**** First of all I would just like to state I know what the PCV system does, what a catch can does, etc. and for those who don't know please use the search button found above just as I have. ****

I'm curious if anyone has tried using a vacuum pump to ventilate the crankcase on a Honda, prefer B-series since that is what I am most familiar with. Since the intake manifold does not provide a vaccuum at WOT I was thinking about installing a catch can w/ a vacuum pump attached. My questions are should I still route ithe air from the pump to the IM or just through a filter, should it be a multistage pump that speeds up with the throttle, and would the vacuum create too much of a drop of my oil pressure?

There are a couple great threads regarding the PCV system on here and I'll admit I knew very little about it up until a few days ago...I knew what it did before but not to the point now that I'm sick of reading about it. I even ventured out into the non-import world and researched crankcase ventilation with the SuperStock & ProStock dragster's.... with the electric pumps some had gains of 40lbs. of torque and 28hp at 7000rpm and it wasn't long until the NHRA started regulating this but I'm not doing this for performance as much as just keeping my engine clean and the atmosphere dirty. I've been told less restriction in the crankcase will enable quicker revs...it makes since, less pressure equals less restriction and better movement of internal parts.

Here's a link to an interesting article...a DIY/How-To tech for a ventilation system using a vacuum pump from GM (the pump was an auxiliary brake booster vacuum source...some 4 cylinder cars had problems providing enough vacuum for the brake booster while at an idle. GM solved this problem by using an electric pump)

http://www.hardtail.com/techtips/vacuum-pumps.html

*EDIT*
Also, what are the advantages/disadvantages of just filtering the valve cover vs. routing to the intake on a N/A engine?

Modified by speedminded at 4:30 AM 8/15/2004


Modified by speedminded at 4:30 AM 8/15/2004

 

I've heard of this, but like everyone else who might have considered trying this on an import, I lost interest because of the high cost of the pump. I know that there are kits that hook your PCV up to your exhaust pipe via a one-way valve, so that the scavenging power of the exhaust does the work of the pump creating a vacuum in the crankcase. Other than chasing that down, I don't think you're going to find anyone in the import scene that can answer your questions.

That being said, you should be able to figure it out by researching the domestic drag cars even further and then applying their setup to yours.

 

Are you having trouble with is as-is? Even at WOT, there's a little vacuum, from the pressure drop thru the filter & intake. Even a little more dP thru a wide-open throttle body.

If you wanna try it cheap, look in a junkyard for a diesel car with cruise control. Lots of them have a vacuum pump to supply vacuum to the cruise diaphragm.

 

you need to control vacuum pull with an adj valve. breathe thru a filter and dont put back into manfold. results speak for themselves.

the crank driven are best but you're a street car and most hondas dont have the room unless full race motor.

i'm starting to use the z10 setup on my racecar, two stage one for oil and other for crankcase. belt driven, no alternator.

greg