I have been planning this short review for a bit and had enough time the past few days. So here it goes.:wave:
Doing this modification to your turbo car is not just another fad mod; it is an absolutely essential modification and one that I will not remove from my car for dealer visits "it will stay in, since it increases the engines performance, longevity and at the same time meet emission requirements. :thumbsup:
But what precisely does an Oil Catch Can do? Well if you fail to get an answer from your tech you surely will find it on the World Wide Web. So WikiAnswers :thumb::
An oil catch can is used in turbo applications, or high-performance race applications where excessive blow-by (leakage past the piston rings) of air and fuel vapor occurs. This creates a positive pressure in the crankcase. Engine manufactures have placed a valve on the engine block which releases this pressure.
This valve is known as a PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventilation) valve. During engine operation, blow-by gases, as well as oil mist from the rotating components of the engine, pass through the PCV valve and are routed back into the intake for the engine to burn off. However, some of the oil mist and other products settle along the engine intake and over time form a "gunk." The oil catch can collects the oil mist and condenses the fuel vapors while allowing "cleaner" gases to be passed back into the intake.
Typically the blow-by gasses are passed through a wire mesh, which give the vapor droplets something to adhere to. Since the oil catch cans condense the vapor portion of the gasses, they will need to be drained periodically of all the oil, fuel and other contaminants.Â
A member on another forum has done an extensive review on the BSH oil catch can (see ref at the end of this review) and found this definition which I thought is a brilliant explanation and I quote:
....... Engine blow-by contains gases and oil from the crankcase. The gases are not really a problem, but the oil is. This oily mess coats everything in its path as it makes it way back to the combustion chamber. This nasty oil mess gets into the turbo, then boost tubes, then intercooler, into the intake manifold, and finally back into the engine. As the oil creeps in between couplers and boost tubes, it can cause the connection pop off under boost. This oil then gets into the intercooler coating all the cooling fins. This greatly affects the ability of the intercooler to cool, and the efficiency of it will drop! This will cause a huge loss in power and can cause detonation. The last place this oily mess sees before the combustion chamber is the intake valves. Because of the temp differences and the oil impacting them, the oil will start to build up and form sludge. This adds up over time, and can cause many other problems, and hurt performance.Â
In a nutshell what both definitions confirm is that an Oil Catch Can - Is preventative maintenance: Keep oil & contaminants out of your BMW N54 air intake system. :clap:
There are many oil catch cans on the market but I decided to go with the BSH Competition Oil Catch Can for its simplicity of design and installation.
Rennzport promotes the RSD oil catch can as well as the BSH oil catch can whilst the latter is $100 cheaper. :werd:
Please note this is not a DIY guide. There is a reference at the end of my review where you can find a very detailed DIY.
"Internally the catch can has an integrated baffling system that forces oil to separate from the air as it passes through. This oil then falls into the gut of the can and can be drained at the next oil change." :thumbsup:
So are the above definitions correct and true that you will find an accumulation of oil sludge mixture; blow-by gases & even water and fuel from the crankcase; inside the intake tract, intercooler and boost tubes? :thinking:
I have done this exercise on my previous 335 and the current one and on both cars found this and both had low kilometre readings:
Not so easy to see in the stock intercooler since I took it off almost a year ago but dry oil film can still be seen on the inside when touched with the fingers:
So this blow by I am made to believe is normal operation procedure but surely sooner or later it will hinder the ability of the car to make more power and as it becomes more prevalent in the intercooler core it will lower the efficiency of the intercooler to create a cool intake air charge. This same blow-by will build up in the turbos and diminishes their life and efficiency. Imagine these blow by products seep into couplers and boost tubes causing them to pop off during high boost as well as causing disruptions in airflow. :cursin:
Oh my, I even found blow-by in my diverter valves::uhoh:
As always the products from our suppliers were neatly packaged and of very high quality. Some pictures of the entire kit:
The picture below was borrowed from the NET.
