Driver Side Catch Can - Tell me what you know

[MHay]

I’ll start out by admitting that I’m still new to the EcoBoost world. I’ve been researching catch cans and see passenger side catch cans as the primary option for the 3.5. It seemed odd to me that there’d be a mod for one side of an engine and not the other so I dug a bit deeper and found that since the PCR system is one way, the passenger side is where blowby occurs and can be captured. Then I stumbled across some more info that indicated that when the engine is under boost, the driver side is actually the side where blowby would occur. I’ll be using my Expedition to tow a lot which means it’ll be under boost for those trips and I’d like to capture as much blowby as possible.

Can anyone confirm that a driver side catch can is relevant for catching blowby under boost? Is anyone running a dual can system, and if so can you confirm whether or not you’re seeing anything in the driver side can after a few thousand miles?

 

[LokiWolf]

I’ll start out by admitting that I’m still new to the EcoBoost world. I’ve been researching catch cans and see passenger side catch cans as the primary option for the 3.5. It seemed odd to me that there’d be a mod for one side of an engine and not the other so I dug a bit deeper and found that since the PCR system is one way, the passenger side is where blowby occurs and can be captured. Then I stumbled across some more info that indicated that when the engine is under boost, the driver side is actually the side where blowby would occur. I’ll be using my Expedition to tow a lot which means it’ll be under boost for those trips and I’d like to capture as much blowby as possible.

Can anyone confirm that a driver side catch can is relevant for catching blowby under boost? Is anyone running a dual can system, and if so can you confirm whether or not you’re seeing anything in the driver side can after a few thousand miles?

A passenger side only kit like the JLT will catch 80-95% of the blow by. Some of the more involved kits that collect both sides, are both much more of a pain to install, and almost 3 times the cost.

The 4th Gen expeditions have the 2nd Gen 3.5, and because of that have the added benefit of also have port fuel injectors...in addition to the direct injectors. The port fuel injection has the added benefit of “washing” the intake ports. So build up is less of an issue.

Basically, get the JLT setup, save some money, and it takes about 30 minutes to install once you figure out where it is all going to.

Hope that helps.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[MHay]

A passenger side only kit like the JLT will catch 80-95% of the blow by. Some of the more involved kits that collect both sides, are both much more of a pain to install, and almost 3 times the cost.

The 4th Gen expeditions have the 2nd Gen 3.5, and because of that have the added benefit of also have port fuel injectors...in addition to the direct injectors. The port fuel injection had the added benefit of “washing” the intake ports. So build up is less of an issue.

Basically, get the JLT setup, save some money, and it takes about 30 minutes to install once you figure out where it is all going to.

Hope that helps.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

Thanks for getting straight to the point. I’m not looking to spend a ton of money and definitely don’t need to be messing with a complex install for minimal benefits.

 

[5280tunage]

I completely second Lokiwolfs recommendation. I installed the JLT can a couple months ago, was super simple and looks clean as can be.

 

[Tony Gliszczynski]

Where do you get the JLT kit?

 

[MHay]

Where do you get the JLT kit?

I ordered one over the weekend. Got it from Lethal Performance. Free shipping and no tax.

 

[LokiWolf]

Where do you get the JLT kit?

From JLT directly...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[lbv150]

Mostly on engines the driver side is the clean air intake from the air cleaner to the valve cover, the other bank is the PCV suction side where you need the can to keep the oil vapor from getting into the intake system. I have a JLT on my '16 it works very well, need to check it often. About 5-600 miles in winter as it catches water vapor too. About 1500 miles in summer months for oil vapor.

 

[lefty hack]

I’m not familiar with Catch cans. I’ve read a bit since seeing you guys talk about them, will this prevent the need to clean the engine every 20000 miles?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[LokiWolf]

I’m not familiar with Catch cans. I’ve read a bit since seeing you guys talk about them, will this prevent the need to clean the engine every 20000 miles?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The 4th Gen Expedition’s have the 2nd Gen 3.5, that has both Direct and Port Injection. So it has less issues with intake Valve deposits.

Still a good Catch can is highly recommended.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[lefty hack]

The 4th Gen Expedition’s have the 2nd Gen 3.5, that has both Direct and Port Injection. So it has less issues with intake Valve deposits.

Still a good Catch can is highly recommended.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Thanks, and I understand they need to be emptied... is it a regular interval or just check it and learn my normal internal? Thanks again


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[LokiWolf]

Thanks, and I understand they need to be emptied... is it a regular interval or just check it and learn my normal internal? Thanks again


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Learn your normal. With the JLT kit it will be more in winter because of condensation.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Dice Roll]

I’ve dragged my feet on gettin one. Am I remembering right some guys had better luck with a special bracket maybe from an f150 kit that mounts it to the battery tray? Seems you had to call and ask for it extra or something like that.

 

[joethefordguy]

how much will these extend engine life?
properly taken care of, for example, fleet managers (I've read here) report near half million mile lifespans for the 5.4. will a catch can get me to a million? or what?

 

[LokiWolf]

how much will these extend engine life?
properly taken care of, for example, fleet managers (I've read here) report near half million mile lifespans for the 5.4. will a catch can get me to a million? or what?

5.4 isn’t direct injection...will it benefit from a catch can...yes. But not nearly as much as a turbo charged motor with mostly DI.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[LokiWolf]

I’ve dragged my feet on gettin one. Am I remembering right some guys had better luck with a special bracket maybe from an f150 kit that mounts it to the battery tray? Seems you had to call and ask for it extra or something like that.

The new kits for the 18+ come with the new bracket. Mine did.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Fizzy]

Is there a warranty concern installing this? If something else fails, and I take my Expy in for a warranty repair and they see the installed catch-can, is there a risk they'll claim it's a modification and deny warranty?

 

[LokiWolf]

Is there a warranty concern installing this? If something else fails, and I take my Expy in for a warranty repair and they see the installed catch-can, is there a risk they'll claim it's a modification and deny warranty?

Always a risk. They have to prove it is the cause though.

No smart mechanic in his right mind would say a catch can is bad. If he does, you need to go elsewhere.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Fizzy]

Always a risk. They have to prove it is the cause though.

No smart mechanic in his right mind would say a catch can is bad. If he does, you need to go elsewhere.

In my experience, even the smart mechanics who end up working for dealerships, have their hand forced to void out-of-pocket warranty work whenever possible.

Still - I guess in almost any scenario I can imagine, I would have time to remove the catch-can before taking it in for any major warranty work.

 

[joethefordguy]

5.4 isn’t direct injection...will it benefit from a catch can...yes. But not nearly as much as a turbo charged motor with mostly DI.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

You did not answer the question. Is there a quantifiable benefit?