Feedback on oil catch can flush

nandosman

I want to hear what you think about this, I'm unsure if I should be concerned or not. I have 2 oil catch cans installed on my Z (one per V side), and I usually flush them on every oil change.

This is a picture of the driver side can, after 3200 miles and 14 months:


And here is a picture of it next to the passenger side's:


As you can see, passenger side is practically empty, and driver sides looks milky-ish:


But the oil I drained is 100% normal, which makes me think the white-ish is just humidity collected there over time.

Other people with oil catch cans, how's been your experience?

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FI Non-Res Test Pipes | FI 18" Res CBE | Stillen Gen 3 CAI | Dynotuned @ Dynosty EcuTek 325 whp

projectpanda

Mine is similar but not as milky. Definitely a mix of water from humidity/condensation.

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RHM 75mm TB & ported up/low mani., 3" intakes/velocity stack, Z1 Headers, Motordyne ART pipes, HBP 3.5" exhaust, Tein MonoSport, SPL F/R arms, endlinks, and tie rods , Eibach sways, Z1 rotors F/R, diff bush., subframe collar, Bell Raceworks diff brace

Quicksilvers

Does not look abnormal to me. In Illinois you will experience humidity and heat. I would keep oil changes at 3K and make sure catch cans are being completely emptied every oil change. See what you find next oil change?

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Mr. Clean

JARblue

If the oil in your catch cans sits there long enough, it will always develop a milky look to it from ambient moisture that condenses in the can over time.

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bcfromfl

I may be wrong, but I think part of the OP's question has to do with why the catch can on one side is full of gunk, but not the other side. I'm curious about this as well.

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Michelin PS4S 275/35F, 305/30R /// Exhaust: Motordyne ART Pipes, Garageline X and Mid-Pipe Combo /// Clutch: ZSpeed EZ-Street Stage II, RJM HD Master Cylinder

nandosman

Yes, this mostly. Why is the driver side almost full, but the passenger side practically empty.

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FI Non-Res Test Pipes | FI 18" Res CBE | Stillen Gen 3 CAI | Dynotuned @ Dynosty EcuTek 325 whp

Jhill

My setup does the same. More than likely just has to do with internal baffling of the valve covers etc. I wouldn’t stress it, those can looks fairly similar in size to mine (small) and that really isn’t that much in there vs some other vehicles. If your not using a bunch of oil and that’s all you have in the cans then I wouldn’t worry about it.

ZoomZ

Yes, I also get uneven filling of catch cans. I do 5000 KM OCI. I empty catch cans @2500 KM (1600 miles) and then @ oil change.

How old is your car/mileage? My Xterra was getting milky catched oil. It was 300k KM's on engine. My 370 is younger, and is not making milk. Perhaps age and wear also increase water entrapment.

zz

nandosman

Car just hit 50,000 miles. I usually flush mine with each oil change, every 5k miles, or 12-ish months

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FI Non-Res Test Pipes | FI 18" Res CBE | Stillen Gen 3 CAI | Dynotuned @ Dynosty EcuTek 325 whp

JARblue

1600 miles isn't much. I wouldn't expect it the catch can contents to be very milky in that time unless the change interval is fairly large (like >6 months)

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old guy

I’ve gone back and forth on weather to get a set of cans or not, now I think I will ( again )

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I better walk before they make me run....

ZoomZ

I did plan on increasing the interval. However, I did the same interval with Xterra and those are the results I got.

You're right though, it is a short cycle, but I'd rather keep them empty and clean on a regular basis. Just my personal preference.

zz