Engine Drivetrain 1st Gen Cooper S The great Catch can debate

Discussion in 'Tuning and Performance' started by MCS02, Dec 11, 2016.

  1. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
    Staff Member Articles Moderator Supporting Member

    Jul 31, 2009
    11,164
    6,170
    113
    Male
    Ratings:
    +7,876 / 10 / -3
    So after taking my intercooler off and the plastic tube that goes from the throttle housing to the super charger I was amazed how oily it was. The throttle body took forever to clean as did the rest of the components. I know lots of people think a catch can is not needed but I am no longer convinced.

    Has any here used a catch can long term and been able to see if it does help keep everything clean?

    As a side note I replaced my bypass valve.the one that was on the car was very easy to open. The DT one is nice and tight. This should help on early boost.
     
  2. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

    Jun 4, 2009
    19,424
    10,031
    113
    Retired old fart
    Hooterville Ohio USA
    Ratings:
    +11,656 / 2 / -0
    Make sure to buy an Alta Lee. :smilewinkgrin: I'm not convinced one is needed.
     
  3. Guapish_Fliver

    Guapish_Fliver New Member

    May 31, 2016
    272
    0
    0
    Pimpin
    Da wess
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    It was double edged sword for my 2nd gen pos.

    Do you want higher crankcase pressure with increased oil consumption or do you want an oily intake with dirty valves?
     
  4. DneprDave

    DneprDave Well-Known Member
    Supporting Member

    Oct 23, 2010
    2,952
    1,500
    113
    Engineer
    Pacific NW
    Ratings:
    +1,721 / 0 / -0
    I've had a oil catch can on my series two MINI since it was new, it loses a pint of oil between 5000 mile oil changes.

    If your series two MINI S uses oil with an oil catch can and doesn't without an oil catch can, then your head cover/PCV is defective.
     
  5. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

    Jun 4, 2009
    19,424
    10,031
    113
    Retired old fart
    Hooterville Ohio USA
    Ratings:
    +11,656 / 2 / -0
    An R53 doesn't get dirty valves like the N14 & N18 engines do. It is port injected not direct injected & that's why. I have seen zero proof that a catch can on the newer MINI makes any difference. Use them if you want.
     
  6. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
    Staff Member Articles Moderator Supporting Member

    Jul 31, 2009
    11,164
    6,170
    113
    Male
    Ratings:
    +7,876 / 10 / -3
    The Intercooler boots had oil sitting in them. But it has been 2 years sense I have it off. The inter cooler is dirty but not to bad. I will clean it before it goes back on. It would be nice to keep some oil out of the system. It makes me long for the days you just stuck the crank case vent hose in an oil can and were done with it.
     
  7. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
    Staff Member Articles Moderator Supporting Member

    Jul 31, 2009
    11,164
    6,170
    113
    Male
    Ratings:
    +7,876 / 10 / -3
    Perhaps I am being too picky.
     
  8. GokartPilot

    GokartPilot Well-Known Member

    Jan 9, 2012
    962
    715
    93
    training specialist
    Maysville, North Carolina USA
    Ratings:
    +780 / 0 / -0
    I had the same issue Saturday, pulled the old IC boots for their replacements and found oil, not a whole lot but it made me wonder a little.
     
  9. mrntd

    mrntd Well-Known Member
    Supporting Member

    Sep 30, 2011
    5,083
    1,762
    113
    Male
    Sales and Marketing manager
    Hilliard, Ohio
    Ratings:
    +1,763 / 0 / -0
    After I first took off my inter cooler and boots on my gen 1 and saw MCS02 saw I added a $5 catch can (water/air separator from Harbor Freight). The last time I had it off it was much cleaner. It was worth the $5.
     
  10. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 4, 2009
    25,021
    13,497
    113
    Burbs of Philly, PA
    Ratings:
    +14,644 / 10 / -4
    A little oil in the IC boots is normal. Every time I take mine off I see a little and clean it out but, It's no big deal.

    No oil catch can needed on an R53.
     
  11. Qik

    Qik Well-Known Member

    Oct 27, 2015
    1,421
    670
    113
    IT
    Atlanta-ish
    Ratings:
    +811 / 0 / -0
    After I had my intake valves cleaned I purchased one. Can't say yet whether or not it will keep them clean(er). The can itself didn't do/catch much at first, it's a pos M7 carbon can with nothing inside it. No baffles, nothing.. And the out/in are right next to each other with nothing separating them. I crammed it full of stainless mesh and I check it every oil change and so far it's real dirty inside and the mesh is oil covered but it hasn't separated out enough oil to even register on that clear side hose thing since the Dragon. I did notice that the pre turbo tubes are oil free now.
     
  12. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 4, 2009
    25,021
    13,497
    113
    Burbs of Philly, PA
    Ratings:
    +14,644 / 10 / -4
    We are only talking about Lee's 1st Gen R53.

    We all know the later version Turdblow cars have many issues. :lol:
     
  13. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    Sep 29, 2009
    12,713
    7,659
    113
    Ex-Owner (Retired) of a custom metal fab company.
    Columbus, Ohio
    Ratings:
    +7,913 / 1 / -0
    How much $ can a catch can catch if a catch can could catch earl....

    I'm thinking they are just engine jewerly....

    Something to stand around and talk about with the bonnet up and a beer in your hand.... Then they would be worth it...

    If Greene Performance comes out with one then they must be beneficial and I would edit my post....:Thumbsup:
     
  14. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 4, 2009
    25,021
    13,497
    113
    Burbs of Philly, PA
    Ratings:
    +14,644 / 10 / -4
    Colin hates them on R53's. LMAO ^^^
     
  15. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
    Staff Member Articles Moderator Supporting Member

    Jul 31, 2009
    11,164
    6,170
    113
    Male
    Ratings:
    +7,876 / 10 / -3
    Maybe the answer is meth.....for the car that is.
     
  16. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

    Jun 4, 2009
    19,424
    10,031
    113
    Retired old fart
    Hooterville Ohio USA
    Ratings:
    +11,656 / 2 / -0
    Drill a hole in the bottom of those boots so the oil can leak out. :ihih:
     
  17. Qik

    Qik Well-Known Member

    Oct 27, 2015
    1,421
    670
    113
    IT
    Atlanta-ish
    Ratings:
    +811 / 0 / -0
    Ah! :Thumbsup:
     
  18. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
    Staff Member Articles Moderator Supporting Member

    Jul 31, 2009
    11,164
    6,170
    113
    Male
    Ratings:
    +7,876 / 10 / -3
    You know I never thought of that! :lol::lol:
     
  19. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
    Supporting Member

    May 4, 2009
    8,767
    2,547
    113
    Bend, OR USA
    Ratings:
    +2,678 / 1 / -0
    I've had one on my car.....ebay special.......for better than 10 yrs now and it gets about 4-5 oz of oil each year or so. As long as you connect the can to the connection with the hard plastic line under the IC you will never have a problem
     
  20. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 4, 2009
    25,021
    13,497
    113
    Burbs of Philly, PA
    Ratings:
    +14,644 / 10 / -4
    Still not worth it and not needed.
     

Share This Page