Catch Can!

[drbr0b0tnik]

1 week(ish) follow up:
12/15 vehicle mileage 101101, temps high 30s to mid 50s. Can empty.
12/23 vehicle mileage 101394, temps low 40s to mid 50s. Can had 25mL of oil.
This is after I measured. I’ll plan to let it sit a bit and see if it separates at all.

 

[drbr0b0tnik]

*

Pulled the can off today to inspect since I last did it 12/23.


Definitely some milky look in there now. Our weather has been consistent 30/40s overnight with highs in the 70s. I idle A LOT.

I didn’t measure this batch but it looked to be about 25-30mL. I also just last Thursday has a misfire while merging on the freeway, and again today while merging on the freeway, this one leaving the light on. So I need to have to code pulled to see what cylinder misfired. My plugs are just the crappy motocraft, but they are less than 15k old.

Checked the oil dipstick, shows my exactly in the middle of the max/min.

 

[LokiWolf]

Pulled the can off today to inspect since I last did it 12/23.

View attachment 76231View attachment 76232
Definitely some milky look in there now. Our weather has been consistent 30/40s overnight with highs in the 70s. I idle A LOT.

I didn’t measure this batch but it looked to be about 25-30mL. I also just last Thursday has a misfire while merging on the freeway, and again today while merging on the freeway, this one leaving the light on. So I need to have to code pulled to see what cylinder misfired. My plugs are just the crappy motocraft, but they are less than 15k old.

Checked the oil dipstick, shows my exactly in the middle of the max/min.

That one has water in it, and makes sense based on the temps. Still a lot for the time/miles, but if you idle a lot, that makes it make a bit more sense.

Did you set the gap on the Motorcraft plugs before you installed them? In theory they are pregapped from Ford, but in my experince 1 in 6 is right.

 

[drbr0b0tnik]

Did you set the gap on the Motorcraft plugs before you installed them? In theory they are pregapped from Ford, but in my experince 1 in 6 is right.

I did. I had my shims out just to measure the old plugs and then checked all the new ones to make sure they weren’t all janky since that seems to be the norm.

Just had the codes pulled, P0301 cylinder 1 misfire, P0300 random misfire, and P0303 cylinder 3 misfire. I’ll have to pull the plugs tomorrow or Saturday to inspect.

 

[JimR_TN]

I don’t believe it is needed for the V8. I believe it is related to the turbo and ecoboost.

I have run across (on a different forum) talk of catch cans for the 5.4 V8. Has anyone here done that?

The idea seemed to be removing oil from the PCV which made for a cleaner intake manifold. There was even talk of improved MPG.

 

[Timo2824]

I have run across (on a different forum) talk of catch cans for the 5.4 V8. Has anyone here done that?

The idea seemed to be removing oil from the PCV which made for a cleaner intake manifold. There was even talk of improved MPG.

I really doubt that it'll increase mpg, but it would help with the smokey startup after a short run, like after moving the car in the driveway.

 

[Longtalltechsan]

I have a 2017 EB with about 122k miles on it. The weekend before last, I installed the catch can in my engine bay. I checked it this last weekend and was surprised at home much "sludge" was in there after just a week of mostly city driving, maybe 250+/- miles. It looked just like what was in the original post that LokiWolf made. From what I've read, this is way more than I should have after just 200-300 miles. Does anyone have any input? Thanks in advance!

 

[Yupster Dog]

It looked just like what was in the original post that LokiWolf made.

Did you put the sludge in a glass and let it settle so it will seperate? Is usually @LokiWolf 's first question.

 

[Longtalltechsan]

Did you put the sludge in a glass and let it settle so it will seperate? Is usually @LokiWolf 's first question.

I did not. I'll be honest and say I haven't read through this forum post by post. I just kind of hit the highlights. It was the tan color though and did have some thicker sludge type crap at the bottom.

 

[OneTonWonton]

Read about 3 pages right from the beginning and ordered a J&L separator for my '17 Expy which I purchased a few weeks ago (84k mi). Does the ol Italian tune-up work with this engine though? Figured I should do whatever I can to get as much longevity out of this vehicle as I can. Also have a set of Ruthenium plugs ready to install too.

 

[chuck s]

Can't hurt. My 30,000 mile 2017 showed a check engine light last Spring that my basic OBD2 reader indicated was a bad catalytic converter. Back ordered at the dealer and resetting the light just made it re-appear until I did the infamous Italian tune-up and it stayed off. I'd never hammered this SUV that hard and the acceleration rate was impressive and almost scary. Cat has been replaced (still under emissions warranty) and no CELs since.

