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Direct injection engines, were gamechangers, with one single drawback. What you should do to maintain its performance.

Why would you need an oil catch can system on a modern direct injection engine? When OEM crankcase ventilation systems fail they allow for excessive amounts of oil vapor to enter into the intake manifold and not only cover the intake valves causing poor valve seating but a host of other problems.
Another such problem is the oil vapor making its way into the combustion chamber fouling the plugs and the piston ring seals. Its not the type of result we want from our performance engines via an OEM emissions part.


In order to avoid having those problems installing a better engineered emissions system like a dedicated oil catch can will not only maintain or improve performance but also the reliability and longevity of the combustion engine. Therefore it is important to study and analyse which system best meets your needs and which system is best suited for your climate.

Some systems will use one or two baffle plates or a bronze micron filter. Be warned, these catch cans will freeze in the winter causing unwanted pressurization of the engine on startup until it's reached operation temperature.

I chose the CTS turbo oil catch can system for my Audi TT EA888 engine. Upon first impressions I realized that the can was meant for optimum flow while ensuring seperation of gas and it's liquid attachment. I was sure it would work but I was unsure re the amount of blowby it would accumulate and how quickly it would fill up.
I use an adjustable AN fitting wrench and my Allen key screwdriver to loosen and release the can for drainage. I then use brake cleaner to clean the can and rinse it with a bit of water before replacing the can back in to place.

The drainage on August 20 resulted in almost 8 ounces of blowby and oil collected. So the following question can & should be answered.

Is a catch can system necessary?
A) No, it's not necessary, but if the longevity and performance of your vehicle is important to you than its highly recommend.

How much was your setup? 
A) $670-750 CAD.

A) Is the CTS turbo catch can system worth it compared to its competitors? 
I have not tried out other catch can setups but the CTS turbo catch can is functional and worth every penny as it brings me peace of mind.

Should modified cars use an oil catch can system?

A) If your car is operating with increased boost pressure via a software tune, or upgraded hardware meant to increase performance than an oil catch can system should be incorporated into your build. To focus on performance alone and not ensure that the vehicle is operating properly under increased stress is not the smartest thing to do. An oil catch can system is meant to keep your engine running smoothly and efficiently. Kind of like a big brake kit, is it necessary on a stock car? No. Is it necessary on a modified car? Absolutely.

Come back again next week to see how much blow by is collected. Stay tuned and stay boosted.

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