Oil Catch Can, Eliminate that knock!

A little coffee for someone?

 

How many miles did that take?

 

Around 4.5k at least and it was also quite cold at places if that matters

 

I drain mine spring and fall (in conjunction with oil changes). We're only doing about 4K miles yearly. The fall drain is 50~60 cc, mostly oil, and the spring drain about double that, and has definitely more of that creamy water concoction. Leaving it in a jar for a while it settles out into oil and water layers.

 

Took me one month to get that millage But maybe I checked the oil change before that, so might be 7-8k to it. Still I was shocked to see that much in it. :-o

 

I just cleaned out my OCC for the first time after about 5k miles. What I found inside was about 1/2 cup of oily jelly. I don't know what it was but I'm glad it is not in my engine and I will be emptying the OCC every 5k from here on out. It was seriously nasty stuff, it reminded me of gelled bone broth.

 

Just don’t drink it.

Glad to have more data supporting the use of the oil catch can.

 

I have a question.
Many people are installing the catch can next to the inverter, about 24” or so above the PCV valve.

So the air + oil vapor escapes the PCV, goes up a long hose, and into the catch can. It seems that with the long hose and its upward slope, much oil vapor will condense in the hose before it reaches the OCC, then it will drain back to the one-way PCV valve. Has anyone done such an install and pulled the hose after 10,000 miles to see if any oil pools up at the PCV valve?

 

I've got a hunch the vapours are moving fast enough it's not an issue, but yeah: any film that clings to the tubing wall is going to start moving back down; it's like sweeping leaves into the wind.

If you look at the Moroso can custom install videos, I think a fair number have hoses running uphill.

 

I have such installation. In my case, the hose from PCV to OCC actually drops below the PVC plane. So any vapors would pool there. I have over 48K miles on my OCC without problems.

 

So the hoses drop from the pcv valve, then climb to the OCC?

 

I have an extra Moroso can (don't ask...). I've been toying with having both installed, plumbed in series, so the second one scavenges anything that gets through the first. Why such madness? Because I can, boohahah...

 

You guys who do them under the intake manifild, what are you mounting them to?

Any photos or threads on that specific layout someone can point me to?

 

Oil Catch Can, Eliminate that knock! | Page 9 | PriusChat

As noted in the above link, when bolting/screwing any sort of bracket to that lower cross beam, you want to use some kind of rubber gasket or washers in the connection: you want the bracket to be solid but slightly flexible. If you ever use the front jacking point, it's at the underside of that beam, and the beam will flex slightly as you jack the car up.

There are openings in the underside of that beam, so it is "just" possible to do through-bolts, fish the bolts through from the underside. Which is what I did. But if I was starting again, think I'd consider just self-tapping screws from above.

The way I made the connection flexible was to put rubber washers in the interface, brought 1/4" bolts through from below, a washer and finger-tight nut above, then a second nut, torqued against the first, to act as a lock nut.

 

You have too much time on your hands!

 

One option using just epoxy between the OCC bracket and cross member (post #91):

Tried installing the OCC... no room!... | Page 5 | PriusChat

No issues after 70,000 miles.

 

I'm more inclined to keep that connection snug but loose. The top flange of that beam will flex if you use the front jacking point. A solidly bolted bracket will creak and groan, and epoxy joint would like just crack and fail.

 

I zip tied a soup can to the front cross member and set the catch can in that.

Worked well for over 2 years and 30k miles.

Pics are in the “what did you do to your Gen3 Prius today” thread in the Gen3 maintenance section, but a lot of posts have been added there since I posted it up.

Just use fuel line hose and not the supplied braided hose to save rework .

 

Bisco and I are the only outliers that mounted the catch can under the air intake;The OCC ninja installation.

 

I think you mean @Mendel Leisk and not @bisco .

Unless bisco has put the local mechanic to work and not reported here.

I’d expect a pic of his install if he did since we’ve got him to post pics now.