[The Nightman]

I thought I'd share how I installed an oil catch can on my N52. I wanted to reduce the amount of oil in the intake manifold and hopefully extend the life of the DISA valves. My stock manifold had a lot of oil in it when I removed it at 120k km and the motors in the used DISA valves I purchased had failed due to excess oil ingress.

It only took 2-3 hours to throw this together but unfortunately I was winging it so I don't have more detailed instructions or photos. Hopefully you find this useful though.

I used a BMS style catch can and ~3' of 3/4" ID PCV hosing (Napa H187). Total cost is <$50:



The catch can can be mounted on the driver side strut brace, behind the PS fluid reservoir:


I didn't need to remove the intake manifold completely - just remove enough stuff to slide the manifold off and over so that I could reach the PCV connectors. Spraying the connectors with some silicone really helps with the removal:


I used the 3/4" hosing in conjunction with the stock plastic PCV hose by cutting the stock plastic hose off the valve cover barb connector and the T fitting under the intake manifold. I then "spliced" the catch can in with the 3/4" hose reusing the stock barb connector and T fitting. I tried to reuse the stock foam insulation with the 3/4" hosing but it doesn't fit:



The stock fittings are slightly smaller than 3/4", so I had to use 1" hose clamps for a secure connection:



Installed:



The plan is to check the catch can at each oil change to see how much oil is captured. The catch can has two baffles on the outlet but I will also stuff the can with a stainless steel scrubber next time for comparison. I have a spare PCV hose from my 330i manifold install, so if the catch can doesn't catch a meaningful amount of oil, then I will return to stock. I'll update as I go.

Update 1: 200km total
I checked the catch can after 200km and it was empty. The inlet and outlet hoses were also dry. The baffles had a little bit of oil residue on them. I noticed the hoses were no longer snug on the catch can barbs so I used hose clamps - not sure if this potential vacuum leak affected anything.

Accessing and removing the catch can requires removal of the cabin filter cowl. Not a big deal as it only takes a few minutes to do. Opening the can is more difficult as it gets very tight and the can offers little to no grip.

I'll update again next time I check the catch can.

Update 2: 500km total
I've driven 500km of short city trips in cold weather since installing the catch can and there was approximately a tablespoon of water in it.

Update 3: 600km
A very thin layer of oil coating the inside of the catch can since Update 2. I added some stainless steel scrubber to the can (about 1/3 full) to see if it will catch more oil.

[E92William]

Nice install I like this setup. I was considering doing something with the same catch can but instead of just an inline catch can, venting pcv to atmosphere with the can and breather filter at the end. Like you, the disas in the 330i manifold I had pulled for my car had failed and were sluggish because of oil inside them.

I didn't see much oil in my intake when I pulled it so I left the system stock but I also have a new valve cover with pcv. You should update after driving it for a while, I'm interested to see how much oil it keeps from getting in the intake.

[Noir]

Well done keep us posted!!

[HydroxFrost]

Pretty clean install, kinda wanna try this with my 330 when I pull the manifold for DISA valves or CCV

[jonwilli]

I installed a catch can when I was trying to supercharge my 130i. With the supercharger there was a fair amount of blow through in the intake.

The car is now running NA again but I still have a catch can. It is a Mishimoto one about the size of yours and located in the front right of the engine bay off the coolant tank. I find it collects more condensation and oil than you would have thought. I empty what's in there every few weeks as a precautionary measure and to monitor it. My catch can location means I can empty it in a couple of minutes so not a bother. I think if you only empty once a year at oil change you will still have oil/water mix in your manifold. I would suggest emptying every few hundred miles at first and see what you find.

[The Nightman]

Originally Posted by jonwilli

I installed a catch can when I was trying to supercharge my 130i. With the supercharger there was a fair amount of blow through in the intake.

The car is now running NA again but I still have a catch can. It is a Mishimoto one about the size of yours and located in the front right of the engine bay off the coolant tank. I find it collects more condensation and oil than you would have thought. I empty what's in there every few weeks as a precautionary measure and to monitor it. My catch can location means I can empty it in a couple of minutes so not a bother. I think if you only empty once a year at oil change you will still have oil/water mix in your manifold. I would suggest emptying every few hundred miles at first and see what you find.

Thanks for the heads up, I'll be checking mine sooner then.

Do you have any photos of your set up? I'm curious how you routed the hosing and mounted the can.

[jonwilli]

Originally Posted by freedomfries

Thanks for the heads up, I'll be checking mine sooner then.

Do you have any photos of your set up? I'm curious how you routed the hosing and mounted the can.

I don't really have any that show it well. I have a facelift car (black engine cover) so have the CCV in the valve cover. I have blocked off the feed into the manifold and connected the catch can directly to the output from the valve cover. Looks similar to what you have done. In order to get a vacuum I have connected the outflow from the catch can to the intake just after the MAF. I have a Mishimoto silicone intake pipe so could tap into it pretty easily.

I have located the catch can off one of the bolts that holds the coolant tank so that it is easy to empty.

[jonwilli]

This is probably the best I have unfortunately

[E92William]

First time I've seen anyone wrap the intake runners in that. Did you see a difference in intake air temps before and after?

