TPDM04

Hello!
Today I'm going to share my latest project on the F150 with you.
I decided to try this because I cleaned the throttle body a while back, then while I had the tb off I looked into the intake manifold with a flashlight and holy hell was it oily in there .. So I set out to figure out why that was. After much reading, I came across this great write up by ibd2328 (thanks!) of how the PCV system works https://www.f150forum.com/f6/pcv-val...eplace-243377/ granted it's for the pre-2004 5.4 motor, and the 2004 & up 3V 5.4 does not actually have a PCV valve in it (someone please fill me in if that's wrong!) and the valve covers just have open vents on them.

Then I started looking for some cheaper catch cans to test this out.

I found this one with 3/8th hose barbs for the fresh air intake side:
with this mount:
I bought this one with large hose barbs (not quite 5/8th) for the exhaust (driver's side):
Now keep in mind that you will need to get some better hose because the stuff that comes with these is way to soft. I bought my hoses from a local hydrolics shop, it's heat resistant 300psi fuel line hose. I bought 3/8th and 5/8th hose. These are also just empty cans without any baffles in them. I know some people said they put metal scouring pads in them, but those have small metal flakes on them and the thought of metal flakes getting into my engine just makes me cringe, so I'm not doing that. You'll also have to get creative with mounting these things since the little tab it comes with doesn't seem to work anywhere in the engine bay that I could find.

Install time!

Intake side. I had to put thte can that far down in the mounting bracket, but it's very snug there, and I don't think it will fall out because it will hit the intake manifold first if it did slide down any.


I used this bolt to hold the mounting bracket.

cut a small slot in the heat insulation for the other side of the bracket (still a very solid mount)

PCV Exhaust side (Driver's side)


The mounting bracket worked great here with the power steering res tank. I had to find that little slotted right angle piece and bolt it to the mount on the can.

Valve cover PCV vent connection




The cans actually look pretty good too





Test Results! (EDITED AS OF 2-27-17)

I have had the intake side can on for a couple weeks now, and probably drove around 200 miles with it on there. It had accumulated about a quarter-inch of water in it. I didn't expect to be catching much of anything in this one, but thought I'd stick a can on there for ****s and giggles, I was actually surprised it had water in it. So that might also help with preventing that foamy **** that builds up on the oil cap, since there's less moisture getting in the crankcase.

As for the driver's side can, I just installed that this last Wednesdayday (22nd) I have driven it about 100 miles since it's been installed. I haven't taken it off to drain it out, but I can see a little bit of oily/water **** in the can from the little indicator tube on the side, so I can assure you that it's catching stuff too. So far this seems to be a worth-while investment.

UPDATE: I racked up a little over 200 miles with the new drivers side can installed, and out of curiosity, I decided to drain it to see if it was doing anything, much to my surprise, the can had actually caught several ounces worth of water/oily/foam stuff in it. I also noticed that the liquid stuff in it had a very interesting, strong oily smell, kinda like how your oil smells when you change it. I can say with 100% certainty that both of the cans are working as is.

Other thoughts

I'm very happy to see that both cans are catching stuff, even though I didn't put any medium in them. I also noticed that the intake side can will get moisure buildup in the indicator tube after a longer drive.

One other very strange thing that I wouldn't think could even be remotely related to this, is that the engine does not randomly tick loudly anymore. It used to sound like the cam phaser solinoid was cycling the phaser or something because the engine would randomly tick kinda loud and then stop for a bit, then slowly start ticking again (yes I changed the phaser solinoids with the new metal screen ones) when idling. I haven't heard the ticking sounds since these cans have been installed. No idea what's going on there since it's still been around the 20F-30Fs temp area here... Unless the ticking I was hearing was an engine knock or something related to water/oil vapors in the combustion chamber? I'm seriously going wtf at this. Haha. I'm not complaining though, since that tick was annoying. If anyone has any ideas please, speak up!

Also, I'd love to hear (practical friendly) suggestions or answer any questions you may have from reading this!

redfishtd

I don't see white foamy stuff on my oil fill nor do I see any water in my oil changes but I live in florida . I do see a terrible black build up in throttle body and intake . My 5.4 l 3v 05 has a baffle /pvc system in valve cover of drivers side?? what it is is a mystery , this whole valve cover is supposed to be replaced $$$. Ain't happening !!
When i did timing and lash adjusters I cleaned that cover with brake cleaner and dawn .It was extremely dirty.
I would like to see an element that would clean that black stuff out to keep intake clean and could be redone when changing air filter . Of course a visible indication would be nice .
This hydraulic dirty engine oil system must be clean to save phasor system . Syn must be changed out 3 to 5k . Engine is very sensitive and after $1400 in repairs now at 171k I would not like to mess it up . Maybe your system needs a water valve at bottom like boats have on fuel to separate water out .

redfishtd

Some have added tubes on inlet side to bottom ,some have added drain valve to clean it . A lot of people put a filter baffle in it of stainless scrubs or green scrub pads.
I under stand this black gunk can build up behind valves causing real harm
I guess I would only consider this on the drivers side to clean the crankcase vapors before the throttle body . I would try and place it in the front of the radiator to help service it . I would consider making 2 just to change it out and give time for soaking and cleaning old one .
The ford Makuloco guy says the ford eco boost needs this badly .
At least you got me thinking out of the box .

Summers22

iTrader: (2)

Nice write-up! I assume all connections were existing points of the ventilation system? Seems that way. Also do you have to remove the entire catch-can to drain them?

TPDM04

Thanks!, and you are correct, I simply removed the two existing short push-on PCV lines connected from both valve covers and intake/airbox and connected the can in-line between them on each side.

As for draining them, I do have to loosen the passenger side bracket and take the can out. Although I'm looking into getting a 90-degree valve to thread into the drain plug hole so I can just drain the can into a cup. The passenger side can is easier though, I just have to loosen the bolt on the power steering pump reservoir and swivel it around to drain it. I was going to leave it rotated out, but then it interferes with the oil dipstick. I have thought about looking to re-locate thee cans, but I was also trying to keep the hoses as short as possible too.

TPDM04

I only get the white foamy stuff in the oil in the winter when it's below freezing for a couple months here. It's just moisture in the oil, so I'm curious to see if my fresh air intake catch can on the passenger side helps keep that down, since it's catching moisture before it even gets into the PCV system.

As for the PCV valves, I found this thread with pictures, kinda interesting how it's supposedly on the valve covers. https://www.f150forum.com/f4/pcv-valve-5-4-a-123959/

EBC-150

The foam is 'normal' during the cold winter months.
The PCV valve is really a restrictor plate and a filter mesh, very similar to what European cars have used. The valve cover was corroded badly on my old '05 so I purchased a new one. I was curious so I ground the rivets and disassembled it...

TPDM04

Haha nice! Getting to take the old piece apart later is the best part about replacing things isn't it?

TPDM04

Alright, I have good news! The cans are working. See my edit in the original post!

mangoman111

I currently have one catch can running from the passenger side pcv into my K&N intake and wondered if the driver side needed one, after seeing your post I’d like to install one for the driver side however I don’t know where the inlet and outlet should go, can someone explain or have pictures? Thanks.


Here’s the ghetto way I installed it, I might just leave that can for the pcv on that side and install the new one on the passenger side as I think the long length of the hose might be bad? Or not.