I repeat: Essentially the BSH Competition Oil Catch Can will hold and trap oil blow by while removing it from the intake air channel. :thumbsup:
Main Specs & Features:
* N54 specific 3" recirculation Catch Can
* Billet dip stick
* Tig-Welded Lightweight Aluminium
* Hi-Temp Powder Coated Finish
* Free Flow Design
* Air Separation Baffle
* Laser cut mounting bracket
* Outlet PCV adapter
* Inlet PCV adapter
* 10 push lock line
* All hardware necessary for installation
Here are some pictures of the BSH kit installed....and what you see is the installation...there is nothing more to it. Installation and mounting the BSH Catch Can is easy due to the laser cut mounting bracket specific for the N54.:excited:
Removal of the Catch Can for draining is also made easy by utilizing a drain plug mounted at the bottom of the can, and two 4mm allen screws, allowing the can to come off and go back on in under minutes. To check fluid level inside the catch can BSH also included a billet dip stick without taking away from the form or function of the can.
See drain plug at the bottom of can:
Internally the catch can has an integrated baffling system that forces oil to separate from the air as it passes through. This oil then falls into the gut of the can and can be drained at the next oil change. A picture of the inside:
Catch Can Installed:
What you see is the installation...there is nothing more to it. Installation and mounting the BSH Catch Can is easy due to the laser cut mounting bracket specific for the N54.:excited
The BSH can is a direct addition to the factory PCV system and does not require any permanent or unsightly modifications to your engine bay.
The two pictures below were also borrowed and give a clear view of the installation behind the back of the engine cover.
Here is a detailed DIY: http://www.n54tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7256
BSH Competition Catch Can: Fits all these applications:
2008+ 135i
2007+ 335i
2008+ 535i
2008+ X6 35i
2009+ Z4 35i
I will update this thread when there is enough oil to dispose of:
The internet is a huge resource of information and I generously made use of those available inputs and sources, including from the BSH website, in putting this review together. Three of the pictures were downloaded from the net but the rest are from my own vehicle. Enjoy and i hope you found it useful.
And don't forget to contact Rennzport if you are interested in any of the products that we have reviewed or just want some advise, which we are happy to provide free of charge.
Doing this modification to your turbo car is not just another fad mod; it is an absolutely essential modification and one that I will not remove from my car for dealer visits "it will stay in, since it increases the engines performance, longevity and at the same time meet emission requirements. :thumbsup:
But what precisely does an Oil Catch Can do? Well if you fail to get an answer from your tech you surely will find it on the World Wide Web. So WikiAnswers :thumb::
An oil catch can is used in turbo applications, or high-performance race applications where excessive blow-by (leakage past the piston rings) of air and fuel vapor occurs. This creates a positive pressure in the crankcase. Engine manufactures have placed a valve on the engine block which releases this pressure.
This valve is known as a PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventilation) valve. During engine operation, blow-by gases, as well as oil mist from the rotating components of the engine, pass through the PCV valve and are routed back into the intake for the engine to burn off. However, some of the oil mist and other products settle along the engine intake and over time form a "gunk." The oil catch can collects the oil mist and condenses the fuel vapors while allowing "cleaner" gases to be passed back into the intake.
Typically the blow-by gasses are passed through a wire mesh, which give the vapor droplets something to adhere to. Since the oil catch cans condense the vapor portion of the gasses, they will need to be drained periodically of all the oil, fuel and other contaminants.Â
A member on another forum has done an extensive review on the BSH oil catch can (see ref at the end of this review) and found this definition which I thought is a brilliant explanation and I quote:
....... Engine blow-by contains gases and oil from the crankcase. The gases are not really a problem, but the oil is. This oily mess coats everything in its path as it makes it way back to the combustion chamber. This nasty oil mess gets into the turbo, then boost tubes, then intercooler, into the intake manifold, and finally back into the engine. As the oil creeps in between couplers and boost tubes, it can cause the connection pop off under boost. This oil then gets into the intercooler coating all the cooling fins. This greatly affects the ability of the intercooler to cool, and the efficiency of it will drop! This will cause a huge loss in power and can cause detonation. The last place this oily mess sees before the combustion chamber is the intake valves. Because of the temp differences and the oil impacting them, the oil will start to build up and form sludge. This adds up over time, and can cause many other problems, and hurt performance.Â
In a nutshell what both definitions confirm is that an Oil Catch Can - Is preventative maintenance: Keep oil & contaminants out of your BMW N54 air intake system. :clap:
There are many oil catch cans on the market but I decided to go with the BSH Competition Oil Catch Can for its simplicity of design and installation.
