Oil Catch Can, Eliminate that knock!

EGR is improved, but not sure about PCV. The latter is the focus of the OCC.

No OCC on 4th Gen. Doesn't seem like many 4th gen'rs are installing OCC? Perhaps they should.

Oil Catch Can (aka Air-Oil Separator)? | PriusChat

 

I have a can ready to install on our Prime.

Life just has to let up a bit to allow for location selection and plumbing to be run.

But I'll get to it eventually.

Just clicked 19k miles, so it's still early.

 

Bet a lot of those 19k are EV?

 

About 70%.

Or close to 13.5 k miles.

Not too bad considering I get free charging at work.

 

One thing I was hoping for is a clear catch cylinder like the many smaller ones I see around.

Is there any disadvantage to using something like this?



Also, which direction does the EGR gas flow? For head gasket condition testing purposes, might it be possible to disconnect the EGR hoses on either side of the cooler to see how startup goes?

My thought is, if I get no shake or knock on startup with the EGR system disconnected or "free flowing", it might indicate that the head gasket is still OK and the EGR system need cleaned. If the shake or knock persists on startup, then its time to dig deeper and bust out the scope and compression tester. OR is this an incorrect understanding of the relationship between the two symptoms?

 

These oil catch cans go into the PCV flow, not EGR.

 

Yes I'm better understanding their position now.

Has anyone checked the EGR cooler after running a OCC for an extended period of time? I'm under the impression that the OCC is there to catch the stuff that would get burnt in cylinder, but flows back through the EGR Cooler, gumming it up.

Or is the function of the OCC different then that?

 

It will hopefully help, slow the EGR clogging rate. 3rd gen EGR is underdesigned, not enough cross-sectional area, inlet ahead of the Catalytic converter. I think that's the main problem.

An oil catch can will hopefully also slow the rate the piston rings get carbonned up. I don't think it's a panacea, just helps.

 

Where are the most commons spots for the OCC?

I'm hoping my slightly smaller option will give me a bit more flexibility to shorten the hose lengths.

 

I'm thinking of mount my smaller OCC to the right side of the engine cover. Easy to see, easy to get to, more direct line of flow for the tubing (no hard bends). Will post pics when its done.

 

Go big so you dont need to empty so often.. the colder it is the more corona viruses it catches.

Pixel 3a XL ?

 

I'm fine with emptying it often. I want to monitor it. It seems like the general consensus is that people aren't see a ton of collection anyway.

 

Did an oil change yesterday and drained the oil catch cans (two, in series):

* drained Oil Catch Cans, roughly 1100 kms since last drain:
#1: 35~ cc
#2: 45~ cc
Comment: not a typo, #2 caught MORE. Not sure why. Appearance of #1 fluid more milky/strafied. Apperance of #2 fluid darker/clearer.

Not what I was expecting. I figured the second can would collect at most 50% of the what the first caught. Speculations:

1. The #1 can is the one that's been in service about 2.5 years. I did clean the steel mesh biscuits with brake cleaner, but still some internal gunk is changing it's effectiveness? Not sure I buy that though.
2. Maybe the #1 can somehow slows or cools the gasses coming through, making them more prone to condense in #2. That seems plausible.



(#1 on the left. The felt lines indicate 50 cc marks. The first one marked carefully (adding 50 cc water at a time while the jar sat on a scale), the second I just quickly transferred the marks over.)

I'll post another pic when they've had a few days to stratify. The lighter coloured ring apparent near the top of #2 IS in the fluid, it's not the glass.

 

What you have now is a 2 stage separation.

Sometimes (depending on the substituents) you deal with more "carryover" effect.

But it appears the lighter components are still "knocking out" prior to re-entry into the combustion process.

If you think the steel wool is losing its effectiveness, swap them out and get another run and report the findings.

 

All this means is that you need (really need) a THIRD occ to really git 'er done!!!

 

Perhaps and oil separator would be better. They catch all the oil.
They cost more, but cheaper than a motor.

 

The mesh is Moroso supplied, a braided fine-wire buscuit, very durable. It might be good to have spares, so I could really soak them. Not sure if they sell replacements. I think I did clean it pretty well, percolated brake cleaner through them.

The look of the #2 catch is definitely different, lighter/clearer or something. I'll let them stratify a few days and post and update.

Definitely was a "success" installing the second can, but again, not what I'd expected.

Yeah my thoughts were going that way lol. Will need a BUCKET for the third one...

These are air-oil separators, according to Moroso. Official name is Moroso Air-Oil Separator 85474.

 

Realize that all Moroso is doing is up charging what you can buy steel wool for.

I bought a pack from Lowe's for $10 or less and it has plenty of "biscuits" in it.

Don't forget that even if you cut or trim them, the solid strands have to travel up hill and through a very small opening to make it to the intake, which is very unlikely .

 

Well, a lot of gunk made it through #1. More than it caught.

 

So when can we expect a "taste test", Mendel?