What is the purpose of the oil catch can? Is it more for engine protection or performance? And does it help prevent oil surging under extreme cornering?

 

searches are fun!


here's some topuics...plenty more when u search for "catch can" in the archived topics

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=87497
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=80734

here's someones DIY catch can
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=78137

 

So what happens to the oil thats collected in the catch can? Is it rerouted somewhere or do you have to empty it? And does it help prevent oil surging? Last track day I went to I was blowing smoke on the same corner, probably because of oil surging. My oil level was at the second notch. I want to prevent this from happening before the next track day.

 

You have to empty it out every couple of weeks, or whenever you want

 

to catch oil.....

 

So yeah will this prevent oil surging in any way? Or help protect the engine in case I overfill?

 

The answer to your two questions: NO and NO.

The purpose of the oil catch can is to seperate oil vapors (or oil droplets) from the BLOW-BY GASES. In stock form the blow-by gases (and oil vapors) are recirculated back into the intake manifold for emission purposes. The draw back to this setup is that the oil vapors gunk up the inside of the intake manifold and it can also lower the detonation point which can lead to decreased performance.

By adding a oil catch can, you will seperate the oil vapors from the blow-by gases and prevent them from being recirculated into the intake manifold.

FWIW, I typically empty my oil catch can every oil change.

Here is a diagram from the Helms manual which shows how the blow-by gases are recirculated back into the intake manifold.



Also, here is a link to a very good diagram on how the oil catch can works: http://www.theoldone.com/sc/type-r/C...an_Diagram.jpg

 

That explains the catch can purpose, however, with a stock R is this needed? I was under the impression that an oil catch can is a good idea for FI applications...
Is that Right / Wrong? Is it a good idea to install a catch can on a stock motor... is so what unit do you recommend?

 

A oil catch can will be most beneficial on a forced induction (FI) engine, but it can also be beneficial on a normal aspirated (NA) engine.


I have a oil catch can installed on my stock motor GS-R which I drive on the track and my oil catch can does collect oil. The first time that I emptied my oil catch can, which was after about 2,000 miles of street driving and 1 track event (3 hours of track time), I emptied about 1/4 cup of oil from the catch can. The second time that I emptied it (3000 miles of street driving and 1 track event (4 hours of track time)), I emptied about 2/3 cup of oil. The third time that I emptied the oil catch can (3,000 miles of street driving), I emptied <1/4 of oil. So in my opinion, I feel that it is beneficial on a stock motor.

I would recommend using an oil catch can which has baffling inside. If the oil catch can does not contain baffling it will not be able to seperate the oil vapors sufficiently from the blow-by.

I made my own oil catch using a Moroso catch can. You can go to my webpage at http://www.geocities.com/bretq/DIY_O...tructions.html for further information.


[Modified by BSQ, 8:47 AM 12/28/2001]

 

Some catch-cans can feed the collected oil back into the block, so you don't have to empty it. The catch-can must be mounted higher than the return into the block because it uses gravity to drain. I'm not sure exactly where to run the drain to on the block, but there was a post about it a week or so ago.

-Floyd

 

that;s cool, but i think esp if ppl are making their own, since its not too hard...i'd rather just throw the oil away and top it off with the spare quart i carry around...no need to make the construction of the can so complicated, but that's just me