[jonwilli]

Originally Posted by E92William

First time I've seen anyone wrap the intake runners in that. Did you see a difference in intake air temps before and after?

I had a custom supercharger set up installed and wrapped them when I had the intake manifold off. With the boost I thought it was worth the effort to minimise heat soak after the FMIC. Now I am running the car NA I doubt it does much at all. No point taking it off though and may help keep temps down.

[bluewater328]

Originally Posted by jonwilli

This is probably the best I have unfortunately

That's a clean setup for the catch can. If you had routed just a little more around the expansion tank that would have passed for stock.

[Biginboca]

Originally Posted by jonwilli

This is probably the best I have unfortunately

That looks great. Why did you ditch the SC?

[jonwilli]

Originally Posted by bluewater328

That's a clean setup for the catch can. If you had routed just a little more around the expansion tank that would have passed for stock.

Cheers, I wanted to keep the lines as short as possible from the CCV. Thought it would reduce potential blockages and too long the low vacuum might not be enough to help vent. The heat from the exhaust manifold should keep any oil thin once warmed up. May not be necessary but had a feeling...

[jonwilli]

Originally Posted by Biginboca

That looks great. Why did you ditch the SC?

I could never get the tune to work properly even with Bob's help when he was working with BPC. When he moved to StageFP he didn't want to continue with the project.

It was a custom setup, Rotrex supercharger, oil cooler and FMIC. I also have decatted headers with full Supersprint exhaust and sports cats. I ran it for a couple of years with 370 crank hp but never really trusted the tune so never made much use of the power available. I am sure with the smaller pulley I fitted I could have got over 400hp. Without Bob's support I got sick of having a car I couldn't drive and didn't know who and where else to turn. I'd been messed around by a few apparently reputable tuners in the UK before I went to BPC.

Anyway its back to NA now with ceramic coated decat headers, full Supersprint exhaust with 200cel sports cats, Mishimoto intake tube, modified air box and StageFP tune. The 130i comes with 3 stage intake manifold as stock. I have MILVs to fit this Autumn and a 3.91 diff on the way (stock is 3.46 on the manual 130i).

Build thread is here if you are interested:

https://babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=75502





I also bought an N54 135i last summer to get big power from

https://babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=129333

[NFiftyWon]

Nice, will be interested to see what this looks like in a couple of months

[Biginboca]

Originally Posted by jonwilli

I could never get the tune to work properly even with Bob's help when he was working with BPC. When he moved to StageFP he didn't want to continue with the project.

It was a custom setup, Rotrex supercharger, oil cooler and FMIC. I also have decatted headers with full Supersprint exhaust and sports cats. I ran it for a couple of years with 370 crank hp but never really trusted the tune so never made much use of the power available. I am sure with the smaller pulley I fitted I could have got over 400hp. Without Bob's support I got sick of having a car I couldn't drive and didn't know who and where else to turn. I'd been messed around by a few apparently reputable tuners in the UK before I went to BPC.

Anyway its back to NA now with ceramic coated decat headers, full Supersprint exhaust with 200cel sports cats, Mishimoto intake tube, modified air box and StageFP tune. The 130i comes with 3 stage intake manifold as stock. I have MILVs to fit this Autumn and a 3.91 diff on the way (stock is 3.46 on the manual 130i).

Build thread is here if you are interested:

https://babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=75502





I also bought an N54 135i last summer to get big power from

https://babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=129333

130i sounds like a blast! Nice choice of mods there. I would be a rich man if I had a nickel for every time I read about tuning issues with the SC on N52 on this forum lol

[jonwilli]

Originally Posted by Biginboca

130i sounds like a blast! Nice choice of mods there. I would be a rich man if I had a nickel for every time I read about tuning issues with the SC on N52 on this forum lol

Yeah I think fairly stock engine with ESS kit at moderate boost is fine. As soon as there are other mods it gets more complicated. Anyway with 3.91 diff and full NA bolt ons performance should be better than an E46 M3 in the 130 which isn't bad for what is a very reliable, cheap to run daily. With all the chassis mods I've done the handling is sublime.

[The Nightman]

I checked the catch can after 200km and it was empty. The inlet and outlet hoses were also dry. The baffles had a little bit of oil residue on them. I noticed the hoses were no longer snug on the catch can barbs so I used hose clamps - not sure if this potential vacuum leak affected anything.

Accessing and removing the catch can requires removal of the cabin filter cowl. Not a big deal as it only takes a few minutes to do. Opening the can is more difficult as it gets very tight and the can offers little to no grip.

I'll update again next time I check the catch can.

[Ericlwilliams19]

So I have an 08 e91 would you say the ess supercharger is worthless I'm not looking to sell my wagon or trade to get a 335 I'm just looking for alittle more power preferably 300hp.

[Reiver]

Is that an N53?

Originally Posted by jonwilli

I have a 330 with the N53 and I want to put a catch can on. All the information I can find is about the N54.

I know the PCV is built into the cam cover on the N53.

[jonwilli]

Originally Posted by Reiver

Is that an N53?

Its N52

[jonwilli]

I have just installed a GruppeM intake. Need to give it a drive once I refit my diff this weekend