Just wanted to post some photos of the approximately 1 fl oz of fluid that I sucked out of my catch can yesterday. Definitely had a strong petroleum-based smell.

I've had the OCC installed for almost 2 years and I check it once in a while via the dipstick on the can. Sometimes after a drive, I'd remove the dipstick, some sort of vapor gets released and other than the discoloration on the stick and petroleum stinkiness, there never seemed to be much in the can.

This is honestly the only time that I've made an attempt to suck anything out with the syringe that was included in the kit because the dipstick seemed to have very little residue on it other than the discoloration.

Enjoy.

 

That's a sludgachino - but don't drink it.

 

Looks normal to me. That is why you have a catch can, so you don't burn that stuff & get it baked on the valves.

 

Looks normal. You have on the driver's side only? You are keeping that junk out of your intake system pre-intake manifold. A lot of that stuff goes through the passenger side (during vacuum, i.e. when you are not on boost) but I am too afraid to block it off. I may add a second OCC though.

 

Yep, DS only. Not sure how much longer I'll have the car (tend to swap every once in a while), but may look into additional preventive measures.

 

Anyone have opinions on dual OCC setups? I'm not going to remove my cold air intake, but I may make a custom bracket and put a second OCC below the first. Not without consulting my mechanic though.

 

You can only fit a second Oil Catch Can on N14 engines, but why spend the money when you can block off that line to the throttle body way cheaper than adding another catch can?

N18 engines have internal passages in the head to the intake ports.

Dave

 

Reported increased oil consumption. I think the PCV system is a little more complicated than a simple block off equates to perfect function. I just don't know and am not willing to risk blocking off based on so many people reporting increased oil consumption. Makes me think the vacuum line to the PCV system does more than just suck oil vapor out. Allowing pressure to build up until it's pushed out the driver's side... not sure about it.

I have an N14 so thinking about a second OCC. May help keep carbon on the intake manifold down, but I drive mostly at highway speeds for an hour at a time, so carbon building up isn't a big issue for me (apparently).

 

I've had my OCC on the car for about 30k miles and 2 years now. I have had the passenger side port blocked off for the entire time. I have had a bunch of oil leaks on the car (valve cover, oil filter housing), but am finally leak free. I seem to use about 1.5 quarts over a 5000 mile oil change interval. I don't know if that seems high or not, but I am comfortable with it.

In the winter time, I get a bunch of fluid out of the OCC, and have to drain it weekly. I filled a 60 oz jug this fall (since October), and it is 90% water, along with a dark oil layer on top. The oil layer is low viscosity, thinner than the 5w30 that I use in the crankcase.

I also had to clean the carbon off the valves after about 30k miles. Again, I'm ok with this.

I feel good seeing the amount of crap that the OCC catches. Does it increase oil consumption? I dunno.

Does the water in the engine hurt anything? I dunno.

Does the OCC prevent carbon buildup? No. But I feel comfortable having the system on my car. The previous owner only had 3 oil changes done over 49k miles (the third was at 48k). I'm sure that the motor is tired compared to what it should be. It runs great, throws no codes, and I sleep well with the mods that I've done, including the OCC.

And my mechanic recommended to have the occ in the passenger side port if I was only going to have one. He was happy to hear that I blocked the port. His point was that the lower passenger side line can gravity fill with crap, and then suck this into the intake and increase buildup on the ports.

I'm sorry if my post doesn't help any, but it is another opinion.

Have fun,
Mike

 

Read pages 130-53 & 130-54 of the Bentley manual. It describes clearly how the PCV valve works, it really isn't complicated, it just vents in one of two different places.

Blocking off the PCV line to the throttle body, on an N14 engine, just causes the crankcase gasses to vent through the turbocharger PCV line. The only way pressure could build up in the crankcase is if the Head cover/PCV valve is defective and not letting the gasses vent through the turbocharger PCV line.

Dave

 

These are really good opinions. I'd like to hear more. Anybody running an OCC for 50+K on the passenger side or blocking the passenger side? I keep hearing about people blocking the passenger side, having problems, unblocking, and problems go away. Doesn't seem clear cut. A few people claim no problems. Is it always a faulty PCV? All these people with problems after blocking passenger side say the driver side OCC catches a LOT of crud, so I don't think the PCV is malfunctioning in all these cases. I'm very concerned that blocking the passenger side is causing adverse (and not obvious) issues with increased oil consumption/leaks. I don't understand why, but I believe there is something going on here and want to know more.

 

You must live in an area that gets fairly cold.

I've had one for about as long as you, and I have not managed to get a drop...Southern California here.

These catch cans definitely help in areas that get to that dew point often.

This is with the same engine as yourself.

 

So you are leak free purely by removing the block?

 

I fixed the leaks. A new valve cover fixed the leaks there (plus the newer valve covers supposedly have a revised PCV system that reduces oil consumption). New gaskets on the oil filter housing and oil cooler fixed the leaks there.

I continue to have the passenger side PCV port blocked.

Yes, the weather has been much colder than average here in Buffalo, NY. I drive about 20 miles each way to work, which is likely long enough to fully boil off any water and trap this vapor. The cold temps definately contribute to the high volume of liquid in the OCC.

Mike

 

the white/orange/yellow build up is normal, it's from condensation mixing with oil causing a milky solution, it's a good idea to make sure that doesn't circulate through the engine. this build up can be greatly reduced by making sure your car gets up to FULL operating temp during driving so the condensation burns off in the lines/valve cover, short trips cause it to be bad and can clog pcv passages and valves if its left unattended for years. and by full operating temp I mean the heater vents blowing scalding hot air.