WARNING- Oil catch cans & Diesel Engines

Submitted: Thursday, Dec 22, 2005 at 10:52

ThreadID: 29080 Views:70106 Replies:6 FollowUps:10

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SantaAus

Oil catch cans will cause problems for a diesel engines if fitted.
oil catch can this is the one that I bought

About 300km ago I fitted one to my Turbo diesel Nissan Terrano, thought it was a good idea and nobody told me it wasn't.
Basically all oil catch cans have small 1/4 inch piping, which is totally inadequate to handle the larger volume of blow-by air that a diesel engine produces. (Due to the higher compressions).
Due to the restrictions that the small dia piping has, I was effectively pressurising, tapot cover, sump, all oil lines, turbo etc...
So only after 300km, my turbo let go, the oil seals busted out and dumped huge amounts of oil into the inlet side of the turbo. The turbo is currently being rebuilt by the blokes at MTQ in Rockhampton.

As soon as they opened the bonnet they knew what had caused the turbo to fail. They specailise in turbo diesel engines and the like. There solution to the problem is that they use common old 1" line strainers, (The same things you can find at any local pumping and irrigation business)
line strainers

So inclosing, if you have bought and fitted one to your diesel, rip it out.
P.S. if anyone thinks I am wrong, in any of this, by all means post something.

Thanks
SantaAus

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Reply By: Member - JD - Thursday, Dec 22, 2005 at 11:11

Reply By: S&N - Thursday, Dec 22, 2005 at 14:22

Thursday, Dec 22, 2005 at 14:22

you dont actually have them by the short a curlies, nowhere on thier add does it say its for a diesel! when i had my wrx, they were perfect for that. the seller probably assumes that the buyer has done some investigation as to wheather or not it is suitable for thier vehicle. i know i wouldnt put ANYTHING on our pride and joy without propper research. it is like saying that even though a 100% atmosphere blow-off valve is illegal to use on the street, you fit one and the cops book you, that auto bahn etc... is at fault for selling it. you can buy a bong, its up to you what you do with it. lets not become america, and sue for things that are our own fault, just because we can!!!!
just my two cents worth!!

AnswerID: 145072

Follow Up By: Member - JD - Thursday, Dec 22, 2005 at 14:40

Thursday, Dec 22, 2005 at 14:40

You don't have them by the short and Curlies,no it doesn't say Diesel but it does say Turbo,Intercooler,ect l do not purport to be a legal begal..something else l just noticed a quick look it also say 's nissan aswell.Iwas just stateing my own course of action.if were me...but l might add l have noticed in this country since 2000 if you exercise your rites you are indeed the one looked apon as a crimimal..anything that l buy that cost me...a substancial amount of $ to repair at no fault of my own..once l give the person or buiseness the chance to fix and l pull a blank l will take further.but l respect your rite to have your opion.Merry Xmas.
JD

FollowupID: 398588

Follow Up By: S&N - Thursday, Dec 22, 2005 at 15:05

Thursday, Dec 22, 2005 at 15:05

JD. you know they will say "was it fitted by a licenced mechanic" as the mechanic should know not to put it on. when he says "no, i did it myself" they will say, like every other company, "well thats not our problem, do your research next time". just because it says nissan, turbo, intercooler, dosent mean every turbo nissan with intrecooler. i can think of heaps (pulsar et turbo, gtr, gtst, silvia, 180sx, 300z, gtir,the list goes on) they are all nissans, with intercoolers, and turbo's, and not all parts are interchangeable! i know i wouldnt fit the gearbox out of the turbo pulsar onto my 4.2 turbo diesel gq, just because the add said turbo, nissan, intercooler......what this comes back to is the owner should do some inverstigation. JD im guessing you do SOME research before you modify your beast, you wouldnt just go and put 40" tyres on a stock GU and get upset when they dont fit. plus ther is the question of engineering it, does it need it for this mod? something else that should have been thought of before fitting, if you want to keep insurance, and then the engineer could have told him not to fit it!!!! you must agree JD.... not enough thought and planning gone into this mod, just buy, fit and pray!!!

any way, merry christmas, safe driving over the newyear. and most importantly....santaoz, we hope your beast is back in the mud in no time!!!

