DIY Low-side external canister

fmorelli

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Aug 11, 2017
3,748
3,592
0
57
Virginia
Ride
E89 Z4 35i, F10 535d
This will end up in my build thread, but I wanted to post it alone here, for those interested. So I have @Rob@RBTurbo low-side PCV stuff. I needed a catch can and ended up with the following solution. I understand low-side will actually fill up. Let me just say, I hate the idea of 1) having no idea how much oil is in the catch can, and 2) having to remove the can to empty the oil. These two suck. Consider trying to get a grip on the catch can which is oily, then spilling the crap all over (you have no idea how much is in there). I wanted a better solution as here is where I arrived: Oil catch can with dipstick, 50-micron mesh fabric, 90 degree 1/4" NPT petcock, and some Stens 1/4" yellow fuel line. With this setup, I can easily check the oil level. I can also use the petcock with exhaust line and simply empty the can into an old oil bottle.

For those that care about how/where I installed it on my Z4, it is written up here.

Filippo

IMG_20181012_113811.jpg
image.jpg
 
Last edited:

doublespaces

Administrator
Oct 18, 2016
9,303
4,331
0
AZ
Ride
2009 E93 335i
Nice... Maybe that is the solution to not knowing the oil level on my mishimoto can, a manual dip stick... Hmm.

Curious, how restrictive is this baffle?
 

fmorelli

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Aug 11, 2017
3,748
3,592
0
57
Virginia
Ride
E89 Z4 35i, F10 535d
Which baffle or do you mean filter? The filter sheath is 50 micron, the Mishimoto is 50 micron. Should be the same. Or are you talking about something else?

Filippo
 

doublespaces

Administrator
Oct 18, 2016
9,303
4,331
0
AZ
Ride
2009 E93 335i
I am pretty sure there were other photos showing a metal screen of some type. The mishimoto has a stone filter that is somewhat restrictive in terms of total airflow as surface area comes into play.
 

fmorelli

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Aug 11, 2017
3,748
3,592
0
57
Virginia
Ride
E89 Z4 35i, F10 535d
This catch can has about a ~26mm screw-on cap inside that is perforated with maybe 3-4mm holes. In other words - it ain't filtering nothin'. But it is threaded in, so it looks more like a trap for someone to install the filter size of their choice, which is nice.

Barry and I ordered these, along with a 50-micron sheet. So nice part is, @doublespaces, one can dial in the filtration one desires. I just picked 50 as I believe the Mishimoto @Rob@RBTurbo recommends runs that level.

Feature-wise, I think this is hard to beat. And again, for me I have no interest fighting unscrewing the bottom, and pouring oil all over the place if it is full. Let me know if you want more photos, measurements, et cetera.

Filippo

d90be200-ff71-41ce-ad43-a920f414b6f8.png
4d226227-b2d0-493e-8278-8acc67aedb52.png