Oil Catch Can Install @217k miles

OK this is my 3rd Oil Catch Can (OCC) procedure conducted in 5 weeks. This time on my 3rd 2010 Blue Prius w 217,000 miles. This is a solid $24 OCC aluminum product, a bit heavier for my tastes, but definitely qualitative in craftsmanship. This should catch a lot of residual oil from the oil blow by in faulty Toyota engines. Done in 2 hours this time; I think I'm getting proficient with this procedure.
Oil Catch Can @ 245k miles & Intake Manifold Cleaning | PriusChat
Oil Catch Can Install @ 298k miles | PriusChat

PARTS & TOOLS-
- $24 amazon ordered OCC; has 2x 3/8" inlets; package came with extra fittings, inferior 3/8" braided tubing and set of laytex gloves
- 6 inches of 3/4" braided vinyl hose
- 5 feet of 3/8" fuel line
- stainless steel reducer adapter 3/4" threaded end and barb side 3/8"
- 3M Scotch Brite 1x stainless steel scrubbers
- 4x 1/2"-1" hose clamps

IDENTIFY SPACE- After clearing out the air intake/ducting system, I was able to access the 2x intake manifold ports w/o removal. This greatly reduced my procedure time in half. I identified a clear spot below along the center engine mount. I used 2x draw ties for OCC tie down.

THROTTLE BODY- While i was down there i did some preventive maintenance on the throttle body. Opened it up and blotted clean ~3oz of blowby oil with blue towels. I am hoping this is what i will never see again, now that I have this OCC in place. I estimate its been ~5,000 miles since i last cleaned out the throttle body; so i guess oil accumulates fast... but nevermore.

PREP OCC- i opened the OCC and placed a stainless steel scrubber. Theory is this and the bypass-oil fluids should keep low and stable under high pressure from the in/out takes lines.

PCV VALVE PORT OUT- I swapped out the PCV valve for a new one and connected 3 feet of 3/8" fuel linefuel line. Tightened down with a 3/4" hose clamp to the OCC. I did all this blind, as my visibility was blocked by the intake manifold I chose not to remove, and leaving in intact.

INTAKE MANIFOLD PORT LINE IN- This line required a reduction connector from 3/4" to 3/8". I threaded in the stainless steel fitting into the ~6 inches of 3/4" braided vinyl. The other end now fitted into the intake manifold port line in; hose clamped down. I then connected 3 feet of 3/8" fuel line and tightened it down with a 3/4" hose clamp to the OCC. Tie-downs for any loose flaring hoses.

ROAD TEST- No CEL codes availed themselves at 70mph highway road test on cruse control for 10 minutes. No leaks, same engine noise, as if this procedure never occurred. More reporting in the months ahead...

 

No kidding. I tell ya, each successive coolant line pull surprised me less. At times some coolant gets into the throttle body & mixes with the blowby oil. The first OCC i was shocked by the coolant flow rate coming out-- i lost ~2 cups of coolant; 2nd OCC I lost ~ 1x cup coolant; by the 3rd OCC I dropped only half a cup coolant.

Now for blue-Prius this PCV U-hose was in much better shape than my white-Prius @ 300k miles. I could have probably repurposed them. However the new 3/8" fuel lines will bring new life to Prius, no matter how small an impact.

 

perhaps next time w/ a bungee cord, for sure. I much more enjoy car projects that dont require removal of wiper-cowel.
thanks.

 

that looks like a nice out of the way spot, that will still give you access later for maintenance checks. Cheers.

 

Simply NO to your question.

Our Toyota's have a faulty piston ring system. The OCC catches the oil that has blown-by, before it gets circulated into and affecting the combustion & exhaust system (PCV valve, throttle body, intake manifold, EGR system, O2 sensors, CAT, mufflers, etc). This could get sludgy and costly over time. The OCC helps us intervene and remove blown-by oil before it further spreads, sludges, and degrades other car components.

Unless you replace these faulty rings, you will cont to lose oil. But in the near term, replacing oil is cheaper than replacing piston rings or buying a new engine. And for the longer term, having an OCC intervene and remove oil before it sludges, should save these essential car components and extend the life of your Prius.

good luck

 

NICE.
- that short block option looks like an interesting alternative over a head rebuild
- I wonder if many Prius owners took advantage of the 2016 TSB Repair Procedure Warrantee (<60k miles).

 

Wow, I overlooked that $
That's a pretty hefty bill comparatively to the shy $1000 sticker price I paid for the white Prius
with that money , I could buy 2x more Prius fixer-uppers

this may not be a value solution for me; for others perhaps yes.

 

UPDATE- Prius now at 225,000 miles, and 8,000 miles later on the OCC. Plenty of gas, oil, water mixture in the can. Somewhere at the bottom of that can is a wad of stainless steel scrubber. Good to know how horribly leaky my 2010Gen3 pistons are. The gunk is better to de deposited in a recycling center over burnt through my pistons and exhaust system.