Self-Circulating catch can.

here is my design for a Self-Circulating catch can. this was designed with my friends LS1 in mind, but it could work on any engine, including SBC...

the only downside to using this is the loss of your low oil sensor. (or in the case of 3rdgens, tapping a second hole in the oil pan.)

basicly, the air/oil mist is seperated by a stainess steel mesh, much like other catch cans. the diff is, the bottom of this can actually has a one way valve, that allows the oil to drain back into the pan once the engine is off.



im open to comments and suggestions on the idea.. im building the first prototype right now in my spare time.

 

Why bother with the valve?

 

the valve is needed so that oil from the pan isnt sucked back up into the can, and so that when the bottom part going to the pan sees air, the PCV only sucks air from the intended source.

 

I'm still not entirely convinced it's necessary, but I don't feel like devoting the brain cells to explaining why right now. Maybe later tonight.

 

It will keep oil out of the intake air better then the stock breather.

 

If you aren't running a block mounted fuel pump (like most 3rd gens) you could put a fitting in that cover plate and return the oil into the block there. It wouldn't be directly back into the pan but you won't have to modify the pan either. Could be a good compromise and less work.

 

Is it just me or did this thread clone itself?

 

No, it's not just you

 

:shrug:

 

no, i had it cloned. orignally it was in engine/general tech, but i figured the fab guys would be more intrested.... *shrug*

 

Thoughts:
- any chance of stainless mesh/wool getting into the oil pan is a very bad thing
- the stainless crap will end up plugging the check valve and holding it open anyway
- the check valve won’t do anything, pressure in the pan and valve covers will be the same, as will the pressure in the can, check valve or no, and it will never get low enough to pull from the pan unless you hook up the setup to a vacuum pump.
- The level fitting is below the level of the oil in the pan. Oil tends to be somewhat thick and it will never drain right, you need to drain it above the level of the pan
- Why exactly do you want to put the assorted acids, water, carbon crap… back into the oil? There is a damned good reason why racers dump it off into the exhaust and OEM’s that can’t do that try to burn it off. The reason for PVC/Crankcase vent system to exist is to prevent as much of that as possible from going into the oil