Oil separator anyone?

[Paul Workman]

For those that might be interested, I picked up a very nice Moroso oil separator. It is a class act piece of equipment. It is a closed cylinder, billet aluminum, about 2.5" in diameter, x about 5" long, and comes with the inlet/outlet barb fittings at the top, the separator filtering (metal) is installed, and has a petcock and barb connector on the bottom for draining, and a billet aluminum mounting bracket. Very nice machine work.

Price was $150+tax; ready to install - just need hoses and done!

P

[Schrade]

If this oil isn't removed with this device, where does it end up?

I'm guessing it will foul somewhere?

[Dynomite]

If this oil isn't removed with this device, where does it end up?
I'm guessing it will foul somewhere?
It ends up in plenum and you burn it........but it gums up the intake more than necessary ;)

-=Jeff=- was one of the first I think Oil Catch Can Photo (http://www.zr1.net/forum/showthread.php?p=102882)

Here is what I used on both a 90' and 91'.

See Item #5 of LT5 Added Systems (http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-zr-1-discussion/2942569-tech-info-lt5-eliminated-systems.html#post1579114180)

See Details for Oil Catch Can Installation (http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-zr-1-discussion/2942569-tech-info-lt5-eliminated-systems.html#post1581665524)

The PCV hose connected under front of plenum (Vacuum source) is connected using SS braided hose to an Oil Catch Can external to the engine which Oil Catch Can is connected using SS braided hose to the dual PVC valves hard line located at the rear of the plenum. The Oil Catch Can is located on the drivers side inside wheel well (using a small channel ground and drilled to conform to the inside fender well as a spacer).

The Oil Catch Can used here is the Elite Engineering Oil Catch Can (http://www.eliteengineeringusa.com/Catch_Can/)
(I use wing nuts for quick Catch Can Maintenance)

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll142/dynomite007/LT5/OilCatchCan-2.jpghttp://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll142/dynomite007/Dynomite/7c5d965c-286d-4d8b-8c3d-cf33b33e01af.jpg
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll142/dynomite007/LT5/OilCatch1.jpg

[Paul Workman]

If this oil isn't removed with this device, where does it end up?

I'm guessing it will foul somewhere?

Oil, not separated, makes its way to the combustion chambers, fouling plugs, carboning up the valves, contributing to knock, plugging the MAP sensor hose (leading to other seemingly disassociated issues with idle and AF mix...) Not good. The LT5 (among other open deck motors) is prone to a little more crankcase pressurization - hence oil blow-by - than some others (tho some LS motors also have oil separators for the same reason: keeping oil out of the cylinders).

I'll post a pic of the Moroso unit later.

P.

[Dynomite]

Oil, not separated, makes its way to the combustion chambers, fouling plugs, carboning up the valves, contributing to knock, plugging the MAP sensor hose (leading to other seemingly disassociated issues with idle and AF mix...) Not good. The LT5 (among other open deck motors) is prone to a little more crankcase pressurization - hence oil blow-by - than some others (tho some LS motors also have oil separators for the same reason: keeping oil out of the cylinders).

I'll post a pic of the Moroso unit later.

P.

Paul...last time I checked my Elite Oil Catch Can after several 1/4 mile runs and some additional miles (I think it makes a BIG difference if you stand on it) I had maybe 1/2 inch of oil in bottom of Oil Catch Can. So it works :p

[Racinfan83]

Two quick questions - does this setup eliminate the PCV valves - and if I don't run the car hard like some of you guys do (racing, etc), is it even necessary?
It does look cool - but I'm trying to keep the stock look for now...

[efnfast]

Is there a down side to doing this? Other than the fact that GM didn't do it originally.

[GOLDCYLON]

Is there a down side to doing this? Other than the fact that GM didn't do it originally.

in short no..

[GOLDCYLON]

Two quick questions - does this setup eliminate the PCV valves - and if I don't run the car hard like some of you guys do (racing, etc), is it even necessary?
It does look cool - but I'm trying to keep the stock look for now...


No it does not eliminate the PCV valves. It captures oil before it gets into the plenum etc.

[We Gone]

Could this be mounted with reg black line and down in the front say where the AIR pump is located for a more discreet setup? or does the distance (length of the lines effect the PCV system)

[FU]

Had them on the 441. Never had any oil in the can's when I checked. Marc Haibeck built that engine quite well.
I pullled them off after 5Kmiles, still dry as a bone.

[Schrade]

Paul...last time I checked my Elite Oil Catch Can after several 1/4 mile runs and some additional miles (I think it makes a BIG difference if you stand on it) I had maybe 1/2 inch of oil in bottom of Oil Catch Can. So it works :pIs there too much oil to be filtered by some sort of added-in filter membrane? Maybe for those who don't race, like FrankU says above, and do 'hammer down' once / twice per outing, only enough to get new fuel through the secondary injectors - will THAT make for enough oil to justify a catch can?