FollowupID: 398592

Follow Up By: Member - JD - Thursday, Dec 22, 2005 at 15:38

Thursday, Dec 22, 2005 at 15:38

Yes the road would be a rocky one!,me yes l thouroghtly research any mod l do to my truck,and it is road legal and fully insured,clearly openly disclosed the fact l used this vehicle off road,to ins company.however getting back to piont,they are offering this product to the public..joe blow..doesent have a degree in mechanical engineering..so he buys this product in good faith mounts it blows up his truck..walk away without a fight...l don't thinks so, not me anyway..l have been down this road before with a pool in my backyard,they put the wrong shape pool in,l sort legal advice and was told l would more than likely win as joe blow is'nt suppossed to have the expertise to know whats going on during construction..after many discussion with the pool provider,and l might add attemps to stand over me they compensated me.reading the post he does say "l thought it was good idea"which probably means there was not enought research,if any done.Which is a shame,because if he had put it to this forum he probably would have advised not to do it!....Merry Xmas To All...beware the buyer!!!!
JD

FollowupID: 398599

Reply By: signman - Thursday, Dec 22, 2005 at 15:11

Reply By: V8Diesel - Thursday, Dec 22, 2005 at 15:15

Reply By: SantaAus - Thursday, Dec 22, 2005 at 16:45

Reply By: awill4x4 - Thursday, Dec 22, 2005 at 23:04

Thursday, Dec 22, 2005 at 23:04

Personally, I think placing the blame on the catch can is bulltish. I'm more inclined to think it's more likely a seal failure on the turbo which can happen at any time and does quite often.
Blow by shouldn't be any more a problem on a diesel than a petrol. As for it pressurising the "oil lines", this isn't going to happen as the oil is pressurised by the oil pump far more than any possible "blow by" will produce. The statement about it dumping huge amounts of oil in the inlet, perhaps it was there previously before fitting the catch can. Your not going to pressurise the turbo with blow by to anywhere near what the turbo produces itself, don't forget the turbo is a pump and in your case probably boosts to about 15psi already.
I've built lots of catch cans myself and although the plumbing on your example is too small in my opinion I don't think its the cause of your problems. I prefer larger plumbing to and from the catch can and this is principally to slow down air speed. A slower air speed is better to allow the oil mist to condense and drop out of the air stream.
These cheap catch cans do very little, the ones I build are plumbed with at least 1/2" internal tubing, the cans are baffled to divert air then go through another baffle then finally a stainless steel scourer to absolutely minimise the amount of oil going through back to the inlet side of the turbo.
I've fitted a few to turbo 1HZ and 1HDT toyota motors as their oil screening in the rocker cover is particularly poor with excessive oil being dumped into the turbo inlet even from new.
Regards Andrew.

AnswerID: 145181

Follow Up By: SantaAus - Friday, Dec 23, 2005 at 17:18

Friday, Dec 23, 2005 at 17:18

Andrew,
Placing the blame on the oil catch can is all that I have. I have spoken to two professional turbo diesel mechanics scince Wednesday and they have both come to the same conclusion, that the catch can caused the problems. Those being, to small size and poor quality in hoses.
----A diesel engine produces larger amounts of blow-by air than a petrol, its a fact.
----The air needs to go somewhere, by the catch can in, the air was hugely retricted, thus creating more than need pressure.
----The oil and problem with the turbo was not there prior to fitting the catch can.
----I did not mean to state that the turbo was pressurised, (the turbo itself is a pressurising device) the tapot cover, sump and oil lines, were pressuried by the restriction.

SantaAus

FollowupID: 398801

Follow Up By: Member JD- Friday, Dec 23, 2005 at 18:36

Friday, Dec 23, 2005 at 18:36

The two professional mechs are your witness that the instalatoin was done correctly,if they are prepared to stand by you?..They took your money for the repiar?..this crap l don't want to get involved...well don't take my money...tell the person to go elsewhere..you know what l mean..l don't like seeing the little man be wroughted...but thats just me...everybody deserves a fair go!....I will be quiet now,...good luck.
JD

FollowupID: 398826

Follow Up By: SantaAus - Friday, Dec 23, 2005 at 20:04

Friday, Dec 23, 2005 at 20:04

Thanks JD,
I have asked that there be photos taken of the damage that was caused to the turbo. I still have to talk to the mechanic about writing up a letter for me stating what he found and what not.
SantaAus

FollowupID: 398835