I just purchased a Oil Catch Can from Ebay. It is an Oil Catch Can for a WRX or EVO. It came with a bracket but I could not use it so I made my own using billet AL. I did some fitment using carboard and a scale to measure the area where I would place the can. I have a 2002 MINI Cooper S and I can fit this can left of the intercooler and charger.

Here is picture of the Oil Catch Can with the home made bracket.




Here is a picture of the bracket:



Enjoy!

 

Very nice! The design looks the same as Alta's.

Here's a photo of Alta oil catch can in a MCS. :smile:


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I haven't seen that placement for installation yet. Can you give me some more info on that? I'd be interested in all of the parts involved, whether they are stock Alta or would need some fabrication.

Thanks

 

How difficult is it to purge the can of it's contents?
Does this process require complete removal?
How often do you foresee the need to do this?

<somewhat related>
There's been allot of discussion about failing PCV valves and hoses lately. Does the CatchCan relieve some of this sludge that inevitably makes it's way through this route?

thanks.

 

>>Can you give me some more info on that? I'd be interested in all of the parts involved, whether they are stock Alta or would need some fabrication.

Alta doesn't require any fabrication. It can be mounted in several places depending on the year of the car and if the car has an alarm or not.
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>>How difficult is it to purge the can of it's contents?
Does this process require complete removal?

For me, it takes one screw to remove th can from the compartment. It's easy to drain once it's out of the compartment.
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>>How often do you foresee the need to do this?

It depends on the driving habbit. I have mine for about a month and there's barely any oil in the can.
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>>There's been allot of discussion about failing PCV valves and hoses lately. Does the CatchCan relieve some of this sludge that inevitably makes it's way through this route?

Yes, that's one of the main reasons for the oil catch can. :smile:



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Very nice metal work Sometimes there's a little oily water/vapor in there but it soon evaporates. Does this really work?

 

davecsumini - - -

Could you please post a 'how-to" on the Alta Catch Can intallation?

Thank you
- Nick

 

F.Y.I.
Alta and Perrin (mfg. of the above pictured can) are the same company. That is why the catch cans look identical.

 

I called Alta and the technical person told me that you can hook this up in many different ways. He did mention that the PCV side was where I was going to get the most oil and water. What I am planning is to bridge the tube that goes from the PCV valve to the supercharger only. The person at Alta said that you will get oil under boost which is when the most pressure in the crank case is built up. So I think that this will be the most effective. Plus the line that goes to the SC will pull in the most vacuum. I will try this and see. I will post pics of the install soon.

 

Please tell us new folks with little mechanical background what the heck this is all about. Who should get this?

 

As part of the emissions equiptment the crankcase is ventilated into the intake track, upstream from the supecharger. The ventilated air has oil in vapor form mixed in, along with other gases from the combustion process. The oil can, and does, collect on the inner surfaces of the supercharger and worse the intercooler. Oil in the intercooler can reduce the heat transfer which reduces the efficency. The oil catch can allows the oil vapor to condense in the can and not in the intake track as the can is plumbed upstream of the intake track. I hope this helps.

 

Here is the final installation. This can is solid. Very tight fit. Enjoy!

 

Arly, how did you hook up the tubes under the IC?

When I installed mine, I had to use 2 T-fittings that came with the catch can. From the pictures, your connection is a little different. I basically followed the instruction that came with the kit, which is the same way as Randy's install at the Pulley Party.

 

I attached the can to the vacuum line from the PCV Valve to the Supercharger. I was told by Alta that the PCV valve side is where I will get the most oil blowby. I did not like the way most people are hooking up their Catch Cans. I do not like capping off the SC line from the PCV. I wanted to keep everything routed like stock, but added the can to the system.

Have you noticed any oil in the can yet.

When the engine is running, I noticed that the Oil catch can shows that it is under quite a bit of vacuum. Does yours?

Thanks,
Carl

 

It seems to me that the engineers at BMW might have thought of the oil in the blowby mixture (not sure if that's the right word). Is it possible that they designed the system so that the supercharger was lubricated by this oil? If so, it might cause your supercharger to wear out quicker because it isn't lubricated properly... what do you think? I'm pretty inexperienced when it comes to this, I'd really like to know if anyone knows for sure if it was ever a design consideration.
-Cor.

 

>>It seems to me that the engineers at BMW might have thought of the oil in the blowby mixture (not sure if that's the right word). Is it possible that they designed the system so that the supercharger was lubricated by this oil? If so, it might cause your supercharger to wear out quicker because it isn't lubricated properly... what do you think? I'm pretty inexperienced when it comes to this, I'd really like to know if anyone knows for sure if it was ever a design consideration.
>>-Cor.

There are no material to material contact points inside the housing where the air flows. Therefore no need for lubrication. The bearings are all self lubricated within the supercharger. The oil vapor is sent through the intake to be burned, thus producing a cleaner emissions. The factory does not include a oil catch can. That would not make a consumer friendly car (it would have to be emptied), and then the oil would have to be disposed of properly (not in the dumpster behind the corner store, or in the back corner of your land.).

 

Is there a reason why an 04 MCS couldn't use the grounding strap bolt? It's in the same location as Arly's installation.

 

See my pic's for my installation.

 

I think this is the one product from alta I've used and wasn't crazy about. (Most of their other stuff is pretty nice.) I had an alta can and wasn't that pleased with it. It looks nice but that's about it. The way they recommend hooking it up doesn't really catch any oil and I had just as much oil residue in the intercooler boots after I drove it for a bit, as I did before I installed the can. Since the can is silicone, hooking it up differently (inline of PCV/inlet to supercharger) doesn't work well unless you mod the can because it deforms under vacuum pressure. I went and purchased a nice aluminum can with screw top (for emptying) and installed it for about half the price of an alta. I have it hooked up inline of PCV and line going to supercharger. After I get some more miles driven, I'll hopefully have a more accurate comparison.

 

DarkFact,
I have collecting 2 tablesspoons of oil every 2 months. The Perin/ALTA can does deform under vacuum, but not to the point of collapsing completely. It sure has worked for me. I do agree that a stiff can like the one you installed gave you a better comfort zone. I don't mind seeing the silicon can compress a bit. I think of it as confirmation that there are not vac leaks in this system.

Thanks,
ARLY

 

You need to follow the directions and cap off the vacuum line to the SC. I have great successs with my installation. There has been no more crud in my intercooler and the catch can is filling up nicely. Not sure why you don't install it correctly. Look at my pic's for the correct way of installing it.

 

Can someone provide the size of the fittings on these cans. There are a few on ebay that specify 9 mm or 15 mm size ports.

 

I feel the same way. Mechanic tells me its not really a catch can but engine dress-up. Disappointed really. Did'nt bother installing. Going for a custom can instead that actually works as a 'OIL' catch can

 

While I must admit, I haven't seen any oil in my can yet, there has been some water from condensation. Did have oil in the intercooler before the Alta Can and checked after 2k miles with can and intercooler was dry. Haven't checked it since then. May have to do that soon... just to see...

 

9mm hose fittings.