So in the existing intake hardware, where will I see excess oil when [IF] I [ever] pull the intake / plenum ?

And since it's (+) crankcase ventilation, how does it purge, to the intake vacuum? good snappics too there...
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll142/dynomite007/C%20Engine%20LT5/926c5317-098a-46fc-ac3d-76edbdeff335.jpg
(where is emissions routing diagram in FSM - anyone know offhand here? ) IS AIR ACTUALLY FORCED INTO THE CRANKCASE, for fumes purge??? Or is it a mis-nomer?

Hmmm... positive air pressure, into the induction.

Forced-Oil Induction? :mrgreen:

[Dynomite]

A Brief Discussion of the LT5 PCV System in regard to the Oil Catch Can and its use.

1. CamShaft Area.
The two cam covers have a filter and air tube connected to the Air Horn. This allows dry fresh air to enter the Camshaft area venting moisture and fumes from that area. The two little restricted holes in each Head/Injector Housing entering the Injector housing (restrictions located in Head or Injector Housing depending on 90' or 91') minimizes oil and air flow going from the Camshaft area into the Injector Housing.

2. Crankcase Area.
The Crankcase is vented upward through the two large "L" hoses connecting the Cylinder Case vents to the Injector Housing Ports located under the Plenum. This allows the piston ring Blow By to be vented to the Injector Housing.

3. Injector Housing Function.
These two sources of contaminated air (contaminated in the camshaft area by moisture and piston ring Blow By coming up through the oil vents for oil to drain downward) meet in each Injector Housing.

4. PCV Valves Function (CV913C & CV769C).
All this contaminated air is vacuumed from each side of the Injector Housing through the PCV valves which restrict the flow at high Vacuum. The Vacuum is applied from the PCV connection on the front of the Plenum behind the Throttle Body. At Idle, Plenum Vacuum is high and the PCV valves close down a bit. At lower Vacuum when the Throttle is open (higher Crankcase Blow By) the PCV valves open up a bit more. I am thinking if you have excessive piston ring Blow By more than the PCV vacuum can handle through the Plenum, that excessive Blow By would be forced in reverse through the cam covers to the Air Horn with oily fumes captured by the Cam Cover Filters.

5. Summary of PCV System.
In Summary, the contaminants from the Crankcase and Camshaft area meet in the Injector Housing and are vacuumed through the PCV valves. Fresh air picks up moisture by passing through the Camshaft Area and Crankcase Blow By contaminants from the crankcase are both vented to the Injector Housing.

6. Oil Catch Can.
Both contaminated air sources pick up oil fumes on the way to the Plenum which fumes are liquefied and caught in the Oil Catch Can installed on both my 90' and 91' :p

If you have no Oil Catch Can and a bit of Blow By like most higher mileage engines (Frank has a tight rebuilt from bottom up engine I am thinking) the oily fumes continue on into the Plenum exactly as Paul describes :thumbsup:

Oil, not separated, makes its way to the combustion chambers, fouling plugs, carboning up the valves, contributing to knock, plugging the MAP sensor hose (leading to other seemingly disassociated issues with idle and AF mix...) Not good. The LT5 (among other open deck motors) is prone to a little more crankcase pressurization - hence oil blow-by - than some others (tho some LS motors also have oil separators for the same reason: keeping oil out of the cylinders).
P.

6. Charcoal Canister and Purge Vacuum.

The Fuel Tank Fumes Purge is a separate issue. On the 90' the charcoal canister is under drivers side headlight. On the 91' the charcoal canister is behind passenger side rear wheel well. The charcoal canister captures fuel tank fumes through the Purge Vacuum System (a minor difference between 90' and 91' Plenum connections). There is a Purge solenoid under the Plenum for 91' and under drivers side headlight for 90' that controls activation of the Fuel Tank Purge System.

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll142/dynomite007/C%20Engine%20LT5/926c5317-098a-46fc-ac3d-76edbdeff335.jpg

Notes:
I highly recommend Jerry's new PCV valve rubber hose which solves the issue of the vacuum leak from the plenum to the PCV system.

You can see the size of the PCV Connector openings (Jerry's new on left and old on right in each photo). Replacing these with Jerry's NEW PCV top connector (on left in each photo) is a must.

Jerry's Dual PCV Valve Connector (http://jerrysgaskets.com/store2/root/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7&products_id=76)

Old PCV Valve Connector on right.........................................New PCV Valve Connector on left
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll142/dynomite007/Maintenance%20ZR1/cd4ece6f-988c-475b-9c86-1b84afadb4bd.jpghttp://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll142/dynomite007/Maintenance%20ZR1/b2e0c75d-9bf3-44f6-81dd-0c287abc01f0.jpg

I also highly recommend Marc's Camshaft Cover Filters if you remove your Cam Covers for any reason.