Catch Can - Cold Weather Condensation

I've heard this too, and not sure. If the OCC inlet and outlet are at the top, and there's a decent sized reservoir for captured goop below, maybe it won't matter if it's frozen at the bottom, as long as there's air passage between inlet and outlet. That's assuming a hose doesn't get ice clogged, which I doubt.

Where you locate it might be a factor too: closer to the engine could help, at least once it's warming up.

I've never noticed a problem, but then I'm on the wet coast.

Try it, with an install that's relatively easy to delete?

 

Not sure.

One thing: in stock condition there is a short U-shaped hose between the PCV valve in the engine block and the intake manifold. It seems to me if you want to reduce the freezing risk, have the OCC as close as practical to this location, and keep hose extensions to the can short.

I mounted mine on a bracket on the lower front cross-beam*; with the original U-shaped hose cut at the middle, barb splicers and short runs of fuel line added, at most a foot extension.

It's most easily accessible from below, which I do in conjunction with oil changes. May or may not work for you.

* Connection to the lower cross beam should be "soft"; that beam needs to flex, in particularly if you're using the front/centre jacking point, which is on it's underside. I put rubber gaskets between the bracket I added and the top of the beam, and installed the mounting hardware just finger-tight and locked.

 

I’m happy with my OCC on front cross beam as well. Cut the U shaped hose between the PCV and intake manifold in half, splice in rubber hoses to/from the OCC, and you’re in business.

I used a Moroso clamp and some hose clamps to secure OCC to cross beam, easy to empty when under the car.

 

Oil Catch Can, Eliminate that knock! | Page 113 | PriusChat

 

In my opinion there are several things you can do to mitigate problems associated with frozen OCCs:
- locate the OCC LOWER than PCV valve, in a position to allow
- using short hoses oriented down towards the OCC and prevent fluid to stagnate in the hoses and freeze or return to PCV valve
- consider insulating the hoses and OCC with polyurethane-type foam insulation for pipes (a version of Prius uses such insulation on the original PCV hose to inlet manifold)
- proper choice of OCC, the ones with sintered bronze filters on the OUT port might be more efficient, but I think they are also more prone to freeze
- use an OCC with increased capacity
- use an OCC with bottom drain valve to allow more frequent discharge during the cold season, maybe from under the car
- finally, use an easy-to-delete setup for emergency situations. I carry in the trunk the original PCV hose and a very basic set of compact tools
Last but not least, there is a second ventilation hose on the top engine cover, which I think will work as a failsafe device to prevent pressure buildup. In my car this hose is dry after driving with OCC (sintered bronze filter type) in -8 degrees Celsius for a couple of days, but than again, OCC was only mounted a few days before the test.