Catch cans / air oil separators (1 Viewer)

[pribilof]

I searched and couldn't find any related posts on this... Has anyone explored adding a catch can / air oil separator to the LC200 platform yet? Granted, my experience with them is in boosted applications but I pull a significant quantity of blow by oil out of my can when I drain them (every 4th gas fillup). This is nasty oil / fuel / moisture that usually goes back to the intake. The Tundra guys are getting a fair amount of blow by out of these things even in N/A applications.

No experience with this company, but they make one for the Tundra 5.7 that can probably be adapted to the LC200 platform.
Tundra Catch Can Kit, 2007+

 

[HRTROB]

I have a Radium universal catch can but mine is a diesel. I initially bought the Competition tall catch can but there was no space for it especially with dual batteries. Luckily it fit in my HDJ80 so I ended up swapping the catch cans.

 

[ckkone]

No experience, but that would take up the real estate for a 2nd battery.

 

[TeCKis300]

I've built and tuned my fair share of turbo cars including the 2JZ-GTE and Metzger engines. Generally catch cans are in search of a problem that's not there. And creates issues onto itself.

There's not a problem with the engine re-ingesting blow-by. It's just another hydrocarbon among many involved in the combustion process. Unless it's a lot of blow-by, for which then the catch can is a band-aid for the real problem which could be worn piston rings or seals.

Be aware, that having a catch can means another maintenance item. Something you want to make sure is emptied on a regularly basis. If you don't empty it, it might just empty itself...perhaps onto a hot header and light the car on fire. I'm not making that up either as it's happened.

 

[HRTROB]

I've built and tuned my fair share of turbo cars including the 2JZ-GTE and Metzger engines. Generally catch cans are in search of a problem that's not there. And creates issues onto itself.

There's not a problem with the engine re-ingesting blow-by. It's just another hydrocarbon among many involved in the combustion process. Unless it's a lot of blow-by, for which then the catch can is a band-aid for the real problem which could be worn piston rings or seals.

Be aware, that having a catch can means another maintenance item. Something you want to make sure is emptied on a regularly basis. If you don't empty it, it might just empty itself...perhaps onto a hot header and light the car on fire. I'm not making that up either as it's happened.

In my opinion catch cans are a must especially on a forced induction car, gasoline or diesel. I've seen intercoolers and EGR valves dripping with oil. The turbo on my 1HDT 80 series was coated with oil and after the catch can was installed, has been dry for the past 25,000km. My FI'D Toyota 86 fills the catch can to half after a track day and that engine only has 10,000km so it's not worn out either.

I agree with the maintenance part, you have to regularly drain it and that's probably why most manufacturers don't fit them from the factory - extra cost and complexity. Some makes like BMW do use air/oil separators but instead of filling a can, they route the oil back to the engine.

The extra initial cost and regular maintenance is all worth if you plan to keep the car indefinitely.

 

[TeCKis300]

In my opinion catch cans are a must especially on a forced induction car, gasoline or diesel. I've seen intercoolers and EGR valves dripping with oil. The turbo on my 1HDT 80 series was coated with oil and after the catch can was installed, has been dry for the past 25,000km. My FI'D Toyota 86 fills the catch can to half after a track day and that engine only has 10,000km so it's not worn out either.

I agree with the maintenance part, you have to regularly drain it and that's probably why most manufacturers don't fit them from the factory - extra cost and complexity. Some makes like BMW do use air/oil separators but instead of filling a can, they route the oil back to the engine.

The extra initial cost and regular maintenance is all worth if you plan to keep the car indefinitely.

I'll agree that race cars need catch cans. Not street cars IMO. Race cars run looser clearances, especially at critical seals such as the piston ring. A race spec motor running around on the street never gets to full race temp, and full expansion/sealing, hence more blow by.

Street motors, especially modern motors, don't have this problem. The Mezger motor in my Porsche 911 Turbo, a close derivative of the GT1 Le Mans motor is arguably closer to a race car motor than any available on the street. No catch can necessary.

The 5.7L is neither forced induction nor a race motor. Toyota has validated it to practically run a lifetime without further mods.

 

[pribilof]

As I said, I'm used to using these in FI applications. I run 16lbs of boost and have a can for each side of my V8. Those collect quite a bit of gunk that I definitely don't want coating my engine, supercharger, throttle body, intercooler, or even entering the combustion chamber to mess with my AFR. Do you think an oil soaked intercooler is as effective as a clean one? Possibly overkill for NA but some of the Tundra boards have guys that use them on NA 5.7s and they have reported collecting gunk in theirs.

I agree that this is an extra 2 minute maintenance item every few thousand miles. Doesn't seem like having a can could possibly hurt. As far as race cars go... I don't know anyone that wants oil / water / leftover hydrocarbons, or anything else mixing with their air and race fuel... I don't even want that junk routing back to the oil pan like BMW does it.

 

[bjowett]

I will be running this pictured unit on my BJ73, which is receiving a built 15B-FT. If the 200 receives the TVS Supercharger (collecting dust on the shelf right now) it will definetly see one... suppose it couldn't hurt to test it out while it is normally aspirated. This is a Japanese OEM unit, and is very well designed.

 

[Riaz]

Oil catch can seems a very good idea but need advice from more experienced guys .