R53 Drivetrain :: Oil Catch Can Install How-To!

[mem1220]

i bought the m7 OCC and it came with pretty detailed informative instructions. Anyone ordering aftermaket parts need to to talk to Peter(the owner) he really knows his stuff. Just a little info.

[Nelson Costa]

Hello!
What is the best solution / performance for installation of the OCC, following pictures.

Solution 1:


Solution 2:


Solution 3:


Thanks,

[DrPhilGandini]

Solution 1 is partly solution 2 but with some wacky additions.

Solution 2 should be avoided as it links the two rocker cover outlets together (not a good idea).

Solution 3 is the preferred routing. (Whether you have the optional additional OCC opr not)

[sonichris]

i concur. solution 3. i have the optional occ and it has not caught one drop of oil, so i say it isn't needed at all.

[johnf36]

Yes on 3 here

[THE ITCH]

Definately #3. Think about how MINI designed the system. By using #3 you are not changing the routing of the system. You are just inserting the OCC inline where most of the oil is coming from. If you use the routing from #1 or #2 you are tying the two vent systems together. Using either one of those methods and you end up getting more water than oil and the OCC fills up fairly quickly. Let the OCC get too full and what do you think happens next? Now you have an over flow of contaminates into the system and limited or no breathing for the system. These two methods have lead to failures of the crank case ventilation and serious failures. Just my two cents, the only safe way is #3 and only a single OCC is really needed.
Steve

[stevecars60]

1 = not really sure what that would do or why - FAIL
2 = no air supply to the crancase - FAIL
3 = WINNER

Like Steve said you only need 1

Just when you think a thread is dead.....................

[Storm180]

Ok. At the risk of beating a dead horse...

Method three is simply putting the OCC in between the hose going from the valve cover on the left and the grey hose leading into the supercharger. Thats it? One splice and we're done?

Sorry, but the writeups actually made it sound a lot harder than it was.

[sonichris]

yes

[PA-MCS]

I just bought a m7 oil catch can and I've been researching the different routing options. As mention above, #3 is the best route (PCV to supercharger) I was shocked when I opened the OCC and found it was empty. I thought "what would stop the oil vapors and what not to be sucked back up?" Then I was reading about putting something in to catch the oil (example: stainless steel brillo pad) Then someone mentioned about possibility of ss pad pieces getting in the system.
So I planned on doing this with a little twist. I plan on putting a tube from the OCC intake and run it thru the brillo pad to the bottom. Then on top of the brillo pad make a round metal disc with holes drilled through. That way air can pass thru but nothing else.

What do you think? Am I just being too cautious??

[Bigshot]

The amount of oil caught varies greatly between vehicles. Some have a lot of blowby and some hardly anything.

[WJHMH]

I just installed mine this afternoon, guess I should have checked this thread.

[Bigshot]

As long as you followed solution 3, you did good!

[Tom2112]

I realize this thread is pretty old. But the diagram for solution #3 is not showing.

Can someone re-upload a diagram for solution #3, since it seems to be the agreed-upon-best solution?

Thanks!



P.S. Is there anything wrong with the generic ebay oil catch cans? Why pay $100+ for a brand name when you can get the generic for $20?

[MINI33342]

Solution 3 is the same as 2 but instead of connecting both hoses to the can, you leave the passenger side one alone and only connect the drivers side hose as indicated in the drawing.

[Tom2112]

Thanks!

I am a little confused, though. I haven't removed my intercooler to look yet, but what does the stock setup look like?

The reason I ask is because most of the above implies that the grey vacuum line is connected directly to the PCV outlet on the crank case. But it is not the correct diameter to connect right up to the crank case. What all is being removed?

Lastly, is there an easy way to remove the devil horns so that they can be cleaned, or is that a major mechanical endeavor?

[MINI33342]

The hose used for the OCC will connect up to the grey line easily.

The IC horns are a bit difficult to get to. I wouldn't worry about cleaning more than you can reach into as the IC gets most of the buildup.