With instructions from Arly I just installed the catch can into an 04 JCW/MCS.

The instructions I received were for 02 and 03 MINIs. So, after a little investigation I took the path of installing the can on the grounding stud as discribed for the 02 installation.

I then used Arly's tube installation method. I hooked one side of the catch can to the PVC valve. The other side of the catch can I connected to the gray tube running down to the supercharger.

Using this method you only have to disconnect one hose (PVC valve to the gray tube) and then hook up the can. You can easily go back to the original installation by removing the can and installing the one hose. It also eliminates the need to cap off one of the vacuum hoses as discribed in the instructions.

Below are some pics. Hope this helps.

 

The tube going to the SC will cause the catch can to be under vacuum. Follow the instructions.

 

Scotti,
That is what is supposed to happen. I called ALTA and they said you can do the way they have it in their instructions, but you can do this in a number of other ways. I chose to keep the vacuum routing like stock. ALTA told me that if I wanted to keep the vac routing stock, the best side to do it was the SC side. He said that I would get the most oil blowby gases there.

To date I have been collecting a couple of tablespoons every 2 months. It sure has been working for me.

Thanks,
ARLY

 

The reason for the greater amount of oil is because of the vacuum. If the vacuum line is capped and you only rely on the intake vacuum for the can, you will not get as much oil, but it still gets the oil that would normally get into the intake system. You should still hook up the other hose coming off of the valve cover, otherwise you will not be getting all of the oil.

 

So I'm a little confused. First your saying that the greater amount of oil is because of the vacuum. This would indicate the can is catching more oil. You then say if the vacuum is capped you will not get as much oil.

Wouldn't this indicate that it would be better to use the vacuum line to get more oil?

 

I was think of getting another can inline with the intake side as well. There are oil catch cans on Ebay that are meant for evos and other Japanese cars that are cheaper and even have a filter element in them. I saw some for $20. This should catch all the oil/water blowby and still keep the stock vacuum line routing intact. I chose to do the SC side because under boost there would be more vacuum on that side. And again, this is what ALTA suggested to do if I wanted to keep the stock vacuum routing.

 

The reason for the increased oil is because it is being "sucked" from the valve cover. If you don't suck it out it stays in the cam area instead of being ingested into the engine. MINI has not answered to my satisfaction the reason for the breather line being attached to the SC. I would rather keep the oil in the engine vs being sucked out of it and put into a catch can.

 

I was thinking the same thing. Looking at the original installation both the valve cover and pcv valve are going to the catch can and then to the intake.

Why not do an install as we did between the pvc and supercharger and then install a second one between the valve cover and intake.

Sounds reasonable to me.