oil catch can condensing water?

[Clip]

hey guys,

put my driftmotion catch can on about a week ago on a fresh rebuild and had it hooked up correctly:

7mge

took the "t" piece off of the valve covers and turned it backwards to face the cabin, then ran 3/8" fuel line to the catch can mounted beside the charcoal canister. i sealed the catch can at all locations with thicker o-rings and fipg, and had stainless steel scrubbing pads in the can. i ran the line back into the TB.

after running this a week, i checked my oil (full on the start) and noticed it was about a half quart low. took the catch can off to see if there was a half-quart of oil in there but upon tipping it bottom up, a teaspoon of water ran out and that was it.

i took the can back off and returned it to stock and havent had oil level problems since. i did clean the "t" pipe out and it was a little dirty but it wasn't plugged.

could i not be pulling enough of a vacuum to keep the oil in the crank seals, and it was leaking out the back?

 

[Davismj711]

Clip

I used a Mckinney Racing CC. I am getting the same, water, or condensation, after a rebuild. I do not know if it is the norm, but I believe it is.

Until we get some blowby many miles down the road I hope, I would think thats all we will see in there.

 

[Clip]

Clip

I used a Mckinney Racing CC. I am getting the same, water, or condensation, after a rebuild. I do not know if it is the norm, but I believe it is.

Until we get some blowby many miles down the road I hope, I would think thats all we will see in there.

i like the idea of keeping my intake manifold clean, i had to spend hours getting oil out of it during the rebuild.

 

[jdub]

The water is a combustion by-product. It and the hydrocarbon by-products the motor produces is the whole point of the PCV system...they are drawn to the intake manifold and burned. Your catch can is condensing the water vapor...it's normal

 

[Clip]

if the "t" is clogged, what effect would it have (on the vacuum) on the TB? would that make me lose oil pretty quick?

 

[shaeff]

I used a Mckinney Racing CC.

Win.

 

[Clip]

Win.

definitely. i wanted to get one of those but the DM catch can was a pretty good price

 

[lagged]

how MUCH water you are seeing is a concern.

if its just a SLIGHT amount of condensation, its probably fine. but if you start seeing the classic oil milkshake in your PCV lines or under the oil cap then you are in for some trouble.

 

[Poodles]

Depends a lot on how much you drive as well. The water is the reason short trips are bad for your oil as the oil doesn't get hot enough to boil the water off (that mixes with other combustion gasses and makes acid)

 

[lagged]

Depends a lot on how much you drive as well. The water is the reason short trips are bad for your oil as the oil doesn't get hot enough to boil the water off (that mixes with other combustion gasses and makes acid)

personally id say seeing any water condensate is bad but i dont want to be an alarmist. i have been told its normal to see it from time to time and i can see why that is true.

the only time i have any had any kind of water in my PCV lines was when i blew my head gasket.

so as usual, YMMV.

 

[Clip]

so whats the deal on the oil disappearing? just a fluke or will it blow out seals if the vac isnt good enough?

 

[jdub]

The 7M-GTE always uses *some* oil...it's the nature of the beast. On a new motor, the rings have to fully seat...it will use oil until it does. What oil was in it for break-in and have you changed it since the initial fill?

BTW - a tea spoon of water is not excessive.

 

[Davismj711]

Shaeff

Win.

Thanks in large part to your advice. Many Thanks

Lagged

personally id say seeing any water condensate is bad but i dont want to be an alarmist. i have been told its normal to see it from time to time and i can see why that is true.

the only time i have any had any kind of water in my PCV lines was when i blew my head gasket.

I don't know if your becoming an alarmist, but it doesn't take much to sound the horn of a BHG with our Supras.

That being said I would submit that if you purchase a well designed CC you are in fact going to see some water condensation. The desgn allows for the heavier particles in the PCV line to drop from the current air flow. There is also a drop in temperature if the CC is mounted as far from engine heat as is realistic. The cooler area will precipitate this condensation.

I would think that such a small amount spread through the lines themselves would be either, never collected,(Due to raised temperatures throughout the lines), or unoticeable.

You may also SEE a milkshake within a CC if you have some blowby that is collected along with the condensated water.

Cheers

 

[j3pz]

You may also SEE a milkshake within a CC if you have some blowby that is collected along with the condensated water.

thought the milkshake was from coolant/EG contamination. water and oil dont mix too well

 

[Davismj711]

j3pc

I would say that the crankshaft and other moving parts serve as the "shake" part of the Milkshake. If left to sit in a container the coolant will separate from the oil.

So you are correct, there would not be a "Milkshake" look inside the CC, just some of the ingredients. My bad, I will blame that error on a senior moment ^^

 

[Clip]

The 7M-GTE always uses *some* oil...it's the nature of the beast. On a new motor, the rings have to fully seat...it will use oil until it does. What oil was in it for break-in and have you changed it since the initial fill?

BTW - a tea spoon of water is not excessive.

its a 7mge, i've used sae 30 for the first 500 miles (changed at 20, 250) then switched to castrol gtx 10w30. once i get to 1500 (about 400 miles away) ill switch to german castrol.

 

[jdub]

You're just getting the engine broke in...a bit of blow-by is normal. That explains the water you saw in the catch can. Same for the oil consumption...it should fall significantly in the next 1000 miles or so.

 

[Clip]

appreciate the reassurance

 

[jdub]

Supra owners are "trained" by the car to be paranoid