Decided to empty my custom catch can today, why in the hell was there so much water in it? I noticed a little more white goo under my oil cap which, I noticed this before but it went away once I removed my catch can for a couple weeks. Its not a head gasket issue, I've already determined that. This is really odd. We've had temperature fluctuations between, 10F and 40F the last two weeks if that matters.

Ideas? I have two fittings running to the PCV and head breather with a filter on top. Its not a recirculating setup.

 

Looks like you have disabled the PCV and fresh air breather. Unless the engine is highly modified, this change to the breather setup is actually not helping, and more likely harming engine performance.

A misconception is that the PCV system is only for emissions, not true.
Although it does remove blow-by gases and re-burns them, the vacuum of the system also helps stabilize rings, prevents pressurization of the crankcase, and helps prevent oil leaks. This circulation of fresh air also prevents the build up of explosive gases, water vapor, sludge in the crankcase and prolongs oil life.

Currently your catch can is catching air.

All that water is simply from condensation, probably most of it is just forming on the inside of the catch can itself.

I would advise you hook up your PCV system to the way it was.

If there are signs of oil being ingested via the PCV valve, then you need to make sure that the PCV valve is working correctly, if it is, then it would be best to add a simple filter or oil separator between the PCV valve and intake manifold.

You could modify your current catch can to work, but the air filter would need to be blocked off. Simply hook the PCV valve to the lower port, and the intake manifold line to the upper port. Seal off the filter to allow for the system to be closed allowing vacuum to be created and draw air through the crankcase.

 

I had it hooked up this way before, I had several people tell me to run it independently from the intake manifold to keep things simple. I've seen plenty people run catch cans without the vacuum assisted system. How do those work?

 

Simple yes, effective no.

If you see it on a stock or street car, that's a ricer doing it.
If you see it on a car at the track, that's done since the car is normally at WOT, there is no vacuum inside the intake manifold. These non stock race cars usually have some form of scavenging system hooked up to the exhaust to pull pressure out of the crank case in addition to the catch can system up top. Fresh air can then be pulled in through the breather on your catch can.

Currently the way you have the catch can setup, you are more likely to blow out a front or rear main seal on a street car.

 

Ok I gotcha. This car is my daily, but I will be bringing it to the track this summer on the community days. I'll go and plumb it up the correct way tomorrow, I may or may not just simply not use it. I know a few people who may want it locally. Thanks