Weather is nice today so I guess I should empty my catch can. I put the extension on the bottom although it's never super full.

-- Chuck

 

[LokiWolf]

Read about 3 pages right from the beginning and ordered a J&L separator for my '17 Expy which I purchased a few weeks ago (84k mi). Does the ol Italian tune-up work with this engine though? Figured I should do whatever I can to get as much longevity out of this vehicle as I can. Also have a set of Ruthenium plugs ready to install too.

Yes, a hard run regularly does help! Never an issue with any vehicle I own!

As far as the plugs, what part number did you get? Also, the gap is VERY important.

 

[OneTonWonton]

Yes, a hard run regularly does help! Never an issue with any vehicle I own!

As far as the plugs, what part number did you get? Also, the gap is VERY important.

Thanks for the confirmation (and all your other tips and suggestions across this forum).

90495. I saw your post elsewhere to get one step colder but I just went with the one RockAuto had listed. Will make sure to gap properly.

 

[LokiWolf]

Thanks for the confirmation (and all your other tips and suggestions across this forum).

90495. I saw your post elsewhere to get one step colder but I just went with the one RockAuto had listed. Will make sure to gap properly.

Welcome!

Atleast you got the right gapped one! They should be .031 out of the box, and as long as you aren't planning on tuning, that gap should work good. Yes, they are heat range 6. The ones I recommend are 95605, which are heat range 7(1 step cooler), but what you ordered will work fine.

 

[OneTonWonton]

Welcome!

Atleast you got the right gapped one! They should be .031 out of the box, and as long as you aren't planning on tuning, that gap should work good. Yes, they are heat range 6. The ones I recommend are 95605, which are heat range 7(1 step cooler), but what you ordered will work fine.

No, I have no intentions of tuning. It's already got enough engine performance for my needs. More interested in maintenance and reliability tips. If anything, I may consider beefing up my brakes and suspension but I'll cross that bridge when it's more of a need than a want. The Power Stop z36 kit is next on my list since I do pull a big-ish popup camper in summer.

 

[Gregg Eshelman]

I have said it too many times....a catch can will benefit any engine with a PCV system. Why put crankcase by products back into the intake system? Why dilute the fresh air and fuel charge in the cylinder with crap?

It wouldn't be a problem if the people who design engines would have the PCV vent into a wet part of the intake. But for some reason they love to dump it in upstream of or just downstream from throttle bodies so it gunks up the throttle body and all inside the intake and the Idle Air Control passage and valve.

The only vehicle I've had with a factory installed PCV oil separator was a 1994 Oldsmobile Acheiva with SOHC 4 cylinder. It drained back to the crankcase but the open cell piece of plastic that looked like a scrubber pad would quickly get overwhelmed and it let lots of blowby oil vapor go to the intake.

 

[OrlandoExpyOwner]

Thanks for all the great information!

I just placed an order for a J&L (JLT) Oil Separator 3.0 for our 2016 with 103k miles. I’m not really a car guy, but the installation looks pretty simple. I actually just replaced the plugs and coils over the weekend. So I’m learning.

My question now is, should I put a weep hole in the intercooler?

 

[LokiWolf]

Thanks for all the great information!

I just placed an order for a J&L (JLT) Oil Separator 3.0 for our 2016 with 103k miles. I’m not really a car guy, but the installation looks pretty simple. I actually just replaced the plugs and coils over the weekend. So I’m learning.

My question now is, should I put a weep hole in the intercooler?

No, not unless you are having issues. Any symptoms or weird behavior?

 

[Timo2824]

Thanks for all the great information!

I just placed an order for a J&L (JLT) Oil Separator 3.0 for our 2016 with 103k miles. I’m not really a car guy, but the installation looks pretty simple. I actually just replaced the plugs and coils over the weekend. So I’m learning.

My question now is, should I put a weep hole in the intercooler?

I've put one in everyone of my Ecoboosts, you'd be surprised what drains out of it some days! I've not done a catch can or had issues with carbon buildup, but I run mine hard and tow regularly. If you do the weep hole expect an occasional spot on your garage floor. Usually only happens if you run it hard right before parking. If you drive normally for a bit after then it doesn't leave any spots.

 

[OrlandoExpyOwner]

No, not unless you are having issues. Any symptoms or weird behavior?

Loki,

Thanks for the reply. No symptoms that I can tell. Again, I’m not really a car guy. But pretty much since we purchased it new, we occasionally get some water vapor looking exhaust, especially when aggressively accelerating. My thought was that it was condensation or oil from the turbo. I was hoping a weep hole might eliminate this. Any thoughts?