packplantpath

You might want to re-read your own links. They don't once mention CAC condensation.......

They basically say what I said. Blow by is bad for the intake and valves. But there is zero support there for a pcv catch can helping with CAC condensation. Because of course it can't since the vast majority of the moisture comes from fresh air intake and it condensed due to the way an intercooler works. The pcv system is irrelevant to that problem. It causes other problems a catch can addresses, but doesn't affect CAC condensation.

Left Plate

And it is because of people like you that I participate very little over here in the first place! Sorry I tried to help you out, because it seems to me that you lack the basic mental capacity to think this through?

The IC IS part of the air system. Emissions feed back into the air system. Blow-by consists of vaporized oil and H2O. The more moisture that you can pull out of the air system, the less chance you have of ingestion. Nobody can prove or disprove that moisture automatically forms in the IC and the IC only? Obviously I have my doubts that that is the root source! I have experienced the condensation issue and have made mutable steps to avoid it! Even if you choose not to agree with me, the benefit of using a proper evacuation system far out weighs any negatives!

EcoboostedFX4

The PCV is returned to the intake plenum post IC, meaning a PCV catch can has no way of removing moisture from the IC charge. And yes it proven that moisture forms in the IC, look at video clips of any diesel IC being drained. Hot compressed air moving through the IC causes the air to rapidly condense (cool) and moisture is formed due to the air being cooled. This is how precipitation is formed in the atmosphere.

packplantpath

Why? Because I told you your reasoning made no sense to me and asked for evidence. And when I read your evidence it didn't say what you said it did? Yea sounds like my mental capacity is limited......

In that case I offer my apology. I had no idea someone asking for good evidence of a claim was so offensive.

mrpositraction

There are two lines venting the crank case. One is Post TB (so post IC) and the other is on the drivers side PRE Turbo so PRE IC.

But in all fairness, the RX Catch Can only filters the Post TB (post IC) side. The Clean Side Seperator filters the drivers side and returns the condensate to the valve cover it came out of, but the vacuum source is pre-turbo (pre-intercooler).

packplantpath

I know this wasn't directed at me, but this is relevant. I understand that some of the blow by is directed to the intercooler, as evidenced by the accumulation of an oil slurry. And I agree that a catch can is especially a good idea on a boosted DI engine like the ecoboost to protect the intake.

My only issue is the claim that a catch can helps with the acute water ingestion symptoms/issues. My reasoning is that I've read of evidence (and seen a few cases personally) of an accumulation of 4-6 ounces of water in about 1 hour of interstate driving under the right conditions. In this situation, if the catch can had an effect we should need to empty it after every few hours of driving. Of course we don't, so that leaves the possibility that either the catch can is too inefficient to remove the water, making it useless as a remedy for CAC condensation. Or the catch can is in the wrong part of the intake tract to remove the water prior to being ingested (and putting it in the correct place would restrict the intake air). I think the latter is clearly the case.

This doesn't mean I think a catch can is useless, quite the contrary. But I do believe it is useless as a treatment for CAC condensation.

mrpositraction

Don't you think the 4-6 ounces would be on the extreme? Then how many of us run catch cans? And then factor in how "useless" some catch cans are and it is very clear why there isn't a lot of evidence supporting the theory, so time will tell.

I know I have had mine on 2 days. Emptied it twice (anxious to see what I would see). Both time I got a reasonable amount of milky liquid smelling like oil and gas (didn't measure, just used a paper towel, wasn't expecting much). Tonight I will have 64 miles on mine since I last emptied it. I will capture what comes out.

But before that happens, lets keep in mind that it is COLD out today (single digits, negative when I drove to work), so that means more is going to condense than on a warmer day. But that also means it is drier out, so maybe they cancel out.

Watt-maker

This is after 500 miles from the crankcase vent can (pre-turbo). Maybe 2-3 onces.


So would it be wrong to assume that after 1000-2000 miles this could be 4-6 oz. What about after 10,15, 20,000 miles? Then you decide/have to go WOT. All that crud getting consumed at once. I agree it's not condensation but it will give the same symptoms of condensation build-up. Now lets add in driving in the rain. How much condensation forms? Lets say 8oz. Add that 8oz to the slurry thats already in there. I'd would say with more liquid in the CAC, your more likely to have a "condensation" episode.

packplantpath

Yes, 4-6 oz is extreme. And it is the extreme events that matter for an acute issue such as the intercooler condensation. Most reports I've seen show about an oz of accumulation in the intercooler after 40-50,000 miles. That doesn't seem like enough to cause the misfire and limp mode in vehicles with 4,000 miles like mine had when it exhibited the symptoms. If it was just excessive blowby accumulation, you should be able to take any ecoboost on the road with a few thousand miles and duplicate the symptoms without extended cruising in the correct conditions. Since the issue seems limited to extended driving at cruise, followed by heavy boost, I think we could rule out blow by as a cause.

The day-to-day blow by accumulation can be a problem, but I don't believe it is the cause of common limp mode issues unless accompanied by condensation from the intercooler. Once we get vehicles with 100,000-150,000 miles I think we will see the benefits of the catch can. Could blow by be contributing by re-injecting moisture into the intake stream? Sure. But if your roof is leaking, you might want to worry about that instead of the drippy faucet.

packplantpath

I think the difference is, absent conditions conducive to condensation, most of that would evaporate and not accumulate. By no means good for the engine, but not an acute issue unless conditions were right for condensation to form anyway. But if conditions are right I think it will have problems regardless.

But I admit I am shocked that you accumulated so much within 500 miles too.

If that is only 500 miles worth I may need to re-evaluate. Because it would definitely contribute if it is pooling in the bottom for a few weeks (or a long trip) and conditions are constantly conducive to condensation so no evaporation could take place. I still doubt a catch can would be a solution, but I can see that it might help a little in some cases.

Thanks for the information. I really wasn't trolling or trying to be an ***. But I have never seen reports of so much accumulation in a can so quickly so I was skeptical of the claim. Glad to see someone come by with a bit of evidence.