I don't know about you guys but I like to be frugal. I know there are mini specific vendors but the prices are sometimes too high to even consider. So I came across this:

http://www.importimageracing.com/mm5...&Store_Code=ii

Alta is the only one that comes close to that price but I think the quality is much higher on this one. So, any thoughts?

 

If it's not baffled inside it wont really do anything. The R53 really does not need a CC, the R56 on the other hand really needs one

 

I have been reading about seafoaming the R53 and how it's susceptible to carbon build up and a CC would help tremendously. This one I put up doesn't have a baffle but most of the Mini specific ones don't either hmm

 

Take a look at this one... I know it misses your price mark, but its mini specific and comes baffled
http://www.bshspeedshop.com/bshstore...Catch-Can.html

 

theres nothing special about our engine that would make it more prone to carbon buildup, and a catch can wouldnt do anything anyway, carbon buildup is from burnt fuel, since we're not direct injection, we can use fuel system cleaners to get rid of any carbon on the backside of valves. catch cans are voodoo.

 

Well I wouldn't go so far has to say they are voodoo, but you are right in that the R53 is not direct injected. That is precisely why the R56 really needs one as the backside of the valves builds up crud.

 

Agreed. Catch cans are for those looking to add a little bling under the hood. Nothing wrong with that but do you need one? No.

Longboard

 

Save your money.

 

points taken. Thanks guys, I'll save my money for a tune!

 

The oil catch can is and should be something to get. I have been running one on my R53 for 6+ yrs and it does it's job.....keeping gunk out of the IC and intake track. Some gen 1 engines don't have a lot of blowby, but some have enough to warrant the can. I collect between a cup to a cup and a half of gunk twice a year. I service my can with every oil change. Do yourself a favor and get one of the cheap ebay cans and throw some copper/stainless steel wool in the can to act as a baffle and see how much you collect. If you want to see what it can remove, take the IC off and look in the ends and see how much gunk is there.

The best installation I have seen is this one.........
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...all_Small_.jpg

Disregard the red Alta can and red lines. The proper installation would be with the black lines. This is the way I have had mine installed and it works.

 

x2


I would really like for the people who keep saying "save your money" explain the negatives to keeping that oil out of the intake tract. There are plenty of positives to it, but never once heard of a negative. Preventive item IMO.

 

I don't really see how preventive they are, from factory most if not all cars don't have them and don't have any problems related to the oil fumes getting back in the intake! If the catch can get plugged you can end up popping spark plugs! A guy here had this problem, water was getting in the can for some reasons and the plugs were popping out! He decided to get rid of the can!

When I removed my I/C, I cleaned it but there wasn't much oil in it and it's an 05 with 93000km! IMO it's a waste of money, if you forget to check it once in a while it can create problems! The amount of oil it remove isn't big! The only positive thing I could see with an OCC is that the air getting back in the intake is a ''bit'' colder since it travel a lot longer than normal, but not enough to change anything!

 

Most cars also arent Air-Air intercooled, point being, most cars dont have a giant series of baffles to catch all the oil, nor do most cars rely on said piece to function optimally in cooling IATs.

Most, of BMWs & Honda engines have a oil separator, aka nice fancy oil catch can, that actually drains the oil back into the motor. Explain then, why BMW & Honda, creators of some of the worlds best engines, put this on their factory cars ? Apparently they are complete voodoo

If your buddy was having issues with water being inside the can, then he had other issues. If the can was a quality part, and had no leaks otherwise, then the water had to be coming from some where. The main source of air for the can is the crank-case..


Personally, i have a OCC on my 110k 03MCS and get oil caught in it, saving it from going through the intercooler, so the hope is, keeping it working relatively efficiently. Honestly though, if you even think the air coming from the Crank case has enough of an impact on the engine, IAT wise, i dont know what to say...

 

I have the BSH catch can and in 3000 miles I have pulled out about two cups of gunk. Seems to work for me.....

 

Da Ghost,

The can by itself had absolutely nothing to do with the spark plug problem. All the can does is extend the vacuum line that is already there and puts a "filter" on it.

And the fact that you are not getting a lot of blowby does not mean that other engines won't.

 

Please note that this is a 1st Gen thread...

 

My appologies fellas...

 

And ? Same exact principles, and same exact systems on that front. It is still burns oil...

IMO No apologies are needed.

 

I never said the air coming from the crank case had much impact on the intake temp! I said if anything the air is a ''bit'' colder because it travel a longer way to get back into the intake with a cc! S/C or not, the oil fumes getting back in the intake won't do much, otherwise, those same engineers would have put a cc on every cars! The guy is asking for opinions, I gave mine, I don't see any benefits!

 

Next time I empty my catch can I will post a pic of the crud that comes out of it. I personally didn't expect much but was amazed. Along with that and the posts of carbon build up problems, I figure it was 179.00 well spent.

Larry

 

Well, you should have some FACTs that back up your opinion then.

Fact: Oil coating the inside of your I/C will have it less efficient and raise IATs. (Hint: all those people that claim better performance after cleaning their I/C)
Fact: An OCC Catches that oil (most atleast), and keeps it from the I/C.
Fact: Many MINI owners report that they pull oil out of their catch can. Even that little bit helps.


And "those" engineers, didnt design the engine in the 1st gen MINI, sooo....lol But they did equip them on most of their cars, until most recent years where engine tolerances have come down, and oil technology has gotten better. BUT that does not mean the motors will stay in tight clearance their entire life, and wont benefit from an OCC or oil separator. Cost can also be thrown into the mix, and the manufactures trying to keep cost down. A BMW Oil Separator will set you back $700.

You brought up the "cooler" air theory...not me. If you brought it up, you must have been thinking along those lines, b/c the whole reason for 'cooler air' at all, is to lower IATs. . . Again, i am very very lost on all that lol.

 

I had one on my previous car and didn't do much if nothing at all! And seeing how ''clean'' was the inside of my I/C was when I took it off, I PERSONALLY, don't see the point, except adding something more on the things to check! And how about you stop focusing on the colder air thing... I said ''if anything'' as not doing much but! I know it doesn't affect the IAT ''much''

 

Which is it: didnt do much, or did nothing at all ? If it did something at all, that should still be considered a good thing.

And as long as you keep talking about how the IATs could potential go down w/ an OCC, you will forever be known as "that guy." It isnt even a remote possibility and should have never been brought up to begin with. BTW "Not much" = something, and you JUST said that.

 

ffs i never said it was lowering the intake temp.. I said if anything the air coming from the crank is a bit colder, I really had to add : but it doesn't change the intake temp! so that you get it?

It does nothing... happy now? Geez!

 

Ohhh i get it, i got it a long time ago, but you were rather adamant that the air coming through an OCC could be colder, and could be of some benefit. What is the only benefit of cold air ??? Lets all say it together now, "LOWER IATs"....lol

It you realize it is of zero benefit, why on earth even bring it up, or even keep it going ?!