Oil catch can a "must"

Discussion in 'Dodge Challenger General Maintenance' started by soonercruiser, Jan 14, 2017.

  1. soonercruiser

    soonercruiser Full Access Member

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    I installed a catch can on my V6, The Patriot, and would always get a goodly amount of oil, including some sludge like crud in the bottom.

    Out of curiosity, I decided to look at the catch can I installed on my new-used SRT8, even though I wasn't close to changing the oil yet.
    At least a quarter of a cup of oil.
    Good news is ...it was pretty thin, with no clumps.

    [​IMG]
     
    Larry St Denis likes this.
  2. chithead

    chithead Full Access Member

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    Dang! I need to reconsider one of these then, immediately!
     
  3. SRT-Tom

    SRT-Tom Well-Known Member Staff Member Super Moderator Article Writer

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    I have a Billet Technology oil catch can on my 2009 SRT. Here is the reason why.

    Some think that the absence of a catch can will result in damage to your engine. That is not the case. The issue is engine efficiency. It prevents a build up of oil residue that can result in a loss of power to your engine, over time, due to PCM-pulled timing.

    During normal operation, a small amount of that ignited air/fuel mixture leaks past the piston rings and ends up in the crankcase. This leakage is called “blow-by” (leakage past the piston rings), as well as oil mist. Some of the oil mist and other products settle along the engine intake and over time form a “gunk.”

    The oil catch can collects the oil mist and condenses the fuel vapors while allowing “cleaner” gases to be passed back into the intake. The OEM system does a great job of meeting emission standards and removing the harmful contaminants, but the unintended consequences are the oil that is drawn into the intake charge. For an engine to produce the maximum amount of energy per explosion (of the A/F in the combustion chamber) you want air & fuel only- any amount of oil in this mix will hamper the explosion resulting in less energy released, detonation, and carbon buildup.

    Trapping and removing this oil before it gets into the combustion chamber is the only solution to maintain maximum engine efficiency and prevent excessive carbon buildup. (Note- This is especially critical on turbo cars).
     
  4. rtchallenger12

    rtchallenger12 Full Access Member

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    I'm wanting a catch can but I'm not spending $100+ on one when I can get a $30 that does the same thing (I want black anyway, so the billet look doesn't appeal to me) and also has an oil level reader on the side
    Question is, what size hose do I need? The catch can I was looking uses 3/8" hose, will this work?
     
  5. SRT-Tom

    SRT-Tom Well-Known Member Staff Member Super Moderator Article Writer

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    You need a 15/32 inch (i.d.) PVC hose. (Do not get a coolant hose. It will eventually collapse and your PCM will throw a code).
     
  6. rtchallenger12

    rtchallenger12 Full Access Member

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    So fuel line hose won't work? I thought I saw some people using it, if not I can always get different hose
     
  7. SRT-Tom

    SRT-Tom Well-Known Member Staff Member Super Moderator Article Writer

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    Fuel line hoses can be used- NOT coolant hoses.
     
  8. rtchallenger12

    rtchallenger12 Full Access Member

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    Installed my Speedlogix catch can today, looks great and was pretty easy to install!
    I was going to get one off of Amazon but I figured I might as well get one made for our Challengers, which in the end looks better
    Hardest part was getting the stock PCV off, then configuring the new lines to fit under the engine cover
    All is good now, hopefully we get to see some oil in there in a couple thousand miles
     
  9. vedros74

    vedros74 Member

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    Oil catch can a "must"

    I installed mine and had about a little over 1/4 inch of oil in it with under 1,000 miles on it


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    Last edited: Mar 11, 2017
  10. rtchallenger12

    rtchallenger12 Full Access Member

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    Forgot to post this up on here, but with it being cold/snowing last week, I wasn't able to drive the Challenger all but 2-3 days after installing the catch can
    Checked it after maybe 200 miles and it already had some in it! There's no looking back on having one of these now, I'm a true believer
    Can't believe all of that oil gets spit back into the engine for no reason.. definitely concerning but I'm glad it's fixed now
    I can't wait to check it out when I change the oil in about 1,700 miles!