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Oil Catch Can Update- Surprised at the amount of fluid.

Discussion in 'Prius v Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by lrisius, Dec 5, 2019.

  1. lrisius

    lrisius Member

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    2015 Prius v wagon
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    I installed an oil catch can a couple of weeks ago. I pretty much used the method from Nutz about Bolts in terms of hose routing, Ruien 0046 OCC, etc. I did find I was able to get to the pcv valve without having to pull the manifold. The box end of 22mm (I think) combination wrench did the trickafter I removed a cable and a vaccum hose that ran to the throttle body to make a little more space.

    Here's the interesting part- I just opened the can after about 800 miles and it was nearly half full with a caramel colored milky liquid. Probably 2-3 ounces. Seemed like more water than oil but I'm assuming the milkiness is due to some oil. I was surprised to find that much fluid. Granted we are in winter and there could be a lot of condensation in a cold oil catch can system, especially on short trips. We had a couple of 200 mile trips in that 800 so that should have warmed in up good. I run 10% ethanol gas which can also tend to carry water.

    For those of you with OCCs, does this seem normal?

    Thanks!

    Edited to add- it is a 2015 v with about 72,000 miles on it. I haven't detected any oil usage issues- have never had to add between fills.
     
    #1 lrisius, Dec 5, 2019
    Last edited: Dec 6, 2019
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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    wow, how many miles on her?
     
    #2 bisco, Dec 5, 2019
  3. scona

    scona Active Member

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    Not sure there is a normal with fluid capture but you must be happy that it is working that well. It may well have been a coincidence with the type of driving you did and the weather. More driving and monitoring should give you a better idea of what you are facing. My observations have been that there is a lot of water captured in the cooler temperatures and that the coloration matches your description.
     
    #3 scona, Dec 5, 2019
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  4. Tim Jones

    Tim Jones Senior Member

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    Most of that is water............. Never seen mine half full but I was a bit alarmed the first time I looked.....

    maybe 3/8 also..... the milky part scared me...never had a CC......... my car has 247,000
     
    #4 Tim Jones, Dec 5, 2019
    Last edited: Dec 5, 2019
  5. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    A lot of fluid and oil in the OCC means piston ring seal leakage. We changed the oil, today, in my husband's 2016 Nissan Versa Note at 16k miles. There was less than 3/8 inch in the OCC after 5 k miles.
     
    #5 Georgina Rudkus, Dec 5, 2019
  6. hotelprisoner

    hotelprisoner Member

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    I’m emptying my OCC once or twice a week with the same quantity and quality of fluid when the temperature dips below freezing. I have no oil consumption and I live in Ontario, Canada and find this amount typical in the colder months. In the summer, there is isn’t that much fluid and it tends to be more like oil.

    I installed mine beside the inverter and installed it with a ball valve in the bottom connected to a hose that routes down to a hole in the plastic underbody just in front of the drivers front wheel. A drip pan underneath and I open the valve after a good warm up drive and let it drip overnight. My first install had that clear braided plastic hose but I noticed it collapsing and cracking so replaced it all with proper fuel hose and problem solved.


    iPhone ?
     
    #6 hotelprisoner, Dec 5, 2019
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  7. lrisius

    lrisius Member

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    OP here- forgot to mention in my original post, it is a 2015 v with about 72,000 miles on it. I haven't detected any oil usage issues- have never had to add between fills.

    Thanks for the info everyone. It sounds like it is relatively normal for the winter months. We live in central Illinois and a lot of those miles were on a trip to Madison, WI over thanksgiving so it was in an even colder climate. I do see how it could be cooling and condensing a lot of the gases.

    I'll keep an eye on it and see what it does over time.
     
    #7 lrisius, Dec 6, 2019
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  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    better in the can than wherever it goes normally.
     
    #8 bisco, Dec 6, 2019
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  9. msg4life

    msg4life Member

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    The water is condensation and is typical in colder areas.. just make sure you clean out your catch can more often.. don't want that water getting sucked into your intake.
     
    #9 msg4life, Jul 30, 2021
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