Posted: 2/7/2017 10:34:13 PM EDT
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So I have a 2012 F150 with an ecoboost and I have read numerous threads online about catch cans and their supposed benefits. Guys do get some serious gunk buildup in them that is not ingested by the motor. There is no denying that. I am on the fence if they are worth it or not they are necessary though. Some guys say yes, others say the motor will burn that gunk with no issues.
My truck currently has 34k on the odo. I average 5-8k miles a year. I plan on keeping it for at least 5 more years. Looks like the catch can is around 300$. Is it worth investing in or should I save the money? |
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Non-expert, non-mechanic opinion, but having hung around some supra sites since getting my car and absorbing info over the years it sounds like a good idea, especially if your engine is a direct injection motor.
The price sounds kind of high though. Most are pretty cheap. |
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My Tahoe definitely needs a can.
Probably fab something light weight, from a quart size metal paint can, or similar with some metal screen, mesh and a couple hose barbs. You asked if a catch can is ' worth the money ' ? The question SHOULD be: How much more spark advance will my engine tolerate WITH a catch can ? If you will not gain horsepower, than the can is purely cosmetic. |
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From everything that I have read about the earlier ecoboost engines they can be beneficial, since there is no fuel flowing past the BACK side of the valves BUT there is all the crud from the PCV system, which can lead to coked and choked valves from what I have read.
With the 17's (3.5) and 18's (2.7) they have gone to a combined port and direct injection system which is supposed to eliminate the "need" for a catch can system. They also adjusted the intercoolers to avoid condensation etc that can lead to spark blow out if its sucked the cylinder. I have a 17 3.5EB and as of now will NOT be putting a catch can system in as it does not look like it is needed. I did have one on my 2014 Ram 5.7 and never had issues with dirty intake or fuel system and never had to clean anything in the intake/fuel delivery while I had the truck. J- |
| I have a 2012 EB as well and debated putting on a catch can for months after I purchased it. I never decided to buy one in the end. Part of the reason was I took apart the intercooler to find there was no build up of sludge or fluid like many with a catch can complained about having. It also seemed risky drilling into the inlet pipe. I eventually drilled a weep hole in my intercooler and have never had any fluid come out of there. So idk, check out your truck and see what some of the internals look like first. |
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Just to add a little more to this. I am aware of the design change on the 17 ecoboosts and the fuel injectors added pre valve to aid in washing them down. To me that proves ford recognized there was a problem there with buildup. I have also added the weep hole in my intercooler which does produce small amounts of oil seepage.
The can I am looking at is this one: http://www.stage3motorsports.com/MI1028-7-2011-2014-F150-3-5L-EcoBoost-McNally-RX-Dual-Valve-Oil-Separator-CSS.html . Reading the forums guys have gone with this one quite a bit. I know there is cheaper out there but If I recall this one has one way valves that stop backflow. If there is a cheaper option I am all ears. What about my current mileage, am I too late? |
 The Biggest Problem with Ford's Ecoboost Engine & How to Fix It: RX Catch Can Installation And once this guy got on board, I got interested. Super smart guy that I've dealt with personally. |
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I found a bunch of cans on ebay but I really don't know what I'm looking at. Just got a Moroso for my 2013 LSA ZL1. Cheap investment to keep gunk from cycling back through the supercharger on these platforms. I got mine used for a fraction of the new price. 
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I had a guy offer me a new RX can that was never installed. Sold the truck before he got around to it. 200$ getting down closer to my range. Nice, you need to jump on that if you are looking for a quality can. One thing you need to worry about and watch (with any can) is the lines freezing up and the drain freezing, making you think there is nothing in it but it being full. There is a guy over on the F150 Ecoboost forum who is having issues from some frozen lines that allowed some shit to get sucked out of the can into the intake. Doesn't look like anything permanent but hes been dealing with issues for several weeks now (smoke, rough running, low power etc). J- |
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Nice, you need to jump on that if you are looking for a quality can. One thing you need to worry about and watch (with any can) is the lines freezing up and the drain freezing, making you think there is nothing in it but it being full. There is a guy over on the F150 Ecoboost forum who is having issues from some frozen lines that allowed some shit to get sucked out of the can into the intake. Doesn't look like anything permanent but hes been dealing with issues for several weeks now (smoke, rough running, low power etc). J- I was concerned about that. We see temps drop into the negatives often up here. Wouldn't the double valves control backfeed? |
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I was concerned about that. We see temps drop into the negatives often up here. Wouldn't the double valves control backfeed? I would have thought too, but maybe there was a frozen valve too. I'll try to find the thread in that forum and link it here (if that is allowed). J- |
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Would like to have some mechanics chime in on this thread for more info. Have had multiple people here tell me if I get a newer Silverado or Tahoe that I should install one. I haven't put one in my 01 suburban yet, but I plan on it. They suck a ton of oil out through the pcv system. I had my intake manifold off and standing on the throttle body on my bench and it made a puddle of oil under it while it sat there. That much oil vapor getting burnt is supposed to be bad for the cats. I want to find a way for the catch can to drain back into the crank case so I don't have to worry about my wife forgetting to empty it. My guess is that it's going to fill up pretty quickly. A quart of oil disappears halfway between oil changes, I'm guessing this is where it's going. |
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I had an Elite Engineering can on my LS1 GTO, and it would catch at least 2oz every 5k miles.
I will most likely get one for my 302, as it spends most of its time at higher RPM. Definitely getting one for the passenger side, but I may do the driver side as well. |
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Depends on if it's a well built catch can or a piece of pretty over priced shit.
Check out DSMtuners.com calan catch cans. There not just baffled but have a special filter that allows air to pass but catches the oil vapor. They will keep the oil vapor from the crank case from being sucked back into the intake/turbo compressor etc. Personally I delete EGR shit too, to keep the exhaust from passing back though the intake manifold making it dirty as shit over time. Problem is on newer vehicles it often sets off self diagnostic crap as there is often a delta pressure sensor or something of that sort to monitor the EGR system. If the ECU code has been cracked in those things yet, there may be a way to delete the system and tell the ECU to ignore the code/sensor etc. |
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I put a speedlogix catch can on my '14 Charger R/T 5.7L and its well worth it.
Similar to this one: Catch Can |
| Well I forgot to take pics but the install went fairly well. I followed the video and installed it the same way. I ended up running some errands around town and when I got home I opened the drain to see if there was anything inside. Sure as shit there was. About a tablespoon or two of a watery oilily mix. Stunk pretty bad. |
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yes they are a good thing.. I had one on my 05 Tahoe after I got tired of fixing the knock sensors, after putting it in I never had another issue with them and the air intake manifold was a lot cleaner and dryer after also. Now its on my 10 tahoe.
I drain it at every oil change. Not sure what amount I'll have in the 10 but on the 05 it was between 1/4-1/2 a cup depending... |
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Well I bought one. I am curious to see how much crud it catches. Ill post pics when I get it in, and installed. What you plan for the crankcase intake air side , just open hose, or inline fuel filter.... or just leave it as connected to stock air intake tube ? |
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You put the catch can inline with the PCV to manifold (Vacuum) side? What you plan for the crankcase intake air side , just open hose, or inline fuel filter.... or just leave it as connected to stock air intake tube ? I followed the video I posted above. |