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What is in Oil Catch Can! (After 8500 miles)

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by iskoos, Mar 20, 2020.

  1. iskoos

    iskoos Active Member

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    This is what I found in the OCC during my recent oil change.
    It is 2010 Prius III and the oil change interval was 8500miles. (I targeted 7500miles but life got in the way:))

    My previous oil change interval was 5000miles and OCC would catch a bit of oil at the bottom of the can. This time, it was full and majority of it was water. I would normally think that the head gasket is failing but the oil I drained from the pan came out perfectly fine. I am not losing any coolant nor do I get misfiring/knocking. The engine runs perfectly fine.

    I am not sure how this happened but I am glad that nasty stuff didn't go into the intake.
    I will be monitoring the OCC closely for a while to see when it is going to start filling up again.
    IMG_20200315_170656980_HDR.jpg IMG_20200315_171611522.jpg

    If you wanna see the video of it, click below

    https://youtu.be/q-NYH7yCmBg
     
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  2. cnc97

    cnc97 Senior Member

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    A couple of weeks ago, I drained my OCC during the oil change and had similar results. Just a little oil and several ounces of water. I believe that it is due to the lower temps of the winter season. Condensation naturally occurring in the catch can, and as an attempt to minimize its occurrence, I have the catch can bolted directly to the engine block. My last oil change in September found only slightly dirty oil in the catch can.
     
  3. tankyuong

    tankyuong Senior Member

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    Your garage will smell if you leave the fluid like gas airing out in the garage
     
  4. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    If this reply doesn’t get poo pooed on then I know there’s a collusion.
     
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    What's everyone doing with this oil catch can stuff? I've been adding it to my drained motor oil (which I take to a recycler), think that's ok, but...
     
  6. cnc97

    cnc97 Senior Member

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    I mix it in with my coffee and spread it on my toast. :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
     
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  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    After the first EGR cleaning I had copious amounts of waste brake cleaner. For lack of any better ideas, I put some kitty litter in a shallow pan, poured it in, and let it evaporate. Every day or so I would give it a stir, and when it looked completely dry I bagged and garbaged it.

    I resolved to use it more sparingly in future, just enough to work, hopefully vapourizing as used.
     
  8. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    After my exhibition 13 mile runs, I use it to thicken my protein shakes.
     
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  9. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

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    I use it to mix in with my brownie mix instead of water and cocoa. :LOL::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
     
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  10. iskoos

    iskoos Active Member

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    Mine went to oil recycling as seen in the pictures and videos.

    It still puzzles me how come the OCC filled up this much and contained this much of water this time.
    Yes, this oil went through the winter season (Not sure if cold weather contributes as cnc97 mentioned above). This oil used between October 2019 and March 2020 (5 months exactly).
    I had two interstate trips within this time. Each was about 1200 miles (round trip). The rest was in-city work commute (40-mile round trip everyday) and usual weekend drive.
    So the only difference was those 2 interstate high-way trips. Maybe it contributed to this.

    I never checked the OCC during this 5-month time between the oil changes. And the reason was because I was collecting very little at every oil change previously (5000-mile oil change interval), I never thought that additional 3500-mile could fill up the catch can. I will closely monitor it for a while now and let you know if I start collecting the same kind of mix in the can.
     
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  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Our driving is pretty uniform, year 'round. Low usage too, around 6500 kms yearly. I'm draining OCC spring and fall. The fall's typically around 50 cc (mostly oil), and spring's almost double the volume, about 50/50 oil/water.
     
  12. Eddie25

    Eddie25 Active Member

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    Mine was full-FULL (mostly water I think) after 1600 miles this winter. I was very lucky to even check it in time (it was on a whim). I pretty much have to check it every 1000 miles to feel at ease. I do think it's weather related, but won't know until my next few empties. I almost wish I hadn't installed it because even though I enjoy my car maintenance and I can empty it in 5-10 minutes, it's just too much and there's bound to be at least one instance where I forget.
     
  13. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    I hear the opposite; wish they had install a OCC so head gasket would have not blown on them.
     
  14. Eddie25

    Eddie25 Active Member

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    What's the worse case scenario on not emptying the catch can though?

    I installed it with no issues on my car, so now having to do a serious maintenance check every 1000 miles is fairly extreme. I'm not trying to poo-poo the catch can (it's doing it's job apparently), but I think people should be aware of this possibility.
     
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    If it completely fills it creates pressure in crakcase and starts sucking slugs of that goop into intake?

    Check diligently and/or increase capacity.

    Could you drill and tap sidewall near top for npt hose barb, run hose to a secondary catch bottle?
     
  16. iskoos

    iskoos Active Member

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    If it fills, it gonna suck that mix starting from the top (since the output of the OCC is at the top). I doubt it will be able to suck the thick sludge that sinks to the bottom of the can.

    One thing for sure is that I am very happy to have this thing. And even if I do have to empty it every month, I will not complain. It is a very easy task. I installed it to where danlatu recommended.
     
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  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah mine's on bracket on lower cross beam, access more difficult, but with low miles and frequent DIY oil changes it's working out fine.

    It does get you thinking though: you pretty much need a clause or two in your last-will-and-testament, alerting the survivors, telling them how to deal with it, or how to restore to stock. Not completely in jest, lol.
     
  18. Eddie25

    Eddie25 Active Member

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    Mine's there too. I just take off the air filter section and I'm able to reach down and unscrew the can from the engine bay. Very quick and only need a 10mm socket, it's just the possibility of forgetting to do it that worries me.
     
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  19. cnc97

    cnc97 Senior Member

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    Even though mine is mounted to the engine block, below the intake, I can still drain it from above. I have a two liter bottle cut in half that I can put down there to catch the stuff.
     
  20. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Don't you guys like to crawl under there, just meditate? :ROFLMAO:
     
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