No Oil in the catch can.

[NoGuru]

I added an ebay catch can this past fall just before new turbos went on. I only started driving the car a little recently and noticed I am not getting any oil in the catch can.
The route is from the valve cover or PCV location to the can, and then to the intake tube. Is there a way this could be wrong or something?

I ask because I just took off my intake manifold and seemed like there was oil, around the intake near the valve ports.

 

[F87Source]

What kind of Ebay catch can? Because I've noticed some of these cheapo ebay cans have poor to insufficient baffling meaning little to no oil will be removed from the air stream, basically just a can with two holes for an inlet and outlet and a tiny bit of grating on the inside of each hole. If your can is like this that would explain it.

Also how long did you have the can on for? Because it takes time for oil to accumulate.

 

[NoGuru]

It was this one https://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-N54-135i-335i-535i-Double-Baffled-Oil-Catch-Can-W-Silicone-Hoses-Burger-BMS/323727628881?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
Looks like the BMS OCC.

When I say there is nothing in it, I mean I run my finger inside and it is bone dry. I just get this guy feeling that something is not working correctly.

 

[F87Source]

It was this one https://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-N54-135i-335i-535i-Double-Baffled-Oil-Catch-Can-W-Silicone-Hoses-Burger-BMS/323727628881?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
Looks like the BMS OCC.

When I say there is nothing in it, I mean I run my finger inside and it is bone dry. I just get this guy feeling that something is not working correctly.

Interesting, is your pcv system working properly?

 

[NoGuru]

Interesting, is your pcv system working properly?

I'm not sure how to tell to be honest. How would I test or evaluate this?

 

[F87Source]

I'm not sure how to tell to be honest. How would I test or evaluate this?

You would have to ask someone more experienced on the N54 platform I honestly don't know much about the n54.

 

[Heyfred]

Remove the out going hose from the catch can and see if you have an oil film in it.

 

[F87Source]

Remove the out going hose from the catch can and see if you have an oil film in it.

Could be a residual film so not an accurate test.

 

[Heyfred]

From catch can, not to.

 

[Heyfred]

The catch can system you added, is for Highside PCV which is good you are not seeing any oil. Have you upgraded your Lowside? The 2 work together, if you are going to add a catch can, do both because they compliment each other. I suggest, an external PCV valve upgrade on the Lowside. The oil you are seeing in the intake is from the Lowside PCV system.

 

[Torgus]

The catch can system you added, is for Highside PCV which is good you are not seeing any oil. Have you upgraded your Lowside? The 2 work together, if you are going to add a catch can, do both because they compliment each other. I suggest, an external PCV valve upgrade on the Lowside. The oil you are seeing in the intake is from the Lowside PCV system.

This.

Plug the head, do a high side and low side catch cans and report back.

I would get the RB kit: https://www.rbturbo.com/products/accessories/rb-n54-external-pcv-kit with what ever catch cans you prefer.

 

[NoGuru]

This.

Plug the head, do a high side and low side catch cans and report back.

I would get the RB kit: https://www.rbturbo.com/products/accessories/rb-n54-external-pcv-kit with what ever catch cans you prefer.

Thanks for the reply's. I will look into doing the low side (whatever that means) and report back.

 

[NoGuru]

I think the baffle was on the wrong side. The hose from the PCV to the in had the baffle and the out or hose to me inlet has no baffle. I reversed it so I will test as soon as I put my port injection back in and will give an update.

 

[Asbjorn]

I actually removed my high side OCC after running it for a year or so. It didn't catch much oil and was just in the way all the time.

 

[Jern54]

same here, I am running just a low side can with plugged head ports. every 1000 km its quite full

 

[NoGuru]

Ahh okay good to know! The more I look into it, the more I see the low side is the one that catches most of the gunk.

 

[Illsic_Design]

Yup, I only run a low side also from RB. It fills up with plenty of oil.

 

[NoGuru]

After going to the drag strip and doing about 20ish runs there is now a couple millimetres of oil in the can. Guess I just need a few WOT pulls to see it.

 

[matreyia]

I added an ebay catch can this past fall just before new turbos went on. I only started driving the car a little recently and noticed I am not getting any oil in the catch can.
The route is from the valve cover or PCV location to the can, and then to the intake tube. Is there a way this could be wrong or something?

I ask because I just took off my intake manifold and seemed like there was oil, around the intake near the valve ports.

That's because:

 

[ansch]

As others have said, the high side catches next to nothing, the low side empty every 1000km/mile. Can't comment on the BMS style eBay catch cans, but I've been using the eBay mishimoto style baffled cans on the low side (RB kit w/ plugged head port) with no problems.