculation, and what is the evidence for it?

I think I reject the notion that "gunk" in the catch can by itself is evidence that the can is doing anything beneficial.

LOL about the too much time on my hands. Maybe so. The problem is really more of my insatiable curiosity.

As for reaching my own conclusions, I do not reach conclusions without evidence. Going along with the crowd is not a conclusion based on evidence, and neither is "gunk" (condensation in oil) in the catch can. I do not yet have a conclusion.

I get it. I was really on the fence. Not about spending the money but inheriting all the risks vs. the reward if there even is one (to your point about gunk).

Also, I had a problem with each of the options between J&L, UPR, Mishimoto, Evil Energy, Ford Performance, and SPE Motorsport.

Because I’m a curious person, I ended up getting one (PCV “dirty” side only) just to determine how much the catch can will catch. If it’s not enough over a still underdetermined amount of time, I’ll go back to stock and sell or give it away on OfferUp or Facebook marketplace.

 

[Junkyard Dog]

If the oil is fresh why do we use a filter?

A different question with a very good answer arrived at by evaluation of ample evidence for its effectiveness in preventing an actual issue.

 

[Frogdog1]

@junkyarddog, with no malice intended, if you read your own posts, which is all we have to go on, it appears you are looking for reasons not to install a catch can. You don't need a reason. If you don't want one, don't use one.

As for empirical reasons, there are plenty for me. I just looked at what I emptied from mine into my recycle oil container this week and decided I didn't want what was in my catch can to go through my intake system and end up on the back of my valves and on the sides of my intake ports.

There is a credible YouTube video that clearly shows what the intake ports and back of the valves look like without a catch can on an engine head where both DI and port injection were used. I don't want my engine looking like this because, from the looks, it can't be good for the performance of the engine with this kind of build up. I saw what I didn't want, so I use a catch can. I also saw what was in my catch can. This is enough empirical evidence for me to use one. which cost me only $169 and about 15 minutes of my time.

It's worth that for me to feel better about my engine. That simple. I don't need expensive lab data and hard metrics to install a cheap solution to the negative empirical signs I saw in engine heads and my catch can to keep using it. All this is good enough to me. Whatever makes one feel good about their particular car should be good enough for them.

 

[Zig]

A different question with a very good answer arrived at by evaluation of ample evidence for its effectiveness in preventing an actual issue.

Did the filter media capture in the same manner a can collects?

 

[Frogdog1]

If the oil is fresh why do we use a filter?

The oil obviously isn't fresh.

 

[Zig]

The oil obviously isn't fresh.

Upon a change it should be (or at least the initial fill - but then again) however i suspect the point is not lost when considering the purity of the oil as compared with the contaminants collected.

 

[Junkyard Dog]

There is a credible YouTube video that clearly shows what the intake ports and back of the valves look like without a catch can on an engine head where both DI and port injection were used.

Do they also clearly show what the back of the valves look like in the same type of engine that used a catch can?

And I am not looking for reasons not to install one.

I am just looking for evidence that they do anything.

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