Rennzport promotes the RSD oil catch can as well as the BSH oil catch can whilst the latter is $100 cheaper. :werd:
Please note this is not a DIY guide. There is a reference at the end of my review where you can find a very detailed DIY.
"Internally the catch can has an integrated baffling system that forces oil to separate from the air as it passes through. This oil then falls into the gut of the can and can be drained at the next oil change." :thumbsup:
So are the above definitions correct and true that you will find an accumulation of oil sludge mixture; blow-by gases & even water and fuel from the crankcase; inside the intake tract, intercooler and boost tubes? :thinking:
I have done this exercise on my previous 335 and the current one and on both cars found this and both had low kilometre readings:
Not so easy to see in the stock intercooler since I took it off almost a year ago but dry oil film can still be seen on the inside when touched with the fingers:
So this blow by I am made to believe is normal operation procedure but surely sooner or later it will hinder the ability of the car to make more power and as it becomes more prevalent in the intercooler core it will lower the efficiency of the intercooler to create a cool intake air charge. This same blow-by will build up in the turbos and diminishes their life and efficiency. Imagine these blow by products seep into couplers and boost tubes causing them to pop off during high boost as well as causing disruptions in airflow. :cursin:
Oh my, I even found blow-by in my diverter valves::uhoh:
As always the products from our suppliers were neatly packaged and of very high quality. Some pictures of the entire kit:
The picture below was borrowed from the NET.
I repeat: Essentially the BSH Competition Oil Catch Can will hold and trap oil blow by while removing it from the intake air channel. :thumbsup:
Main Specs & Features:
* N54 specific 3" recirculation Catch Can
* Billet dip stick
* Tig-Welded Lightweight Aluminium
* Hi-Temp Powder Coated Finish
* Free Flow Design
* Air Separation Baffle
* Laser cut mounting bracket
* Outlet PCV adapter
* Inlet PCV adapter
* 10 push lock line
* All hardware necessary for installation
Here are some pictures of the BSH kit installed....and what you see is the installation...there is nothing more to it. Installation and mounting the BSH Catch Can is easy due to the laser cut mounting bracket specific for the N54.:excited:
Removal of the Catch Can for draining is also made easy by utilizing a drain plug mounted at the bottom of the can, and two 4mm allen screws, allowing the can to come off and go back on in under minutes. To check fluid level inside the catch can BSH also included a billet dip stick without taking away from the form or function of the can.
See drain plug at the bottom of can:
Internally the catch can has an integrated baffling system that forces oil to separate from the air as it passes through. This oil then falls into the gut of the can and can be drained at the next oil change. A picture of the inside:
Catch Can Installed:
What you see is the installation...there is nothing more to it. Installation and mounting the BSH Catch Can is easy due to the laser cut mounting bracket specific for the N54.:excited
The BSH can is a direct addition to the factory PCV system and does not require any permanent or unsightly modifications to your engine bay.
The two pictures below were also borrowed and give a clear view of the installation behind the back of the engine cover.
Here is a detailed DIY: http://www.n54tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7256
BSH Competition Catch Can: Fits all these applications:
2008+ 135i
2007+ 335i
2008+ 535i
2008+ X6 35i
2009+ Z4 35i
I will update this thread when there is enough oil to dispose of:
The internet is a huge resource of information and I generously made use of those available inputs and sources, including from the BSH website, in putting this review together. Three of the pictures were downloaded from the net but the rest are from my own vehicle. Enjoy and i hope you found it useful.
And don't forget to contact Rennzport if you are interested in any of the products that we have reviewed or just want some advise, which we are happy to provide free of charge.
