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Oil Catch Can, Eliminate that knock!

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by danlatu, May 22, 2017.

  1. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Missus will be out-and-about today. Maybe tomorrow I'll take a look.
     
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  2. RMB

    RMB Senior Member

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    Hi all, definitely get the oil catch can installed, and keeping it clean. Today is Saturday and it means OCC cleaning day LOL:D

    I found 10-15ml/ half ounce of that fuel/oil/water mixture, except this time there is more of that jelly stuff settling at the bottom of the can. Picture doesnt show how tall the oil/buttery stuff stacks up though, I estimate 1/4". No oil use, oil level is still up at max line. IMG_6212.JPG

    Then I notice on the 3/8" hose running to and from the catch can, the intake side is now all khaki color, while outlet side hose that goes to intake manifold is still mostly clear and bluish. IMG_6212.JPG IMG_6215.JPG

    For exactly 7 weeks and about 1200 miles since Saturday Nov 11th Bay Area Meetup, I had cleaned out about 2 ounces of this stuff from my oil catch can. Imagine all of that stuff goes into the combustion chamber:confused:... or thinking back how you feel the last time you had a cold/flu and your runny nose is dumping all kinds of ugly stuff into your throat, air passage, and your lung.:ROFLMAO:
     

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  3. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Good to see it is working out(y).

    Only got 1200 miles since the meetup:whistle:.

    Just clear 4 k miles on those 7 weeks :eek:.

    Have a happy new year (y).
     
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  4. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    Now if someone would just come up with an EGR delete mod...:whistle:
     
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  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Checked my oil catch can: approx. 2380 kms since install. There was a bit of spillage when I opened the drain tap, it came out fast. I would think without the spillage it would have been around 50 cc. Had the look of coffee with creme, definitely a lot more watery, compared to the oily tablespoon drained maybe 300 km post-install. Also smelled like gas.

    Anyway, think I'd be safe to do it in conjunction with my 6 monthly oil changes: my OCC has a capacity of 200~250 cc.

    IMG_8097.JPG IMG_8100.JPG
     
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  6. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    I have a feeling I’ll be in the same boat ;).

    Have ~500 miles since I installed ours last weekend and the hoses aren’t stained:).

    So should be good for a bit(y).
     
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  7. RMB

    RMB Senior Member

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    IMO EGR is a good thing for the combustion engine, just that we need to install some kind of carbon filtration system between the exhaust pipe and EGR cooler. Much that it acts like a OCC filtering out fuel/oil/water before crankcase fumes goes into intake manifold.

    Of course, with the Gen 4 EGR coming from down stream of the catalytic converter this EGR clogging problem may have been solved or improved greatly. But for us Gen 3 if somehow we can add a filter and periodically cleaning or replacement, EGR clog can also be solved easily, as removing and cleaning EGR cooler can be a pain.
     
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  8. RMB

    RMB Senior Member

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    Hehe, still waiting for your update:p. I think that you will have much less or no water presents in your catch since you drive so many freeway miles and ICE is always warm at speed, much like what @Abu Rais had shown in his oil catch update. Whereas I'm always driving stop, and go in a 10 miles commute.
     
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  9. danlatu

    danlatu Senior Member

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    I made another Oil catch Can bracket for anyone here using the ruien catch can found on amazon. The first one I made was made from pla+ and it sagged a bit from heat. The newer version is made of nylon and has two support brackets. I had people asking for the file and I put it off because I was busy flying in good weather. I have uploaded the file on ------> thingiverse <------for anyone to download. Feel free to tip if you like your Oil Catch Can and 3D file I uploaded. When it gets warmer out, I will throw a stud in the left bracket and sandwich a nut between the catch can bracket so the ground has a secure fitment. It's 19 degrees outside:cool::cool:

    IMG_0227.JPG IMG_0228.JPG IMG_0230.JPG IMG_0235.JPG IMG_0234.JPG
     
    #449 danlatu, Dec 31, 2017
    Last edited: Dec 31, 2017
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  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    So, what IS that stuff:

    upload_2017-12-31_9-9-14.png

    Is there such a thing as Oil Catch Can analysis? I'm thinking it's got something to do with ethanol in fuel?
     
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  11. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Looks like Chocolate milk, Chocomel or Ovaltine :coffee:
     
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  12. danlatu

    danlatu Senior Member

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    I bet you can send it into Blackstonelabs , they will let you know the oil/water/fuel content along with how much copper/alloy/zinc and what not are shedding from the engine as it wears. Bobistheoilguy has tons of great articles and threads regarding engine oil, health, performance, burning and even catch cans!
     
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  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    It's barely oily (I had it on my hands, jeans, trouble light, the slab, you name it lol). It has the consistency of that fluid they use when metal machining, with drills, lathes, milling machines. And it smells distinctly like fuel.
     
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  14. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    You are not supposed to feed the car eggnog! :D
     
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  15. danlatu

    danlatu Senior Member

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    Motors tend to run rich when it is cold, I know winter blend fuel is also different from summer fuel. Any of that fuel that does not get burned is thrown into the crankcase or out the exhaust. Sniff the exhaust on a cold start up on a new car and then on a car that has high miles on it. When the car is fully warmed up it smells less. I have a co2 reader at work, I'll see if i could get some cold and warm readings for you guys. Yes is creates high levels of carbon monoxide and will ruin a catalytic converter. Combustion powered cars pollute. I like knowing the prius does it less.
     
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  16. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    All over yourself and clothing :eek:.

    I don’t think it is detergent or soap:whistle:.
     
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  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    I was expecting slow, sludgy stuff, was taken off guard by the "egg nog". Just as I was dozing off last night, I was speculating if I was using ethanol-free fuel maybe that would reduce the catch: ethanol binds with water. D-u-n-n-o (trying to dodge Priuschat spell checker).
     
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  18. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    Some people drink it when celebrating the holidays. - a Canadian photo

    [​IMG]

    Eggnog - Wikipedia

    EDIT: I initially misinterpreted your post, thinking you did not know what egg nog was. Sorry.
     
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  19. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    Oil and water mixed can turn white or brownish. but would not primarily smell like fuel.
     
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  20. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    There’s one way to find out about your late night pondering :whistle:.

    Look forward to your data (y).
     
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