After reading about the carbon buildup issue I was thinking about installing a BSH oil catch can on my wife’s ’08 R55 S. What I haven’t been able to find is whether or not an oil catch can will trigger a fail in California’s strict smog test. Has anyone on here passed smog with an oil catch can in Caliifornia?

 

An oil catch can will cause a rougher idle, you'll feel it in the cabin, don't know about emissions though. But I thought the detergents added to modern gasoline clears out the carbon build up?

 

This is the first I have read about an oil catch can causing a rough idle - my wife would complain about that.

With all the people that have had carbon buildup I can't believe they all use cheap gas - I think there is more to it than that.

 

There is no reason for it to not pass, it is basically a filter of the mist, inline. It doesn't change the exhaust properties at all.

PS mine is not rougher at idle.

 

A catch can runs in place of the PCV valve correct?

 

On one of my other vehicles I was failed because my Volant CAI airbox didn't have a California Air Resources Board exempt sticker on it and when the smog tech called Volant, they told him they haven't been certified yet so I was failed. California's smog laws really suck so I'd rather be safe than sorry - my $300 Volant CAI now sits in a box in my garage.

 

In California you can't alter your smog equipment and they will catch the alterations on what they call the visual inspection. We have some of the strictest smog laws in the nation.

 

Can't you just reinstall your you intakes and forbidden parts after you pass your smog test?

 

I could - but it depends on how much of a pain in the azz it is to uninstall it and then reinstall it every two years. An hour for each way is really more time than I would want to spend - but it is doable.

 

IF that is ture, it's a rare occurance; myself and many BSH owners have installed a catch can without idle issues.
You aren't affecting ECU idle control with a PCV bypass... Sorry.

CA94960, you'll want to check with local CA owner, or the CARB emission locations.

That's assuming your engine is standard fuel-port injection, where there's fuel washdown on the intake valves.
However with the N14 / N18 Cooper S & JCW engines, they are DIRECT INJECTED (DI) where there's no fuel in the cylinder head.
It's directly shot into the combustion chamber, and therefore no fuel washdown on the intake valves.

NO. With the use of a oil catch can (OCC) and a passenger PCV port block, the integrated PCV in the valve cover is still used.
The difference is that the vapors from the valve cover are pulled continuously thorugh the drive side port, through the catch can, and back into the intake tract.

I agree with yetti96 that you should pass without an issue because you're not deleting or removing the PCV system.
You're simply rerouting the flow path and adding in a collection component.

- Erik

 

After a lot of searching I came across a post on this forum from a member stating that an OCC is NOT legal in California. I am bummed as it sounds like our cars really need this product. But CA has such tight smog restrictions that even something like Volant’s closed CAI is not legal. I'm still hoping someone on here has A BSH OCC and has passed our smog check.

 

A CAI is totally different than an OCC. They might see it and not like it because you did tamper with the intake/exhaust system...but it no way will it change emissions, if anything it catches oil that you car would have normally burned.

Get your inspection, add the OCC and replace the stock parts every year you get your inspection, its pretty easy.

 

I just passed the smog test last July in it so I have two years before the next one. It sure would a lot nicer if I didn't have to go through the trouble of taking it off and putting it on every two years, but that would still be better than having to repair a carbon buildup problem.

 

The removal is quick, maybe a 10min project maximum...

- Erik

 

Sorry to bring up an old thread, but has anyone gone through the CA smog test with an OCC?

Thanks!