Catch can idea

[MrSonic]

Any thoughts on this?

1) Buy cheap catch can with nothing in it.
2) Fill with Steal wool and a long pipe.

Steel wool won't melt/catch under the heat from the engine/oil?

How To: Another DIY Catch Can mod - Dual, with baffles and extended inlet tube - evolutionm.net

 

[rdss]

Here's a how to on it. http://www.sonicownersforum.com/for...ing-oil-catch-can-accessing-your-tophats.html

You can really use just about any catch can that will sit in that area.

 

[Llia]

VIDEO: Unmounted Catch Can in Operation

I think the square one has a lot of potential. But it does require a lot of extra work. At least now I'll know if my PCV valve has failed.

 

[sw2low]

What would be the purpose of the steel wool??

 

[Llia]

What would be the purpose of the steel wool??

Mesh filter Just adds surface area to help trap oil

 

[shibbs]

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XKCSHSL

Get this. I just picked one up. It's really good quality - but don't use the included hose.
I screwed the little internal thing apart and threw in a piece of a stainless steel chore-boy pad.

EDIT: Don't use the filter - that'll throw a CEL.

 

[Llia]

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EDIT: Don't use the filter - that'll throw a CEL.

Yup any opening to atmosphere creates a vacuum leak.

Did yours come with larger fittings. 3/8" ID Hose Fittings --- 10mm?

Stock has a 1/2" ID (Inner Diameter) Hose fittings --- 13mm

I drilled mine out to use 3/4" ID Hose fittings --- 19 mm
I only used that size because it fit over the PCV port on the manifold that goes to the turbo. Otherwise I would have used 5/8" ID Hose fittings --- 16 mm

 

[shibbs]

Yup any opening to atmosphere creates a vacuum leak.

Did yours come with larger fittings. 3/8" ID Hose Fittings --- 10mm?

Stock has a 1/2" ID (Inner Diameter) Hose fittings --- 13mm

I drilled mine out to use 3/4" ID Hose fittings --- 19 mm
I only used that size because it fit over the PCV port on the manifold that goes to the turbo. Otherwise I would have used 5/8" ID Hose fittings --- 16 mm

I've got the same can in my Camaro, and I used the larger 13mm fittings that came with it.
I haven't installed it in my Sonic yet, as the car just got built a few days ago. lol It's in shipping status. I've got an addiction - already got a good many parts for it, and I don't even have it yet. Any day now, though!

 

[Llia]

So I put it in. Need to work out a permanentcmounting solution. Also concerned the hoses will crack once they become brittle. So perhaps it's better the catch can is loosely mounted.

 

[shibbs]

So I put it in. Need to work out a permanentcmounting solution. Also concerned the hoses will crack once they become brittle. So perhaps it's better the catch can is loosely mounted.

Run silicone hose. It'll outlast the rest of the car.

 

[Llia]

Run silicone hose. It'll outlast the rest of the car.

Yeah. I'm thinking I will buy the bulk. Getting the short precut hoses costs almost as much.

 

[Blue Moon Sonic]

Anyone ever think about running to their local home depot and picking up a Husky compressor filter as a oil/air separator? Just need some JB weld to fill in the drain valve at the bottom and It's leak free. Just be careful to not break the container when you try opening it up for the first time and don't crank it super tight when you put the bowl back into place.

I'm running a similar setup like this on another vehicle of mine and It works surprisingly well. I'll be picking up another one for the sonic at some point once the Cruze PCV fix is done. Best part is these can be had for under 40 bucks with the correct fittings. I apologize for a non sonic engine bay photo as a representation Here.

 

[TurtleOverlord]

Run silicone hose. It'll outlast the rest of the car.

I thought silicone hose wasn't compatible with oil.

I was running transmission oil hose when I was trying out my can...
but it half collapsed under vacuum.

 

[shibbs]

I thought silicone hose wasn't compatible with oil.

I was running transmission oil hose when I was trying out my can...
but it half collapsed under vacuum.

Huh. You're right.
I guess I'd run fuel line then, instead.

 

[Tormach]

Yup, I was going to use silicone as well but saw the issue it would have so I went with this stuff instead "JEGS Performance Products 110921
Pro-Flo 350 Braided Hose -8AN". Got 6' (was like 30 for it I think) of it so I had extra down the road, holding up really well.. plus looks super nice with the the AN black and red fittings. :banana:

 

[Llia]

I thought silicone hose wasn't compatible with oil.

I was running transmission oil hose when I was trying out my can...
but it half collapsed under vacuum.

I thought it wasn't meant for oil supply lines. But just casual contact with oil happens anyways.

I got 10' of 3/4" ID silicone vacuum line. No guarantee it's what it says it is till I get it.
Vibrant Performance 2108 Vacuum Hose
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[sw2low]

Silicone is fine for catch can use. I usually use single rieinforced silicone so its less apt to compress under vacuum.

 

[Maddmatts]

Another option is to use an inline checkvalve immediately after the intake manifold. That way you can control how much of the external PCV system has to deal with vacuum.

It could also eliminate trouble codes caused by catchcans that leak under vacuum creating lean conditions.

 

[Llia]

Anyone ever think about running to their local home depot and picking up a Husky compressor filter as a oil/air separator?

1/2" Female NPT In-Line Strainer with 50 mesh stainless steel filter screen

Then use 1/2 NPT to 3/4" ID hose fittings and 3/4" Silicone hose. 3/4" fits nice and snug over the stock hose ends where they are heat shrunk onto the joint.

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This would be alright too. Just concerned about how much heat it can take.

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[Llia]

Another option is to use an inline checkvalve immediately after the intake manifold. That way you can control how much of the external PCV system has to deal with vacuum.

It could also eliminate trouble codes caused by catchcans that leak under vacuum creating lean conditions.

In my final setup the catch can will be the intake manifold or an extension of it rather. That way the new PCV once I close off the stock one will connect to the catch can as if it was connecting to the manifold directly. Only difference is the PCV will receive filtered crank case gasses. a check valve would trap vacuum on the crank case side but that may not be wanted all the time. They make vacuum bleeders for the PCV system to regulate vacuum and increase performance. May not be significant though.