oil catch cans, is forge the only option?

[austengti]

As im giving my gti's engine a complete overhaul in the next couple of weeks I was obviously planning changing my pcv, however i think it would be best to go for an oil catch can system for obvious reasons.

So far I've only come across the forge one, which is £373 which just seems extortionate to me. Now i've seen that you can buy the 42 draft designs pcv conversion plate for £66, is it possible to just buy that and a cheap catch can and install that? or am i being naive?

Also, is the only difference in the forge kit for the charcoal canister version the fact it relocates your washer bottle filler? If so presumably you could just mount the oil catch can in a different place?   

Apologies if im just speaking a load of rubbish and need to man up and spend the money on the forge kit...

[Softishman]

I have a BSH recirc and it's really good!! Cheaper then a Forge and bigger.

[austengti]

ah just had a quick google for them and they look not bad! Can't seem to find them anywhere for sale though? Whats the rough price of them?

Cheers 

[mk5-beast-91]

awesome gti do some on there.

[austengti]

They have a couple yeah, all silly prices though for essentially what is a tin can with two hoses coming from it If i can get away with buying the plate and just a cheap can for like 40/50 quid then id rather save the extra £250 to spend on another mod of some form.... but as i've never had one before on any cars, im unsure of whether there is a reason forge ones are extortionate or if as usual, your just paying for the brand name. 

Was kind of hoping someone previously had done this so i could see their set up 

[GrayMK5GTI]

Catch cans don't really provide any benefit on the mk5 - as proven by AKS Alex. TFSI seems to run better with stock PCV, some guys have even had white smoke from the forge catch can (typically high power K04 setups).

Alex cleaned his inlet valves and fitted a catch can. 9k miles later, valves were filthy with carbon, proving the worthlessness of the catch can.

Great for a bit of engine bay bling I guess. . . 

[austengti]

Ahh really? That's thrown a bit of a spanner in the works!

It's purely because I get a lot
Of oil going through my intake/dv to the point I've had oil dripping through the plug on the dv :| so although I will be replacing every gasket/seal to help this I thought a catch can might do the trick Might have to reconsider now though

[TimmyH92]

Niki and Alex seem to suggest OEM PCV over anything from what I have read recently.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but as I understand it catch cans only work off boost when normally the gunk would be returned to the inlet manifold. As under boost the rear breather is used rendering the can useless...

[GrayMK5GTI]

Sorry fella 

Wish I could find the thread where Alex showed his pictures.

[TimmyH92]

Sorry fella 

Wish I could find the thread where Alex showed his pictures.

This one?

I fully cleaned and rebuild by head around 10k ago and its already getting quite caked up again.  Been running a catch can for over 20k so that doesn't help at all.

Took around 5 mins on each valve to get them clean.  Old trick of putting the valves in a pillar drill and using brake cleaner soaked scotchbrite.

Pic of my tray once I cleaned the rest of the head out:

[Dan_FR]

My catch can works fine, all it cost me was the 42DD plate and manifold blank as i had a catch can laying around. Not doing so much at the moment, but the amount of oily water condensate it caught during the winter was surprising. Not surprised it doesn't help with the valves, as most of that is caused by oil seeping through the valve seals

It's also one less potential issue with PCV failure or vacuum leaks. Wouldn't recommend a PCV blank as they restrict the passage through the camshaft cover to the rear breather which can cause excessive crankcase pressure

With the catch can setup, it always goes through the catch can, both vacuum and boost, and it all feeds in to the turbo through the rear breather on the camshaft cover.

[tommygti]

I'd argue that it all depends on the quality of the catch can and its internal baffling. If it is naff like forge (dont get me wrong they make great products), bsh, or the cheap ebay versions then yes its pointless. CTS, 034 motorsport, BFI, and a few other VAG tuners make catch cans with good baffle design that have proven to help with engine carbon and other deposit build ups. Ive got a custom kit which uses this catch can:
https://www.tegiwaimports.com/index.php/tegiwa-billet-catch-can-breather-tank-1-5l.html
or you can use this one
http://www.mishimoto.co.uk/compact-baffled-oil-catch-can-2-port.html
(although it does not have a as good capacity as the Tegiwa)

[austengti]

My catch can works fine, all it cost me was the 42DD plate and manifold blank as i had a catch can laying around. Not doing so much at the moment, but the amount of oily water condensate it caught during the winter was surprising. Not surprised it doesn't help with the valves, as most of that is caused by oil seeping through the valve seals

It's also one less potential issue with PCV failure or vacuum leaks. Wouldn't recommend a PCV blank as they restrict the passage through the camshaft cover to the rear breather which can cause excessive crankcase pressure

With the catch can setup, it always goes through the catch can, both vacuum and boost, and it all feeds in to the turbo through the rear breather on the camshaft cover.

Where did you manage to get the manifold blank mate? Can find everything else just not the blank.

Also I agree on the valve situation as surely without the can it would be a lot worse the carbon deposits etc with all that oil and sludge going through the system too? And all im wanting it for is to try and stop a lot of the oil in my intake system.

Good to be hearing some positive feedback on them

It was the mishimoto can's I had been looking at as I've also been looking into their intercooler's, seems good quality stuff for the money. Always annoys me when company's like forge charge ridiculous money for products that aren't any better than cheaper options such as mishimoto.

[Dan_FR]

AwesomeGTI  sell both the 42DD and manifold blank. The can I have is an Allard one from my old Golf TDI but any decent sized can will be ok so long as it's baffled and has 19mm inlet and outlet.

[mk5-beast-91]

ive got the 42dd one. they also sell the extension drainage plug and tube so it can be drained easier from under the car.