Oil Catch Can suggestion?

[Hoobrus]

I think the next thing I need to get for my new-used 2011 Mazdaspeed3 is an oil catch can. I have searched around for recommendations but I am still unsure, and my requirements may be a little bit different.

My plan for the car is to keep it mostly stock (as it was when I got it). I am only replacing things that are worn out, or for preventative maintenance, which is where the OCC fits.

Since I do not plan to do anything to add power, I don't know if I need any of the fancier options out there. I am just trying to keep crap off the intake valves.

The other two considerations are
1) I don't want anything that sits too low or requires me to cut a hole in the plastic underliner
This seems to be the case with the Damond can I was considering. I actually don't have an underliner right now because the original one was destroyed due to a transmission leak. When I replace it I am considering an aftermarket aluminum one for protection.

2) I plan to use the car in cold conditions, and I hear that some cans are prone to freezing and clogging the PCV system. Is there a can that is more resistant to that happening?

Thanks for any advice you can give.

[SaveMelMac]

Get the DM kit, very quality kit. You don’t have to cut a hole if you don’t want to.

[Hoobrus]

But then how can the can be checked/drained?
I still have the stock intake too, which makes some areas harder to reach.

[SaveMelMac]

Originally Posted by Hoobrus But then how can the can be checked/drained? I still have the stock intake too, which makes some areas harder to reach.

Then you take the whole splash shield off when you do. Pretty much every kit out there mounts below the air box.

[Jeff23spl]

if you don't plan to mod your car, don't want to mess with triming plastics and finaly drives in freezeing conditions, just don't install an occ.

the crap on your valves is part off oil vapors but also from egr returns....reducing oil vapors won't help the egr.

And occ lines fulled of some oil + condensed humidity will freeze, block the breathing path and then, the engine bottom will take any other possible path to release the pressure. This include shooting oil from dip stick all over the engine. and oil + red hot manifold catch fire....Ask me how, i know...(my 2007 was totaled by fire because of this)
Turbo snowmobiles have the same issue and now, company started to use heated line to carry occ fumes, 1 metal tube carry vapors and the other carry heating coolant beside like our throttle body.

[Hoobrus]

Originally Posted by Jeff23spl if you don't plan to mod your car, don't want to mess with triming plastics and finaly drives in freezeing conditions, just don't install an occ. the crap on your valves is part off oil vapors but also from egr returns....reducing oil vapors won't help the egr. And occ lines fulled of some oil + condensed humidity will freeze, block the breathing path and then, the engine bottom will take any other possible path to release the pressure. This include shooting oil from dip stick all over the engine. and oil + red hot manifold catch fire....Ask me how, i know...(my 2007 was totaled by fire because of this) Turbo snowmobiles have the same issue and now, company started to use heated line to carry occ fumes, 1 metal tube carry vapors and the other carry heating coolant beside like our throttle body.

Yes, I still haven't bought one and I was thinking about the cold weather problem again. Are there ANY cans that mount in a more accessible location, or one that might be retain heat better? And if it was higher up and was of the type that has an unscrewable bottom that I could just unscrew and dump whatever was inside, that would be ideal I think. I also saw a recommendation to run a coolant line around the can to warm it up but that is just adding more work.

I don't understand EGR as well, to be honest, but isn't removing that an emission thing? As in, something that would be non-kosher in some jurisdictions? That's why I was hesitant to
mess with that, plus I thought I read that most valve deposits are from the PCV system, but maybe that is wrong. I mean, heck, if I had no shame I would just direct the PCV onto the ground but I am not planning to do that either.

I'm not even clear where the PCV feeds into the intake at. I am getting conflicting info on whether it sends crap though the intercooler or not, and therefore might want to clean the intercooler along with the intake valves eventually.

[Jeff23spl]

oem pcv is going directly at the intake after the ic....
If you get oil in the ic is likely coming from the turbo seals or from the valve cover breather thru tih return and turbo....

The factory breather system is inside a closed loop system. If you wanna go VTA, you need to plug the intake path and the TIh as well or the maf will read a leak...

if you look at how our engines are designed, there is a egr pipe and valve that take dry crap out of the exaust and put it back into the intake. that crap mixed with oil vapor makes the valves deposit. It get worst on turbo engine because of more blowby and turbo leaks...

Installing an occ higher than breathing port is almost useless as the liquid is following gravity...A proper install is to put the can as low as possible with short hoses path going straight to avoid oil traps in the hose...And the breathing port is on the bloc below the intake....

There is no easy solution for us with cold winters unless using it just in summer time...but mine is awd so it isn't gonna happen.

[Hoobrus]

OK, all that makes sense I think. Thanks.
I wonder if I could just switch the PCV back to stock when the weather gets cold, and back to the can when it is warmer. Leave the can installed. But it might be too much of a pain to do that. Unsure.

But I am still looking for a can where the whole bottom of the can 'unscrews'. I have seen this type on other vehicles on youtube and such. I figure, if the inside of the can gets slushy in the cold, it might not be able to drain out of a small drain valve like normal.

[Jeff23spl]

humm the pcv is hard to reach 2 times a year but it could be an option

My own plans was to makes a second back up breather if the initial path is going to freeze.
Adding a second port on the engine breather plate (you can buy the part or make it)
with the occ and and long lines on one side but the other one going strait up using just a check valve going vta...or anything around this idea of having a spare breather in case the main one freeze.

[MSMS3]

Oil catch can is a gimmick as far as I’m concerned on this platform. Never needed it in over ten years and 140,000 miles of ownership. Just something else to add more maintenance time, something to fuss over, and no discernible benefit.

Lots of better ways to spend money that actually enhance performance or improve reliability.

[Mazda3Blog]

Originally Posted by MSMS3 Oil catch can is a gimmick as far as I’m concerned on this platform. Never needed it in over ten years and 140,000 miles of ownership. Just something else to add more maintenance time, something to fuss over, and no discernible benefit. Lots of better ways to spend money that actually enhance performance or improve reliability.

100% agree. I own a speed3 and speed6, both with over 140,000 miles of no catch can and engines run mint still. You can always clean the intake valves if you ever have an issue, but both my cars have never had valves cleaned and still run great.

[cyclist20]

Originally Posted by MSMS3 Oil catch can is a gimmick as far as I’m concerned on this platform. Never needed it in over ten years and 140,000 miles of ownership. Just something else to add more maintenance time, something to fuss over, and no discernible benefit. Lots of better ways to spend money that actually enhance performance or improve reliability.

I think gimmick is a strong word. 100% necessary? No. Useful and with a benefit on it's own? Not as much as with an EGR delete, imo.

Based on OP's situation and concerns I agree with you there are better ways to spend his money.

[SaveMelMac]

Case closed 3 cars didn’t need a OCC, time to go home everyone.

[Hoobrus]

I think I will wait until after the winter to decide. But it is still overdue for a valve cleaning and I need to see if there is any shop local that can do that, because it seems too involved for me.