Feedback on oil catch can flush

nandosman · 04-05-2020, 11:31 PM

I want to hear what you think about this, I'm unsure if I should be concerned or not. I have 2 oil catch cans installed on my Z (one per V side), and I usually flush them on every oil change.

This is a picture of the driver side can, after 3200 miles and 14 months:

And here is a picture of it next to the passenger side's:

As you can see, passenger side is practically empty, and driver sides looks milky-ish:

But the oil I drained is 100% normal, which makes me think the white-ish is just humidity collected there over time.

Other people with oil catch cans, how's been your experience?

projectpanda · 04-06-2020, 08:09 AM

Mine is similar but not as milky. Definitely a mix of water from humidity/condensation.

Quicksilvers · 04-10-2020, 06:01 AM

Does not look abnormal to me. In Illinois you will experience humidity and heat. I would keep oil changes at 3K and make sure catch cans are being completely emptied every oil change. See what you find next oil change?

JARblue · 04-10-2020, 10:12 AM

If the oil in your catch cans sits there long enough, it will always develop a milky look to it from ambient moisture that condenses in the can over time.

bcfromfl · 04-10-2020, 11:16 AM

I may be wrong, but I think part of the OP's question has to do with why the catch can on one side is full of gunk, but not the other side. I'm curious about this as well.

nandosman · 04-10-2020, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcfromfl

I may be wrong, but I think part of the OP's question has to do with why the catch can on one side is full of gunk, but not the other side. I'm curious about this as well.

Yes, this mostly. Why is the driver side almost full, but the passenger side practically empty.

Jhill · 04-10-2020, 06:47 PM

My setup does the same. More than likely just has to do with internal baffling of the valve covers etc. I wouldn’t stress it, those can looks fairly similar in size to mine (small) and that really isn’t that much in there vs some other vehicles. If your not using a bunch of oil and that’s all you have in the cans then I wouldn’t worry about it.

ZoomZ · 04-10-2020, 06:55 PM

Yes, I also get uneven filling of catch cans. I do 5000 KM OCI. I empty catch cans @2500 KM (1600 miles) and then @ oil change.

How old is your car/mileage? My Xterra was getting milky catched oil. It was 300k KM's on engine. My 370 is younger, and is not making milk. Perhaps age and wear also increase water entrapment.

zz

nandosman · 04-10-2020, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZoomZ

Yes, I also get uneven filling of catch cans. I do 5000 KM OCI. I empty catch cans @2500 KM (1600 miles) and then @ oil change.

How old is your car/mileage? My Xterra was getting milky catched oil. It was 300k KM's on engine. My 370 is younger, and is not making milk. Perhaps age and wear also increase water entrapment.

zz

Car just hit 50,000 miles. I usually flush mine with each oil change, every 5k miles, or 12-ish months

JARblue · 04-11-2020, 05:42 AM

1600 miles isn't much. I wouldn't expect it the catch can contents to be very milky in that time unless the change interval is fairly large (like >6 months)

old guy · 04-11-2020, 08:22 AM

I’ve gone back and forth on weather to get a set of cans or not, now I think I will ( again )

ZoomZ · 04-11-2020, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JARblue

1600 miles isn't much. I wouldn't expect it the catch can contents to be very milky in that time unless the change interval is fairly large (like >6 months)

I did plan on increasing the interval. However, I did the same interval with Xterra and those are the results I got.

You're right though, it is a short cycle, but I'd rather keep them empty and clean on a regular basis. Just my personal preference.

zz

04-05-2020, 11:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
nandosman Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: IL, US Posts: 343 Drives: 2014 370Z T/S Rep Power: 8	Feedback on oil catch can flush I want to hear what you think about this, I'm unsure if I should be concerned or not. I have 2 oil catch cans installed on my Z (one per V side), and I usually flush them on every oil change. This is a picture of the driver side can, after 3200 miles and 14 months: And here is a picture of it next to the passenger side's: As you can see, passenger side is practically empty, and driver sides looks milky-ish: But the oil I drained is 100% normal, which makes me think the white-ish is just humidity collected there over time. Other people with oil catch cans, how's been your experience? Quicksilvers and ABUNAI NISMO like this. __________________ FI Non-Res Test Pipes \| FI 18" Res CBE \| Stillen Gen 3 CAI \| Dynotuned @ Dynosty EcuTek 325 whp

