Thread: to fit catch can or not

I would have thought that all the carbon from the EGR is a mild abrasive and wouldn't do the valve stems much good.
Valves are usually lubricated by the oil in the rocker gear getting past the seals and diesel is a good lubricant for the upper cylinders.
So I have fitted a catch can to my TD5 but mainly to keep the intercooler clean as they tend to get oily particularly on older engines.

Regards Philip A

Hi Ian. I've always been of the opinion that the bit of oil mist is good for the upper cylinder and valves. I'm no mechanical engineer though.
The only downside these days is that it can foul up sensors over time and reduce the effectiveness of the intercooler. Nothing a bit of routine cleaning can't fix.
I've got my EGR closed as well, so without the soot supply, the intake shouldn't gunk up.

Mine is a 2.2 and they've got a huge oil separator built into the rocker cover as standard. Others have put provents on these engines and not had a drop of oil come out after 10,000km.

I've got an Allisport intercooler and toying with the idea of taking it out and getting a drain bung thread welded into the bottom of each end tank. That way cleaning could be done by taking out the drain bungs and blowing a mist of solvent through either of the hose spigots with the air compressor.

I went through this exercise with my TFSI engine (Audi engine). What I landed on was this conclusion after reading lots and lots of informed and not so informed options: In a direct injection engine where the fuel is introduced into the cylinder direct (not into the inlet manifold) the crankcase blowback mist in combination with the EGR results in excessive build up of carbon on the valves. Carbon build can reach critical mass in as little as 20,000kms. Once it gets to critical mass it affects top end power, fuel consumption and smoothness of the engine at idle. The older design of fuel injection in the inlet manifold cleans the valves. The consensus of the informed options was that a catch can alone was ineffective. Requiring the EGR to be turned off as well OR the crank case venting to atmosphere (which isn't environmental).

Carbon-Buildup.jpg

Not sure if the Puma is a true direct injection (like a TFSI engine) or injection into the inlet manifold albeit as a one injector to one cylinder design. If the later design, the set up you have is probably as good as its going to be and the diesel will lubricate the valves. If it was me, I would leave your set up as is (assuming you are getting oil in the catch can, knowing its working)

As for Beery's comment that "others have put provents" with no oil in many kms, that is evidence the provent is not doing its job. Something is wrong in the set up.

What a load of cods wallop that last comment is...

The 2.2 has an extremely efficient separation set up and with this renders an external filter redundant. Nothing to do with incorrect set up.

This can not be said for a TD5 etc which are greatly benefited by such a unit.

re 2.2 there you go, you live and learn. When i stop learning its time to turn off the machine and let me become fertiliser for Roses in the garden. I will say that if the Provent is before the factory filtration system I would expect oil separation in the can.

Recently installed a BAS intercooler and BAS silicone hoses and could inspect the OEM hoses for oil coming from PCV hose. The hose running from air box to turbo: had an oil film/-sludge lining downstream of PCV orifice. The hose joining turbo and intercooler - similarly an oily film/-sludge - but seemed of lesser quantity. Intercooler inlet - slight oily film if you rub your finger on the inside. Intercooler outlet - dry, as was the hose running to inlet manifold. Seems as if the oily mist thus would condense in the intercooler and probably stay put - until critical volume is reached and it may enter hose to inlet manifold. But have read somewhere that the pure physical quality of oil may decrease the effectiveness of the intercooler - leaving quantity of oil aside. Vehicle has 25 000km. Think this oil quantity is minuscule compared to total oil volume. But ordered the Provent 200 and will have received it at end of September 2017. Will only be able to report later. (Could not yet master posting photos here unfortunately) (EGR closed via BAS remap and confirmed via UltraGauge reading) (Vehicle is 2.2 Puma)

Hahahaha Trust me chuck a catch can on your pumas. I chucked a HPD catch can on my puma in about 10000km pulled about 150mL of water and probably 10-30mL of oil from it. They're worth it in my humble opinion.

I run a Provent 200 on my 2.2 Puma.
EGR switched off and blanked. BAS 170 remap and larger intercooler etc.
After a 10,000km run to Tassy and back from Cairns, I had approx 20ml of oil in the drain line.
I was pleasantly surprised that there was so little condensed oil after my mods. Also, very little exauhst smoke under load. Barely enough to discern.
Looks like the factory separator design on top of the EGR blank stops most of the excess mist.
That being said, 20ml in the Catch can is better than down my intake manifold.
Ken