1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Catch can cause problems?

....yes it does.

 

opcorn::beer

 

Me thinks I need to stay out of this thread ostcount

 

:cornut:

 

I've got an M7 oil catch can on mine from the previous owner. I haven't noticed any problems with it or had any vacuum leaks (that I know of!).
Was this done as a cosmetic thing then? Honestly not sure how to service the dang thing either.
This thread has actually raised more questions than answers for me.

Such as; is a catch can necessary or not? And if you have one, is it doing more harm than good? How would you be able to tell?

 

:cornut: 1. Yes the catch can must be emptied or all of the dinosaur snot just goes back into the air intake which is what the catch can is trying to prevent. 2. On R50, 52, 53s catch cans aren't nearly as important as they are on R56s. Prior to R56s the MINIs had indirect fuel injection so the intake valves were cleaned by the fuel air mixture. R56s have direct injection to the combustion chamber such that the only thing bathing the intake valves is watery/oily blow by from the crank case and else where resulting in carbon build up. So indirect injection=catch can not important. Direct injection= catch can important.

Jason

 

Exactly those questions have never been definitively answered, anywhere.

Asking those questions in an automotive forum often launches mudslinging debates that end up with the thread being locked.

 

I clean my IC with acetone every Spring to clean out the little bits of dirt inside. It also gets rid of anything coating the fins of the IC.

Take of IC.

Seal off one end with a plastic bag taped to the outside.

Pour in Acetone and slowly shake and look for any possible leaks that could cause a boost leak.

Remove and air dry and reseal IC back to horns with new OEM rubber IC boots.

 

:cornut: Love our Dave.O the closet obsessive compulsive R53 mechanic(or his favorite toy. It may not be broke but to him it's just too much fun to fix it anyway, it keeps him off of the streets and gives us plenty of fun stuff to read about).

Jason

 

I had one, now I don't.

With the M7 one, when you start tossing vacuum leak type codes, check the "sight glass", mine melted away. It's no more than aquarium airline tubing.

 

If OIL is seeping/LEAKING out around the boots or joint....air can get out too!! Hate yo be blunt, but if you see leakage, the boots/gaskets are NOT WORKING RIGHT. Period. Same for ANY OTHER CONNECTION.....look at the inlet tube...might have a crack in it or the connector....think way might sell a few bit like that...
If it is the boots....Get new boots!! They shrink and harden as the cage(OEM), and the silicone ones are just for looks IMO...more trouble prone and harder to use.

 

:cornut: No help here as I'm an R56 type with a catch can and no problems with it. So I'll bump you to keep you on top and wait for the R53 crowd to show up.

Jason

 

My advice to you is remove the catch can from your R53 because you don't need it at all.
It is going to cause more problems than it's worth.

 

:cornut: R53s have indirect fuel injection such that the fuel does coat and clean the intake valves.

Jason

 

:cornut: Bump Bump! Calling all R53 Gurus(unfortunately I'm an R56 Type).

Jason

 

Never had a catch can. I read on the interwebs they were bad JuJu.:wink: Sorry I can't remember why. Someone who knows about them or thinks they do will be along shortly.

:beer

 

Well the 2 companies you found really don't make many things that really have any benefits at all.

The reason I would not add an oil catch can to an R53 is you can mess up the vacuum. Also you don't need one with an R53 at all so it's just a waste of money with no real gains and the possibility really effing things up.

I am not really sure what valve you are specifically talking about but I have not changed any of those things. My car runs good and strong and puts down some great numbers. I also run my car very hard and it performs very well when in push the GO peddle.