Catch can

[cyanmauve]

Has anyone installed, or is considering installing, a catch can/air oil separator?

Does anyone know if there’s a kit available for the Emira? I know multiple options exist for the Evora.

Thanks.

 

[scc.131.fe]

Is there any history on the 2GR-FE that shows the need for one?

 

[cyanmauve]

Not any specific issue that I’m aware of that is unique to the 2GR-FE, just to supercharged engines in general.

 

[Porter]

Not any specific issue that I’m aware of that is unique to the 2GR-FE, just to supercharged engines in general.

That's for cars that have an aftermarket supercharger, that started out naturally aspirated and have PCV systems that can't handle boost.

This car has a supercharger from the factory, so the crankcase breather system is designed for positive pressure.

 

[scc.131.fe]

That's for cars that have an aftermarket supercharger, that started out naturally aspirated and have PCV systems that can't handle boost.

This car has a supercharger from the factory, so the crankcase breather system is designed for positive pressure.

Meaning that Lotus has modified the breathing system that they get from Toyota?

 

[kitkat]

The 2GRFE would still benefit from one but it does mean added maintenance.

 

[cyanmauve]

I have read that even performance focused factory supercharged cars often have enough oil blow by that the addition of a separator will collect a significant amount of oil.

Obviously the car will still run without one, and is designed to, but it seems this is a very straightforward way of keeping the intake tract, including the supercharger vanes, clean.

I don’t mind a bit of extra maintenance, it all that means is periodically emptying a catch can.

 

[cyanmauve]

It may be akin to a magnetic oil pan plug- not strictly necessary, but even if it works “a little” it still works.

 

[Porter]

Meaning that Lotus has modified the breathing system that they get from Toyota?

Yes, they would have had to. That doesn't mean *all* the oil vapor is efficiently captured, but it's way better than it would have been on a standard 2GR-FE.

 

[Porter]

I have read that even performance focused factory supercharged cars often have enough oil blow by that the addition of a separator will collect a significant amount of oil.

Obviously the car will still run without one, and is designed to, but it seems this is a very straightforward way of keeping the intake tract, including the supercharger vanes, clean.

I don’t mind a bit of extra maintenance, it all that means is periodically emptying a catch can.

That's true of all factory forced induction vehicles. Emissions requirements on all modern motors force manufacturers to scavenge the oil vapor back into the intake tract so that it can go through the engine and be burned in the combustion process. Turbo and supercharged vehicles have more positive crankcase pressure, so they push more oil vapor into the breather lines.

A catch can is certainly a better method than a plumb-back PCV, but "Joe Normal" can't be trusted to maintain such a thing, so it's impossible to put one of those on a production vehicle. Total non-starter as a concept, for a production car.

 

[cyanmauve]

I come from background of very heavily modified Mustangs and other domestic cars, so an extra maintenance step isn’t a big deal for me.

I understand that the factory can’t expect Joe Average to do anything beyond putting gas in the tank.

If it were readily available, I would have a methanol injection system installed on my incoming Emira too. Not to push the timing and gain power, but just for improved cooling and reduced chance of detonation. I live in a very hot and humid climate.

 

[Speedy Emira]

As soon as something is available I will be buying it. I had a Peugeot 406 Coupe with a supercharged 3.2 V6. I installed a catch can and every 1000 miles I emptied out about 50ml of nasty oily sludge. It Might not seem a lot but it’s better than going back into the engine.

 

[GRP]

Some guys have adapted the Radium kit to the Evora 400/GT. It would be the same for the Emira minus the mounting.
Check it out and the link to the video on our site: Evora Radium catch can kit

 

[silent cilantro]

@cyanmauve I ordered the Evora kit from @GRP (thanks Greg!) But if you are planning on replicating this you are better off piecing it together as I didn't end up using most of the fittings the kit came with. Also, the hoses in the kit are 5/8 and 3/8 but the hoses in my car were 5/8 and 5/16.

I initially made an adapter to fit the universal bracket Radium offers but it placed the cans right in front of the outlet of the engine bay cooling fan.

So I ended up making an adapter for the Evora bracket to place the cans closer to the firewall under the little ledge below the window. The cans do end up facing the front of the car and the dipsticks are unusable as they are unreachable and there isn't clearance to pull them up and out. This didn't matter to me as I'll be draining the cans every oil change.


Adapter bracket, it mounts using existing factory studs/bolt. Ignore the -10AN 90deg fitting, I did not end up using it.

Cans installed, outlet of the engine bay cooling fan is not blocked:

Low profile swivel banjo fittings on all ports:

Hose routing:

1:
5/16 hose from rear PCV valve under the SC to top port of right catch can using a 5/16 to 5/16 coupler.

2:
5/8 hose from intake tube to side port of left catch can.

3:
5/16 hose from SC to side port of right catch can. The barb in the SC is 3/8, but Lotus squeezed a 5/16 hose onto it. I wasn't able to squeeze the 5/16 hose I got so I used a short piece of 3/8 hose with a 3/8 to 5/16 reducer, the OEM hose is much more pliable.

