Oil Separator, possible cause and consecuence

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About a week ago I installed this Jeg oil separator in my 1997 FZJ80 and today I went to check and I was surprised to see how much Oil there was....

Please see the picture...

So my question is... Is this a normal amount? If it is no normal, what is the possible cause and what effect could this have on the engine...

Any help and comment would be appreciated....


Frank
IMG-20130201-00063.webp
 
I have the same Jegs unit and that looks about what I get in mine. I'm always surprised how much there is in there but then I'm also grateful it isn't landing up in the intake !!!

Keep on driving...
 
That's nothing. I can almost fill my DIY Lowe's version on a long road trip :)
 
Normal
 
Seems like a lot for a week. I get about that much in mine in about 3000-5000 miles.
 
Keep it, dump the oil at about half full....or whenever it starts to bug you. Don't overthink it....it's a damn oil seperator !!! Remember, you are way ahead just having one vs not.
 
I have the same setup and get that amount immediately, but then stays the same over time. I don't think it's anything to worry about.
 
I have the same setup and get that amount immediately, but then stays the same over time. I don't think it's anything to worry about.

Maybe the filter is clogged and its just bypassing the filter?:hhmm: It looked possible with mine so I dropped the filter and stuffed the bowl with a copper scub pad:hillbilly::wrench:
 
I dropped the filter and stuffed the bowl with a copper scub pad:hillbilly::wrench:

I think this would be more effective than a filter.

The goal here is not to filter oil, but remove suspended oil particles from the gas stream. Introducing something with lots of surface area to allow these oil particles to collect on, clump together, and then be too heavy or have too high of a surface tension to re-enter the gas stream is the objective.
 
I think this would be more effective than a filter.

The goal here is not to filter oil, but remove suspended oil particles from the gas stream. Introducing something with lots of surface area to allow these oil particles to collect on, clump together, and then be too heavy or have too high of a surface tension to re-enter the gas stream is the objective.

that's sort of what the filter thing is. it's just possibly too dense.

but has it been a real problem yet?

I mean they basically filled a mold with brass beads and applied heat until they were stuck together. I Think oil will continue to run together and flow out of it.
 
Mine fills up faster with short trips. Got that much in a week with a 2 mile commute each way. Was a little worried. Then took a weeked trip of about 400 miles and didnt get much more. Seems to gather more when engine is warming up.
 
This is all speculation, but I think the included filter may be too fine for this application. It seems the filter would get clogged easily, then prevent flow and possibly open an internal bypass, defeating the whole purpose of the catch can. Also, not sure what effect a restriction would have on the PCV system. The copper mesh would have a zero restriction and still separate the oil.
 
Maybe the filter is clogged and its just bypassing the filter?:hhmm: It looked possible with mine so I dropped the filter and stuffed the bowl with a copper scub pad:hillbilly::wrench:

The catch can on my 1HDT got clogged up and caused the engine to die after running for a couple of minutes. It would run and then quickly lose power until no amount of skinny pedal would keep it running. Cranked but would not catch. After about 15 minutes, it would run again, for a couple of minutes. This happened after work one very cold dark evening. It took me quite a while to figure out what was happening under the hood in the dark and -30°C. I was just about to give up when I heard air at the filter. I pulled the bowl to a rush of air and all was well after. The can wasn't full, just the filter was clogged. I use steel wool now.
 
The catch can on my 1HDT got clogged up and caused the engine to die after running for a couple of minutes. It would run and then quickly lose power until no amount of skinny pedal would keep it running. Cranked but would not catch. After about 15 minutes, it would run again, for a couple of minutes. This happened after work one very cold dark evening. It took me quite a while to figure out what was happening under the hood in the dark and -30°C. I was just about to give up when I heard air at the filter. I pulled the bowl to a rush of air and all was well after. The can wasn't full, just the filter was clogged. I use steel wool now.

Thanks for the confirmation:cool:
I went with copper to avoid the chance of rust from moisture:meh:
 
Has anyone tried running two separators back to back?

If you're using the hardware store separators, with the included 5u sintered bronze filter, that might be too much back pressure.

Also, any issues with oil getting sucked out on extreme incline angles?

Well, you'll know when it happens, because you'll see a big cloud in your rear view mirror.

Good argument for a bigger can, though.

I've been considering this ebay model:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/400385738180

I'm sure it's just an empty can like all the other ebay cheapies, but the mouth when you take the cap off is supposedly 7/8", which means it's big enough to stuff full of metallic scouring pads.

I've also wondered if a length of brass piano hinge could be used as a baffle. Insert folded and unfold. Would make it trickier to fill with scouring pads though.

There are two other promising ebay catch cans under $30 -- cans that are held together with screws so you can open them up and install baffling -- but they have both ports on one side so it would be an awkward fit on the 1fz without some elbow joints.

like this one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/190761079076

I'm using one of these to install a catch can in my GTI, which with the FSI 2.0T engine is far more involved and started with a $90 milled aluminum plate that replaces the factory PCV system with a set of fittings.
 
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