04-06-2020, 08:09 AM	#2 (permalink)
projectpanda Base Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Atlanta Posts: 120 Drives: 10' G37S White 6MT Rep Power: 8	Mine is similar but not as milky. Definitely a mix of water from humidity/condensation. JARblue likes this. __________________ RHM 75mm TB & ported up/low mani., 3" intakes/velocity stack, Z1 Headers, Motordyne ART pipes, HBP 3.5" exhaust, Tein MonoSport, SPL F/R arms, endlinks, and tie rods , Eibach sways, Z1 rotors F/R, diff bush., subframe collar, Bell Raceworks diff brace

04-10-2020, 06:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
Quicksilvers A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2017 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,039 Drives: 2017 370z Rep Power: 25462	Does not look abnormal to me. In Illinois you will experience humidity and heat. I would keep oil changes at 3K and make sure catch cans are being completely emptied every oil change. See what you find next oil change? __________________ Mr. Clean

04-10-2020, 10:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
JARblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX Age: 43 Posts: 36,449 Drives: 11 Z34, 98 E36 M3 Rep Power: 2684440	If the oil in your catch cans sits there long enough, it will always develop a milky look to it from ambient moisture that condenses in the can over time. Memphis370Z likes this. __________________ 2011 370Z 6MT Sport Gun Metallic \| ARC \| CJM \| Ecutek \| FI \| Fujimura \| R2C \| SPL \| Stillen \| TWM \| Z1 \| ZSpeed \|

04-10-2020, 11:16 AM	#5 (permalink)
bcfromfl Enthusiast Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Youngstown, FL Posts: 256 Drives: 2015 PW Nismo 6MT Rep Power: 8	I may be wrong, but I think part of the OP's question has to do with why the catch can on one side is full of gunk, but not the other side. I'm curious about this as well. __________________ Michelin PS4S 275/35F, 305/30R /// Exhaust: Motordyne ART Pipes, Garageline X and Mid-Pipe Combo /// Clutch: ZSpeed EZ-Street Stage II, RJM HD Master Cylinder

04-10-2020, 06:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
Jhill Track Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: San jose Posts: 846 Drives: 2013 370z sport Rep Power: 3384	My setup does the same. More than likely just has to do with internal baffling of the valve covers etc. I wouldn’t stress it, those can looks fairly similar in size to mine (small) and that really isn’t that much in there vs some other vehicles. If your not using a bunch of oil and that’s all you have in the cans then I wouldn’t worry about it.

04-10-2020, 06:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
ZoomZ Track Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 714 Drives: 17' 370Z Nismo Rep Power: 40312	Yes, I also get uneven filling of catch cans. I do 5000 KM OCI. I empty catch cans @2500 KM (1600 miles) and then @ oil change. How old is your car/mileage? My Xterra was getting milky catched oil. It was 300k KM's on engine. My 370 is younger, and is not making milk. Perhaps age and wear also increase water entrapment. zz

04-11-2020, 05:42 AM	#10 (permalink)
JARblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX Age: 43 Posts: 36,449 Drives: 11 Z34, 98 E36 M3 Rep Power: 2684440	1600 miles isn't much. I wouldn't expect it the catch can contents to be very milky in that time unless the change interval is fairly large (like >6 months) ZoomZ likes this. __________________ 2011 370Z 6MT Sport Gun Metallic \| ARC \| CJM \| Ecutek \| FI \| Fujimura \| R2C \| SPL \| Stillen \| TWM \| Z1 \| ZSpeed \|

04-11-2020, 08:22 AM	#11 (permalink)
old guy A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: S.E. Michigan Age: 67 Posts: 2,706 Drives: 13 magma touring Rep Power: 2684369	I’ve gone back and forth on weather to get a set of cans or not, now I think I will ( again ) nandosman likes this. __________________ I better walk before they make me run....

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