4:
5/8 hose from front PCV valve to top port of left catch can’t. I cut mine a bit too short, so it doesn’t line up with the others.
I shortened the OEM hose from the PCV valve and added a 90deg 5/8 to 5/8 elbow. I damaged this hose while removing it from the PCV valve so was forced to cut it, but it may be possible to leave it alone and use the elbow or a straight coupler in order to connect the valve to the can.

 

[FST]

@cyanmauve I ordered the Evora kit from @GRP (thanks Greg!) But if you are planning on replicating this you are better off piecing it together as I didn't end up using most of the fittings the kit came with. Also, the hoses in the kit are 5/8 and 3/8 but the hoses in my car were 5/8 and 5/16.

I initially made an adapter to fit the universal bracket Radium offers but it placed the cans right in front of the outlet of the engine bay cooling fan.

View attachment 57198


So I ended up making an adapter for the Evora bracket to place the cans closer to the firewall under the little ledge below the window. The cans do end up facing the front of the car and the dipsticks are unusable as they are unreachable and there isn't clearance to pull them up and out. This didn't matter to me as I'll be draining the cans every oil change.


Adapter bracket, it mounts using existing factory studs/bolt. Ignore the -10AN 90deg fitting, I did not end up using it.

View attachment 57193


Cans installed, outlet of the engine bay cooling fan is not blocked:

View attachment 57195


Low profile swivel banjo fittings on all ports:

View attachment 57194


Hose routing:

View attachment 57196


1:
5/16 hose from rear PCV valve under the SC to top port of right catch can using a 5/16 to 5/16 coupler.

2:
5/8 hose from intake tube to side port of left catch can.

3:
5/16 hose from SC to side port of right catch can. The barb in the SC is 3/8, but Lotus squeezed a 5/16 hose onto it. I wasn't able to squeeze the 5/16 hose I got so I used a short piece of 3/8 hose with a 3/8 to 5/16 reducer, the OEM hose is much more pliable.

4:
5/8 hose from front PCV valve to top port of left catch can’t. I cut mine a bit too short, so it doesn’t line up with the others.
I shortened the OEM hose from the PCV valve and added a 90deg 5/8 to 5/8 elbow. I damaged this hose while removing it from the PCV valve so was forced to cut it, but it may be possible to leave it alone and use the elbow or a straight coupler in order to connect the valve to the can.

View attachment 57215

What does this mod exactly do? Im also living in a hot and humid climate..

 

[silent cilantro]

What does this mod exactly do? Im also living in a hot and humid climate..

Emissions requirements on all modern motors force manufacturers to scavenge the oil vapor back into the intake tract so that it can go through the engine and be burned in the combustion process. Turbo and supercharged vehicles have more positive crankcase pressure, so they push more oil vapor into the breather lines.

A catch can will capture that oil and particulates from the crankcase before routing the air back into the intake.

On port injection engines like ours, build up on valves isn’t much of a concern, but removing those contaminants from the combustion chamber is still beneficial to keep air/fuel mixture clean and to better retain the octane rating of your fuel. Both of these can help prevent potential pre-ignition/knock. Even more so in really hot climates.

More thorough explanation here:

 

[FST]

A catch can will capture that oil and particulates from the crankcase before routing the air back into the intake.

On port injection engines like ours, build up on valves isn’t much of a concern, but removing those contaminants from the combustion chamber is still beneficial to keep air/fuel mixture clean and to better retain the octane rating of your fuel. Both of these can help prevent potential pre-ignition/knock. Even more so in really hot climates.

More thorough explanation here:

Thanks @silent cilantro for the clarification

 

[cyanmauve]

@cyanmauve I ordered the Evora kit from @GRP (thanks Greg!) But if you are planning on replicating this you are better off piecing it together as I didn't end up using most of the fittings the kit came with. Also, the hoses in the kit are 5/8 and 3/8 but the hoses in my car were 5/8 and 5/16.

I initially made an adapter to fit the universal bracket Radium offers but it placed the cans right in front of the outlet of the engine bay cooling fan.

Thank you for the response and write up from my oooooooold post.

I had forgotten about it. Good info, and something I am encouraged to do thanks to your sleuth work.

 

[cyanmauve]

Now just get to work on a methanol injection system for me....

 

[Tomwa]

With every engine there is an amount of air that ends up on the under side of the pistons. Piston rings do not create a perfect seal. As the pistons pump up and down it pressurizes the bottom of the engine relative to the head which is connected by the oil drain back gallies.

If this pressure increases in a perfectly sealed engine you would reduce HP as the pistons would have more and more air to push against. And the combustion conditions will always be more pressure which is why it will be additive. This is especially true for turbo and supercharged engines, as well as those with really high compression ratios.

Factory cars look for ways to relieve this buildup in pressure. Typically through breather tubes connected to the vacuum of the intake manifold or pathway.

These tubes bring that air and pressure, but because of the turbulent environment of the crank and heads the air never really comes alone. It comes with oil be vapors and other deposits which normally would stay in the engine that are now being introduced to the intake pathway.

It can be a surprising amount. Catch cans are trying to mitigate as much as possible. On direct injection cars my catch can has been very fuel heavy as well. All that stuff would be coating intake valves.