Dodge Dude's Homebrew Oil Catch Can

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dodge dude94

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*NOTE: I would like to thank Brakelate for originally making the write-up for this DIY, 10 years ago when he was heavy into modding his 01 Cobra. It's quite possible that if it weren't for him making the original DIY that was stolen a couple times, I wouldn't have been able to adapt it for Ram owners. Thank you again, Brakelate! :D*
A couple folks have mentioned to me that I should make a write-up for my homebrew oil catch can that I've got in my Ram. Well, since I've told people how to do it and no one has done it, I guess I'll make a DIY for it. lol

First off: Why install a catch can in a truck that is a minimum of 13 years old? A spotless intake manifold and clean valves. That's why. I've personally found on my truck that it keeps the ping down as the engine isn't sucking the fine mist of oil it used to always do. In fact, it works so well that I pulled my air cleaner a couple weeks ago to find my plenum pan nearly spotless in the area of the PCV tube in the manifold.

Now, I had done my research prior to making this up to see what a catch can was (and this was before the huge buzz with the 4th gen guys) and I was intrigued, however, I did not want to spend the $80 for a nice, pretty can. So I found a DIY on a Cobra forum using an air/water separator for a shop air compressor.


What you'll need is the following:

A Kolbalt 3/8in Air Filter (air/water separator) PN 0221014- Found at Lowes for something like $20.99 or so

A pair of 3/8in NPT (this is crucial, as I found out) brass, barbed air fittings.

A roll of telfon thread tape

4ft of 3/8in PCV hose

2 1/4in (ish) band clamps

JB Weld :D

What I used for mounting onto my inner fender:

2in EMT (electrical conduit), 2 hole strap
and
Stainless Hex-head self-drilling screws 14x3/4
100_6008_zps7fe2d61b.jpg

I actually went and dug that crap out of my toolbox for you guys, so be grateful! :p

I then went to the Dollar Tree and bough a package of 3 copper scrubbers for a buck (everything in that store is a dollar or less).



Now for putting it together:

You're going to, first, take the stone filter that's already in the can, out and should have three pieces:
100_6009_zpsa88324fc.jpg

Now, instead of that filter, you're going to either stuff in, or cut and place the scrubber. I chose to cut mine in half because I didn't like the fact that it was displacing a LOT of volume. You're going to put this in the can.

After you do that, take your fittings, wrap the threads with teflon tape and carefully screw them into the can.

It should look like this:
100_4891_zpsfde9870b.jpg

You're also going to need to epoxy the drain on the bottom. I just used JB KWIK for that. Just make sure you do it right the first time so you don't get oil that leaches past and FUBARs the glue like I did. :Frustrated:

After that, take your 4ft of hose, and unless it's pre-cut into 2, 2ft lengths like mine was, do that now. Attach one 2 ft length to each fitting. Shove that sucker on. It's gonna take some force. Slide your clamps along the hose and tighten them down, better to be safe than sorry, IMO.

It's ready to install, but WAIT! You're not done yet. Time for the truck side, this is where things get....interesting. If you're like me, you don't like drilling into your truck, but this is the best way to mount.

Now, I don't have any pictures of me screwing the mount to the fender, but it's pretty simple, just take your time and make sure you apply firm pressure to the screws so they don't skip.

This is what you'll have when you're done:

100_5090_zpsa99fadf6.jpg

100_5089_zps625e1c72.jpg

And unless you bent the clamp while drilling, it will just slide right out to dump it.

100_5091_zpsd8a2fe54.jpg


And here is my result after 100mi of driving during this summer:

100_5366_zps33455a8f.jpg

Nasty stuff.



Hope y'all enjoy this and it helps someone! :happy160:
 
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dodge dude94

dodge dude94

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Thanks John! :D
Doesn't it make you wanna go out and install one? ;)
 

Casper

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Yup, that's about what my Rube Goldberg catch can looked like. I wasn't willing to drill the firewall and the fender liner is plastic in a Gen IV, so I was never very comfortable with where it sat alongside the engine block. Once I saved my pennies, I bought a BT Catch Can with Z-bracket. Now that's pretty.
 

Sybil

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That is the cheapest catch can I have seen, good job!
 

99RamSport360

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Where do you attach the two ends of the hoses?
 

crazzywolfie

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the output hose goes to the intake and the input hose goes to the pcv valve so that all the nasty oil gets left in the filter
IMAG0435.jpg
 
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dodge dude94

dodge dude94

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Mrnagasaki

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Great write up / question

Hey thanks for this awesome write up i just finished setting the epoxy and am going to put in on later today!!!!

I do have a couple questions though, as I am kinda new to Rams. first from the pics it looks like you catch can is installed on the passenger side, with that said in my 01 mine the pcv is connected to the air intake not the plenum.? The second question is, the driver side the pcv connects straight to the plenum, so should i be making two catch cans, one for each side?
 
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dodge dude94

dodge dude94

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First off, welcome to RF and I'm glad to hear my DIY has given you poise to start modding.

Secondly, Dodge moved the PCV and breathers around between sides depending on the year, if you have the PCV valve on the driver's side, that's where you need to put the catch can. You have one PCV valve and one breather elbow, the breather goes to the air box and the PCV goes to the intake manifold.

Hope this helps.
 

Mrnagasaki

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First off, welcome to RF and I'm glad to hear my DIY has given you poise to start modding.

Secondly, Dodge moved the PCV and breathers around between sides depending on the year, if you have the PCV valve on the driver's side, that's where you need to put the catch can. You have one PCV valve and one breather elbow, the breather goes to the air box and the PCV goes to the intake manifold.

Hope this helps.

Thank you, that definitely helps glad I asked before I put it on. I didn't really look just thought it had two PCV's. I will post some pics when I get it on if that cool, just to add to the thread. Thanks again:cheers:
 
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dodge dude94

dodge dude94

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Thank you, that definitely helps glad I asked before I put it on. I didn't really look just thought it had two PCV's. I will post some pics when I get it on if that cool, just to add to the thread. Thanks again:cheers:

Anytime man! Looking forward to what you've got. :)
 

Mrnagasaki

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ImageUploadedByTapatalk1396368727.757607.jpgImageUploadedByTapatalk1396368740.183802.jpg

Here are couple pics of that catch can on an 01. Driver side install


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dodge dude94

dodge dude94

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Sweet! What brand separator did you use? Or did you paint it?
 

Mrnagasaki

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Same one you used Just painted it. Probably shouldn't have though it's a tight fit and the paint was already kinda scratched off putting it on. Not sure the red hose was the way to go but I think it looks good right now. Thanks again for the awesome right up I am doing another one on my buddies truck too


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