Benefit of aftermarket valve cover?

pysical

Sergeant
Jun 16, 2017
471
108
0
Ride
2009 335xi E90
I have debated taking the valve cover to a local machine shop an have it match drilled/honed with stock valve cover so I could use the stock mounting hardware. An while it’s there redo the outlets to accept something like the attached. To add alittle but of internal baffling.
How much oil do you get in your catch cans? This is one thing that kept me away from going to one of these valve covers. I would like to keep the oil in the engine and out of the cans as much as possible. From what I seen, the cam case is supposed to act as the baffle. Not sure how close that is to the valve cover but could be worth putting in just a plate like you have above in it.
 

pysical

Sergeant
Jun 16, 2017
471
108
0
Ride
2009 335xi E90
Actually that baffle that you linked looks super cool. Could just plug the holes in the valve cover and then add those two. Just need to check if there is enough room for the plate that goes on the inside.
 

Reformatt

Specialist
Oct 28, 2019
81
41
0
53
Houston
Ride
2010 335i E92
How much oil do you get in your catch cans? This is one thing that kept me away from going to one of these valve covers. I would like to keep the oil in the engine and out of the cans as much as possible. From what I seen, the cam case is supposed to act as the baffle. Not sure how close that is to the valve cover but could be worth putting in just a plate like you have above in it.
Through a normal oil cycle I don’t have to add any oil but I do actually change my oil around 3k. But to your point I do notice more oil in the charge pipe an catch cans. Seeing it in the charge pipe bothers me the most…because we spend so much on these dual catch can setups.
 

pysical

Sergeant
Jun 16, 2017
471
108
0
Ride
2009 335xi E90
Through a normal oil cycle I don’t have to add any oil but I do actually change my oil around 3k. But to your point I do notice more oil in the charge pipe an catch cans. Seeing it in the charge pipe bothers me the most…because we spend so much on these dual catch can setups.
Yeah I agree. I did do some reading and seen this article: http://mewagner.com/?p=1221

The motion raceworks kit is a mix of the two baffles used in the article. I would guess it would be simple to make a baffle similar to the last one. Just a square piece of metal with some spacers. I think I will just try the valve cover as is with no baffle and if I start experiencing a lot of oil in the catch can I will look into the motion raceworks kit. I went with the billet valve cover and catch can setup using the black friday coupon. saved $400 so worse case I don't end up using it, I don't lose much when reselling it.
 
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Reformatt

Specialist
Oct 28, 2019
81
41
0
53
Houston
Ride
2010 335i E92
Yeah I agree. I did do some reading and seen this article: http://mewagner.com/?p=1221

The motion raceworks kit is a mix of the two baffles used in the article. I would guess it would be simple to make a baffle similar to the last one. Just a square piece of metal with some spacers. I think I will just try the valve cover as is with no baffle and if I start experiencing a lot of oil in the catch can I will look into the motion raceworks kit. I went with the billet valve cover and catch can setup using the black friday coupon. saved $400 so worse case I don't end up using it, I don't lose much when reselling it.
Nice article thanks for sharing 👍🏻 I don’t believe the baffle could be offset to the depth of the 2nd study but a flat design would be the way to do any kind of taper towards the outlet would cause a type of vortex I would imagine. I do believe that the motion race works one allows for the baffle to be installed on the internal or external side….but if spacing allows it for sure would be preferable internally.

Also a side bar excess oil consumption can also be attributed to improper catch can configuration as a precaution I did my dual can set up as below…Keep in mind my head ports are capped off.. So I’m only using the term high side an low side just to differentiate the two…once your capped these is no longer a actual high or low side.

My dual catch can set up:
High side 10an to catch can inlet..
High side 10an catch can outlet to the stock bmw flapper then into the rear turbos inlet

Low side 10an to catch can inlet.
Low side outlet has a 10an to 6an pcv to a 6an fitting on the EOS intake manifold.

I also have the VTT vented oil cap “hopefully it vents any excess crankcase pressure”

And for additional safety I have the VTT vacuum relief fitting installed. Granted I had to install that on the front side of the casing head. Really this is kinda of redundant if you use the bmw flapper valve but can never be to careful. These engines will really let you know if you are not functioning within a proper vacuum/crankcase pressure range.

