I'm a little confused as to the need for an 'oil catch can'. If this is supposed to collect oil vapors, and presumibly let them condense in the can for disposal, this assumes without it the engine will burn or pass the same amount of oil, without it.

How often do users of the can need to empty it and how much is removed each time? I assume then you are keeping a close eye on the engine oil level and topping it off accordingly?

Without the can, does everyone need to periodically top off the system too?

I'm just real sceptical of the need for such a device, I have not even heard of it on other supercharged vehicles.

 

Hum, I have been thinking the same thing.

 

The oil that the catch can actually collects is minimal at the most. Maybe a teaspoon for every 4000-6000 miles. The idea behind it is to catch the oily vapors and to keep them out of the intercooler. The last thing you want, if performance is important to you, is to get an oily film lining the inside of the IC. It will largely decrease the efficiency of the IC.

Catch cans are a good thing.

 

I had been wondering about this as well (and also why hasn't MINI made a catch can?) and appreciate Onasled's more complete answer (NAM sponsors adverts hint at this). Thanks. I will definitely get one.

 

Pull your intercooler off and you will really want one. I did after 1400 miles and it already had oil all though it. I got the M7 can and it is very nice.

 

Well there seem to be some huge contradictions here (nd in other threads regarding).


Some people such as above, say it is a VERY minimal amout - certainly a couple teaspoons every few months is hardly anything, and about what I would expect any engine to burn at the minimum. If the can is simply a way to divert that oil which would normally be consumed via the PCV system anyway, then yes I agree is a good thing. How much performance exactly would be lost to this film on the intercooler has yet to be determined, I see no before and after dyno runs, or speed runs or even temp deltas showing any effect. While I'm sure there is *some* effect I highly doubt it would be noticeable at all.

On the other hand, many people are reporting a FULL CAN after a few thousand miles, or a weekend at the track. Obviously this means one of three things. Either 1, these people have something different about their engines from those people burning a couple teaspoons. Or 2, they have the can installed incorrectly. Or 3, they are not really collecting oil, they are possibly collecting water with a little oil on it.

Personally I do not believe a properly running and assembled engine would be losing that much oil in such a short amount of time. One interesting thing is I could not find anyone that had such extreme collection, have the need to also top off the oil. Maybe I missed the post, but that's what I found. I would put my bet on #2 and/or #3.

If there was some data that showed for example, a car at 10,000 miles with 'normal' oil build up in the system, that was dyno'd and then had the system cleaned for another run - and a clear power gain of more than a couple HP was shown...that would convince me.
I just don't place faith in the need for a product based on an unproven 'problem'.

 

Any question about the need for a catch can? I can send you pictures of the inside of an upper and lower intake on a Chevy V6, nasty oily.. I am planning on installing a CC on my S very soon.

 

I too wonder about the effectiveness of a catch can - relative to normal, sprited driving. If there is oil in the 'system', I find it hard to believe that a catch can can catch all of it. If the catch can prevented every molecule of oil from entering the IC, I would find it beneficial, if a power loss was determined to be more than incrimental. If the catch can still allows oil to build up on the inside of the IC, albeit at a slower rate, I would simply opt to remove and clean the IC a couple of times a year.

...actually, a valve of some sort inserted down stream of the IC might be great for a quick hook-up of some type of cleaner; turn the engine on, push a button and spray the oily residue away.

 

after 1000 miles I had at least a teaspoon drip out of the intercooler, granted this is blow by during break-in, but imagine it hardening in the walls of the IC, throttle body or intake lines. I installed the Alta Catch can, worth the money of piece of mind...

 

I found that in the winter with the colder temps I was catching quite a bit in the catch can. But as stated above, it was mostly oily water. Last summer, and now the weather is warmer the catch is very little, and mostly oil at that. Winter months I was empting out the can every couple of weeks and it was about 1/4 to 1/3 full (mostly water). And now I do it once a month and get maybe a tablespoon or two. My driving is consistant, no track days, about 700+ miles per week.

As for why they dont come as standard equipment, it because its a maintenance thing. Most people don't even like checking their oil, so wouldn't want to bother checking anything else. For me its not that big a deal, with diving as many miles as I do, I have made it a habit to check everyghing often.

Nik

 

I'm basically in the skeptic's camp. I've seen the inside of a IC used without a CC, and there is oil there. But how much does the inside oil film affect the performance of the IC? From an engineering standpoint, the IC is a cross-flow air to air heat exchanger. The resistance to heat flow depends on the heat transfer coefficients at the outside air-metal interface, conductive resistance thru the metal (and oil film), and on the inside air/metal (or oil) interface. Generally, the main resistance with air to air heat exchangers involves the low heat capacity and thermal conductivity of air, not the conductive resistance to flow through the solids (or liquids). This is especially true if the air flow is laminar, which is likely the case inside the thin tubes where the oil collects. Overall, I would guess that the incoming air temp thru the hood scoop has far more influence on the exit air temp of the compressed air from the IC than the small resistance supplied by the oil film. Can you feel a difference in engine power on a 60 F day vs. a 70 F day? If not, don't worry about a CC.

