DIY Oil Catch Can?

[The Wolf]

Thinking about installing a DIY OCC on my 3. Will any container work? I've seen people DIY them out of 6 packs and stuff, just wondering if there's anything I need to know about choosing a container.

Am I right in my understanding is that all you really need to do is plumb lines from the PCV to the OCC and from the OCC back to the intake?

[midnitehour]

You've got the right idea,

however that you're trying to catch is a mist, which will float in the air, thus being able to be sucked back into the intake.
to stop this mist you need an air oil seperator, some kind of fine mesh that will catch the oil particles and drop it into the catch can.

You'll also need someway to mount and drain it.

You can go a step further and add an additional check valve to further prevent pressurizing the crank case.

[The Wolf]

You've got the right idea,

however that you're trying to catch is a mist, which will float in the air, thus being able to be sucked back into the intake.
to stop this mist you need an air oil seperator, some kind of fine mesh that will catch the oil particles and drop it into the catch can.

You'll also need someway to mount and drain it.

You can go a step further and add an additional check valve to further prevent pressurizing the crank case.

Thanks!
A couple of questions though... If I fab up a catch can without the mesh filter, it may not be "perfect", but it would be better than a stock setup, no?
Also, I can't imagine the OCC would itself pressurize the crank case... you're just talking about improving the stock setup, right?

[stevenma188]

Nator KW OCC? :)

[Hyperion]

Sweet. I doubt it's needed as much in the z3, but I'd like to try and fab something like this

[BlueStreak]

Guys, a few things.

- I wouldn't recommend making your own catch can unless you use proper materials. Making one out of beer cans creates the likelihood that it'll collapse when cruising in vacuum.

Plastic is also out of the question because the oil/fuel mix will eat thru the plastic. Next thing you know, you're stuck on the side of the road with a massive air leak and have to take it out in order to get home. A few weeks ago, I emptied my catch can into a plastic cup and let it separate on a bench. An hour later, the contents of the cup were all over the floor with the bottom of the cup fused to the bench. If you use other plastics, it'll just delay the rate of decay of your setup. The end result is the same; massive air leak and a car that will run like crap or leave you stranded.

- This is for a MZ3, correct? I would say a check valve is not necessary. Your intakes do not see positive manifold pressure so it isn't needed. Chances are your crankcase already has a pcv valve. That will suffice.

- Get a catch can that is baffled. Cans with a simple in/out setup and no baffling internals are junk. Your intake manifold will still get coated in crap. I ran one temporarily before I got my Saikou Michi and my manifold looked like hell. All the work to clean my valves was lost in 6K KMs of driving. It happened that quick...

[Hyperion]

well that's that.

[MarkWB]

Get a proper one IMO, you don't want your crankcase to look like this garbage bin...

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attachments/street-experiences/77118d1228557040-dung-attack-harmful-3853_1927_elephant-dung-catcher-1-.jpg#shovel%20elephant%20crap