Also there is more than one way to skin a cat I have seen other catch can configurations it’s kind of a trial an error process to figure out what works best for you.

Ok I really have to stop procrastinating an get in my garage do the damn clutch swap an turbos…Getting pretty painful for the ole man on jackstands 51 ain’t the new 30 incase anyone thinks that saying is valid 🤣

So in summary “Is a aftermarket valve cover worth it”

In my opinion there are some really pretty valve cover options that are expensive. But at the price if they would of revised the current offerings after some feedback to improve some of the issues an maybe idiot proofed em a bit…heck yeah I would say 100%…But as they are ehhh only if you really enjoy tearing into your car semi often..
 
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corbanistan

Corporal
Jul 26, 2021
140
1
62
0
Florida, USA
Ride
E93 335i 6MT
Nice article thanks for sharing 👍🏻 I don’t believe the baffle could be offset to the depth of the 2nd study but a flat design would be the way to do any kind of taper towards the outlet would cause a type of vortex I would imagine. I do believe that the motion race works one allows for the baffle to be installed on the internal or external side….but if spacing allows it for sure would be preferable internally.

Also a side bar excess oil consumption can also be attributed to improper catch can configuration as a precaution I did my dual can set up as below…Keep in mind my head ports are capped off.. So I’m only using the term high side an low side just to differentiate the two…once your capped these is no longer a actual high or low side.

My dual catch can set up:
High side 10an to catch can inlet..
High side 10an catch can outlet to the stock bmw flapper then into the rear turbos inlet

Low side 10an to catch can inlet.
Low side outlet has a 10an to 6an pcv to a 6an fitting on the EOS intake manifold.

I also have the VTT vented oil cap “hopefully it vents any excess crankcase pressure”

And for additional safety I have the VTT vacuum relief fitting installed. Granted I had to install that on the front side of the casing head. Really this is kinda of redundant if you use the bmw flapper valve but can never be to careful. These engines will really let you know if you are not functioning within a proper vacuum/crankcase pressure range.

Also there is more than one way to skin a cat I have seen other catch can configurations it’s kind of a trial an error process to figure out what works best for you.

Ok I really have to stop procrastinating an get in my garage do the damn clutch swap an turbos…Getting pretty painful for the ole man on jackstands 51 ain’t the new 30 incase anyone thinks that saying is valid 🤣

So in summary “Is a aftermarket valve cover worth it”

In my opinion there are some really pretty valve cover options that are expensive. But at the price if they would of revised the current offerings after some feedback to improve some of the issues an maybe idiot proofed em a bit…heck yeah I would say 100%…But as they are ehhh only if you really enjoy tearing into your car semi often..
I've heard the VTT vented oil cap can cause issues, any thoughts on that?
 

Reformatt

Specialist
Oct 28, 2019
81
41
0
53
Houston
Ride
2010 335i E92
I've heard the VTT vented oil cap can cause issues, any thoughts on that?
I have heard some say that it can become stuck an not vent. I also read somewhere they did upgrade the design to prevent the ball from sticking. I do randomly remove mine an give it a shake to make sure I hear it move an sometimes squirt a little wd40 into it an give it a few more shakes…

I do eventually plan on adding a crankcase pressure sensor to the reflex V2 to actually monitor if the set up is functioning as intended…an also hopefully give me a early enough warning my engine is getting close to needing a refresh before I actually destroy another 🤣
 

Reformatt

Specialist
Oct 28, 2019
81
41
0
53
Houston
Ride
2010 335i E92
Yeah spraying oil all over your engine bay if you consider that an issue
Yeah wow I have never had that happen. I wonder if maybe the clamp holding the filter assembly in place was loose? Did anyone figure out how that happened..

I have seen vader also offers a vented cap curious what is different between the two caps.
 

RuskiRacer

Captain
Jul 17, 2019
1,209
757
0
Ride
2009 e93 335i
Only happened to this one client of mine with a very old probably on its last leg motor plus he doesn't take very good care of his car in the first place. I'm sure the 2 caps are not very much different in design
 

corbanistan

Corporal
Jul 26, 2021
140
1
62
0
Florida, USA
Ride
E93 335i 6MT
Yeah I wouldn't know which one to go with...wish VRSF made one 🙄 plus they're like 40 minutes from my house and when I order the stuff usually comes within a day or so