I recently installed the 15% pulley and Alta Oil Catch Can. My MCS had 14,000 miles on it.

When we took the intercooler cover off there was a bunch of oil grime on each side. Then, we cleaned out the intercooler and we could not believe how much oil was in it. It was more than we would have guessed. It took a whole can of cleaner to get most of it out.

I'll report back on this in another 14,000 miles to see just how well the catch can does its job, but if you were wondering if there really is oil buildup in there, there definitely is, and I recommend the install if it works.

 

For $118, it's a good preventative measure for extending engine's life span.

Alta oil catch can

 

I had the same problem. I don't know much about cars but I’m handy with tools. Come to find out i installed it wrong. They should have a diagram of the install path of all the hoses, the instructions are confusing.

After calling Alta here is the way they told me to install it. One long hose should go from the intake hose all the way to the catch can. The outputs PVC and crank case should be connected inline on the same hose and connected to the catch can. Basically, the intake line is the vacuum and the (2) PVC and the crank case hose dumps into the catch can.

I hope this helps...I sucks cleaning oil out of the intercooler. Alta should have a clipart diagram in their instructions.

 

I’m sorry I think I misunderstand you… Did you see the oil in the intercooler before or after the catch can install? I had the oil after because of my wrong install.

 

Has anyone caught anything yet, other than water vapor? I like the principle of a catch can, but so far users have reported little to no accumulation even after thousands of miles. This is unlike my friend's Rabbit that needs to have its catch can drained back into the engine after every track session.

 

>>Has anyone caught anything yet, other than water vapor? I like the principle of a catch can, but so far users have reported little to no accumulation even after thousands of miles. This is unlike my friend's Rabbit that needs to have its catch can drained back into the engine after every track session. :smile:

 

I've had my IC off - no oil accumulation inside. But, I only have 7,000 miles on my car, followed break-in procedures and only use Mobil 1.
It seems like this would be a good addition to a car that is consuming oil, I hope most of our cars are not yet at that point in their lives.
Mark

 

Pebblecrusher,

Good point. If the purpose is to reduce accumulation in the intercooler, then pouring the intercooler contents into a graduated cylinder would be a good test. If the purpose is to provide vibrant colors for the underhood area, then the results speak for themselves.

 

I drive my car hard. its been about 8000 miles since the install, in those miles I have emptied the catch can multiple times. I would say a total of about half a catch can.

I also changed out my intercooler and I didn’t see any oil. The reason I installed the catch can was my stock PVC hose collapsed 2 times in the 13,000 miles.

 

I've got an oil catch can on my WRX, and plan on putting one on my MCS when it gets here. I also have one on my Grand National, and so far I have had to empty the WRX can 2 times since I put it on. No more oil vapor in the intake. Basically, the overall idea is to keep oil out of the intake. Oil going into intake with fuel: bad idea, as this can help contribute to detonation, which we all know is a good way to put holes in pistons and blow head gaskets. Also, can contribute to not making as much power because (I'm assuming the MINI ECM has knock detector sensors) as the ECM sees detonation, it will back off the timing, hence lower power. And I know that we are all about the power!

Besides, at $118 it is cheap insurance.
T.

 

I am looking to buy the catch can but let me know how it pans out....Do you know what the stock boost is on the S? Do you recommend any intakes or any posts to read about intakes?

Thanks a lot for your help.

ZM

 

I am looking to buy the catch can but let me know how it pans out....Do you know what the stock boost is on the S? Do you recommend any intakes or any posts to read about intakes?

Thanks a lot for your help.

ZM

 

Well, there ya go. It sounds like silver-mini-s has found his catchcan to be doing the job quite well.

 

>>Snip... The reason I installed the catch can was my stock PVC hose collapsed 2 times in the 13,000 miles.
>>

I had the same problem there is an in warranty fix for that. The replacement hose is oil resistant and after 15k miles it still looks good.

Cheers,
jack

_________________

ly/b mcs all packages leather anthricite dob 11/23/2002

 

>>Has anyone caught anything yet, other than water vapor? I like the principle of a catch can, but so far users have reported little to no accumulation even after thousands of miles. This is unlike my friend's Rabbit that needs to have its catch can drained back into the engine after every track session.

Sid

 

After 29,000 miles I took the I/C off and took a look inside. No oil to speak of. It did have a bit of brownish stain inside it though. Kind of like tobacco stain

 

Andy,
I install one, but I ran it in line of the PCV valve side only. I raced my MCS this past Memorial Day and it sure did collect oil. I am very glad I did. The way I hooked it up worked for me. I got advice on how to install it directly from Alta. They mentioned that the way they instructed was fine, but I was unsure that I wanted to bypass the SC valve inlet. Alta mentioned that there are many ways to install this can, but If I was unconfortable with capping off the SC inlet that I should just install the can in-line of the PCV/Supercharger inlet that they instruct to capp off. Alta said that I would get the most oil collection at the PCV/SC inlet. Under normal driving, I did not see any collection. Under racing conditions it sure worked. I will post pictures of the can with the site tube showing oil collected.

Hope this confirms that this was an worth while add.

 

Andy: I installed the Alta Oil Catch can in my 04 MCS at about 4K miles. The intercooler and the rubber connectors (for lack of the correct term) had a fair amount of oil in them. Cleaned everything with brakeKlean before re-installing.
While I have not seen much oil in the clear tube (mostly brown water), after another 2500 miles I took off the intercooler... NO oil in either the intercooler or rubber connectors. Thats good enough for me and for about $120.00 some cheap Bling

 

I am brand new to this board. I have a Mini S on order (traded in a 2003 M3......believe it or not-----). Curious if those running the Catch Can experience the Yo-Yo I have read about on this Board? A theory that I was developing is that a colder engine would find it harder to burn the oil vapor (which is when the folks experiencing Yo-Yo seem to indicate it is at its worth if I read correctly). Anyway, I may be totally of base on this but it is worth investigating. I am about to order the Catch Can because the theory makes sense and there are some reasonable testimonials to its effect.

 

I don't think YoYo and Oil Catch Can have anything to do with each other. My YoYo is very noticeable and hasn't changed since I added the Alta Can. Sure hope V38 cures the YoYo.

 

[font=Arial]Just make sure you install it correctly. It is an easy install but make sure that the PVC and the crank case hose are inline going to the catch can. It is little difficult to understand the instruction included in the box (at least for me).:smile: [/font]

 

I am sure that my intercooler is full of oil as my car came with two loose clamps. I notice this because I was getting a lot of oil residue around the rubber boots and across the front of the intercooler. there was enough oil to have a small drip of the lower leading edge if the intercooler. I just need to find the time to clean it out. I was planning on doing this when I install a catch can.

 

Just installed the Alta catch can on my 04 MCS. Even though I have only 1800 miles on it, there was already a small amount of oil in the bottom of the rubber intercooler gaskets. Since I will be tracking it for the first time next weekend I thought this was cheap insurance against eventually lowering the efficiency of the supercharger.

Only time will tell.