i fitted my alta oil catch can on my 53 plate mini cooper s probly 3 weeks ago now following the alta instructions and have covered over a thousand miles. i went to check the can the other day and did not have any oily substances in there what so ever on slight condensation. so i did a search on here and other forums to find out different methods of plumbing it in. which i found the 1 where you get rid of the t peice and put the pipe direct into the can then out to the grey vacuum pipe that the alta instructions tell you to cap off , as shown in the pic. it is now catching oil great and seems to be working fine my only concern is i turned the engine on the other day with the bonnet open just to make sure evrything is running fine etc and the alta oil catch can almost cave in cus of the vaccum preassure it sucks the silicone body sides in i just wondered if there are any reasons and conclusions to this thanks

 

ALTA is aware of this. If you contact them, they have a peice that fits inside to prevent the walls getting sucked-in.

 

All you need is a piece of PVC pipe to put inside to stop the collapse.

 

I really don't understand why they use a flexible silicone hose section as the body of the catch can. It's not like it needs to bend or twist with the engine. It's just a can.

FYI, I think it's a good idea that you ran the catch can between the PCV valve and the gray hose. That's the way that PCV was intended to be routed. It doesn't look like modifying the breather hose (the one between the valve cover and the airbox rubber elbow hose) is worthwhile.

 

thankyou so much people this site really is the best every 1 is so freindly and you can pretty much find everything out on here thanks

 

I know there are many, and in some cases, long posts on this topic. Heck, I've even contributed to many of them.

I'm revisting the catch can connection possibilities and wanted to throw another out here for comment.

What's the draw back of t'ing both sides of the valve cover together into one side of the can and the other side connected to the gray line to the SC. The line coming from the intake, cap off.

Isn't the only reason the valve cover is connected to the intake (stock) is to consume the waste product coming from the valve cover area?

Just a thought, maybe a stupid one, but would appreciate input.

 

Just to pass on some information on what I have observed so far.

I installed two catch cans ($16 Catch Can post) one on each circuit. So far I am seeing oil collecting in the first one (PCV to gray line), and nothing yet in the second can (valve cover vent to the upstream side of the throttle body. I will continue to monitor this and post if anything develops.

 

Does the M7 catch can have the same "cave in" issue or is just the Alta construction that is suspect?

 

No - its metal

 

It seems that for those of us who have yet to purchase a catch can that the M7 all metal version is a better product

 

Better is a relative term. Many cans to chose from - if "for mini", you end up paying a good bit (too much in my opinion for what it is). If you go generic, you can pick up a metal can on ebay for 20-30 bucks.