Holy water in my catch can batman!

[Steamboat87]

I checked my catch can today (little spring clean up) after about 1200 miles since my last check. Well, it was full...of water!Probably about a half inch oil, mixed with three inches of water. Clear up to the bottom of the mesh stuff. That's a lot of fluid in a short amount of time. Honestly I'm scared now. My heart stopped for a second. Any thoughts?

I have a Vararam intake, and my only guess was at first that I inhailed some water through that, but it doesn't make sense. Just to check and make sure, I took the intake off and there was no sign of any water getting into the manifold, but who knows. Even if it did I don't think I'd see it in my catch can would I?

Anyone else see this before? I searched forums to no avail.


Austin

 

[0321devildog]

I've had my catch can on for about 8 months and have emptied it twice and usually it's about half full ( I only put about 600 miles a month on my truck) and I too have the Vararam. It does catch a lot of junk though.

 

[Steamboat87]

Ya I've had mine for 6000 miles now. Usually dump it every thousand and there hasn't been anything but an inch of oil and no crud. This was 3 inches of water at least, didn't look right at all. Makes me nervous for having that much. I'm thinking maybe it's cause of relatively short driving/condensation. I hope so.


Austin

 

[0321devildog]

Yeah short trips could have an effect on it due to the fact oil not getting hot long to enough to evaporate the condensation, just a thought. It's catching it so I wouldn't worry to much about it.

 

[Jmhm17]

Its condensation no need for alarm. its only condensing in the can. this will only happen when its cold out. once it starts warming up it will be just oil.

 

[Steamboat87]

K. I'll stop feeling scurred. That's what I was hoping it was, but was blown away at how much had accumulated in a "short" amount of time. Thanks!


Austin

 

[Sybil]

Its condensation no need for alarm. its only condensing in the can. this will only happen when its cold out. once it starts warming up it will be just oil.

Yep.

 

[KarL45]

Keep an eye on it though. As stated, humidity, cold temps, plus short drives will probably be the cause. Just a visual thought, is the engine warming fully or have you changed thermostat to cooler than OEM? Probably not but worth checking.

 

[Jmhm17]

Even if its a 180 t-stat I think closed loop happens around 165* (correct me if im wrong), so after 165 the engine is "warming fully", and regardless of the motor getting warm, its the ambient temperature that causes the issue. So once the outside temp 'warms up' it will stop happening.