 

I just need to see proof of a problem before I think about trying to solve it - either with a mod or with another product.

Another example is another vendor announcing they are working on a new belt tensioner limiter. This due to the claim that the stock part is a weak peice of metal and will fail due to overrevving or a broken belt.

How many belt tensioner failures have there been? I searched and cannot find any - maybe they just didn't come up, but I certainly don't find this to be a large problem.

 

My old VR6 Supercharged Jetta had alot of Blow-by in the throttle body after 10K miles. For $150, I call it preventive maintanence. It doesnt hurt anything and if it helps, then it is worth it...

 

If you drive your Mini in any type of sporting manner you will most likley build up oil residue inside the intercooler. If you hold it up to the sun you will see that is hard to see thru it and the "proof" will most likely drip onto your forhead Spray it out with engine celaner until the flow is clear. Hold it up and you will see the differance. The oil build up will impede the already poor flow of the air thru the intercooler if left un checked. Don't ask for the numbers on this one it is only a common sence mod
Randy M7 Tuning

 

ROFLMAO...Good catch Randy...premtive strike

 

I already have one! It's really bling...bling my engine. like it!

 

So you're confirming what I said then? Everyone is just assuming this makes a difference? No one actually checked? Oh no there is some oil film in my intercooler. So what. You all keep saying it like it's a bad thing - but based on what? It's not common sense to just assume. Common sense says a vendor would actually have facts to sell a product. Common sense says because someone is waving their arms around yelling 'oil in the intercooler is horrible! Horrendous! OMG we're loosing so much power!' doesn't mean it's true. I would bet it makes no difference whatsoever on the dyno or on the street. Common sense says this would have been a mod on ALL THE OTHER SUPERCHARGED CARS that have been out for decades...yet it is not.I'd love to see a car with a 'dirty' intercooler dyno, then dyno again with it clean to prove my theory wrong.

 

I have one and view it as a small form of insurance. Will it make horsepower...no. But I believe that overtime it will decrease the loss of horsepower that naturaly occurs in engines. Years down the road, I believe I'll have a few more ponies because I've kept most of the crap out of the intake system. There's tons of info in past threads about them. If you don't believe it, don't buy one. You'll likely never know any difference. But for $120, it's worth that little extra (and some engine bling) to me. I do agree that if you don't have one you should be more diligent about removing and cleaning you IC regularly. That is if you plan to keep your car for any length of time.

my $.02

ripley.

 

Why have a "dirty" IC in the first place. Obviously the cleaner a part is the better it will work. You have to clean you air filter (or replace it) don't you? Why not filter out the bad stuff before it goes into the engine? The catch can is a very good piece of preventative maintenance. Just do a search for "catch can" for many, many posts about the benefits.

Or are you just trolling.............

 

All the posts I see are either from a vendor striking fear into consumers with the threat of the oil film of death, or from consumers with an over-active but dyno...or are simply convincing themselves they spent money wisely. Both so far without a shread of data one way or another that it does anything.

I'm not trolling, I just want the facts before I buy something. I had not seen any on this particular product yet.

Yes, years down the road I certainly might clean out the IC. It'll cost me a few bucks in a can of cleaner. And after doing so it may or may NOT make a difference. How many cans of cleaner can you buy for the price of a catch can? And BTW not everyone thinks it looks good. I don't like 'bling' in the first place, but I wouldn't even call it that. It looks like an after-thought to me.

 

kaelaria, I stongly encourage you to pass on the purchase of a CC. Buy the cleaner of your choice and clean out your IC occasionaly. You won't know the difference. Be happy knowing you saved $120.00.

ripley

 

As of right now, that is exactly what I'm doing.


Incidentally, I had the TB and supercharger off my 120,000 mile GTP a couple of months ago, to install a new gasket and spacer plate. It did have some oil film (the PCV is actually part of the TB), and it cleaned up with some brake cleaner and a rag. It was nothing extrodinary. I didn't give it a second thought as to it's power robbing abilities at the time, and likewise I wasn't looking for any performance change due to it - nor did I feel any. Maybe I would have if it had an air-air intercooler. I know that there has been no need for it expressed in the GTP community at least, whether the car has no intercooler, an air-air or water-air.

 

look at these threads...............

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ight=oil+catch
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ight=oil+catch
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ight=oil+catch

.....but of course you have to decide for yourself. Just don't make assumptions without checking out the facts.

 

Yes, I have read all those threads and more. If I missed some test data in them please point it out.

 

I don't think it is that big of an investment. We are talking about $120.00 not $1200.00. I have seen more than one MINI that has oil stains where the oil is dripping from the intercooler mount. My car, after only 1,400, had oil through the intercooler. I can't afford the big intercooler now and I would like to get the most from the one I have. I don't let my air filter get dirty so why let my intercooler get clogged up. I also don't like having my intake track all slimed up everytime I take it apart to work on something. The catch can keeps everything clean so the air can flow smoothly. I don't know how you could go wrong for the money. It is also a nice project and looks good it the engine compartment. The M7 catch can is a nice part. I never felt fear because of the venders post and if I had a dollar for everytime I heard someone make fun of a butt dyno I could pay off my car.