Ordered powerflex upper engine and tranny inserts, and the arp bolt kit from whoosh. Ive been reading up on oil catch cans and I think that may come before my cobbAP. I read that the 16+ has better seperation but an occ would still help yes? Looking at the damand kit, with vta? (vent to atmosphere?)
My FiST only has 4k miles but i really want to take the best care of it i can to make sure she lasts lol. My first non-rust bucket ๐
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In most performance communities, the general consensus is that the most important job of a catch can is to catch atomized oil vapors and combustion byproducts to prevent them from getting into the combustion chamber. These atomized vapors have a low octane, which means they can encourage knock. This is what a catch can does. This is a
fact. Another fact is that the Fiesta ST doe not have any real knock issues, catch can or not. Some platforms are knock limited. Fiesta is fueling limited, then limited by having non-forged pistons above 350 wheel HP.
Here is where people start to disagree. We have two PCV pipes and once CCV pipe. If you want to get most the oil, you would have to run
three catch cans in those locations. That is not feasible to the majority of owners. I am a scientist by trade, but right now I'm working as a mechanic and as an automotive performance..."consultant" right now. Been doing mechanic stuff on and off to put myself through college for around 6 years. I am under the philosophy that redline a day, keeps the mechanic away. I haven't added any catch cans because I don't see the point in
this particular platform with this particular motor. However, I did add an oil cap valve cover breather with a check valve to vent excess crank case that I'd see under pressure under 25-26 psi of boost. I have not seen any evidence that shows that catch cans stop carbon build up on the back of intake valves. Some oil film will
always sneak past.
You know what does work to prevent carbon buildup on the intake valves? Driving the
hell out of your car. Running a water/methanol injection kit. Adding aftermarket port or throttle body AUX fuel injection. Doing proper maintenance on your car and running good oil as well. I'm driving one of the higher miles Fiesta ST with an aftermarket turbo out there. I've got to do my timing belt servicing soon. Once the oil warms up after about 10 minutes of driving, my fiancee and I tend to drive the hell out of the car. We don't have any carbon buildup issues, I've checked with a boroscope. The engine still has great compression last time we did a compression check. We are running water/alcohol injection using methanol, ethanol, or isopropol...just kinda depends what we have access to that month. After running a water/alcohol kit, we have even
less carbon build up issues. I just don't see any yet. However, I will probably take the intake off again and check the intake valves when my car is down for the timing belt. It isn't just me though. Other major performance vendors have come to similar conclusions.
http://stratifiedauto.com/blog/understanding-your-pcv-system-upgrades-and-catch-cans/
"A. They do not stop carbon buildup on the back of valves in DI (direct injected cars). We have seen this time and time again and this is because some oil film still makes its way past the catch cans just like it does past the OEM catch cans. Further, flow reversion during engine operation still brings in oil over the valves.
The most effective methods at preventing carbon buildup are: 1. Using high quality oils (some are being designed for DI operation specifically), 2. changing the oil often, 3. driving the cars hard to maintain high valve temperatures (yes having fun!) 4. and if possible running secondary injection across the intake valves which washes them clean and which more and more OEMs are starting to use."
Now I will be the first to admit, I have
tons of oil in the intake system and intercooler. If I go on a road trip after about 5-10 hours on cruise control I'll get some water/oil condensate mixture in the bottom of my massive intercooler. If I go into full boost, above 4.5k RPM it will actually blow through the intercooler and run it through the motor. I've logged this event and it doesn't seen causes knock or harm. It just seems like the motor hesitates for a moment and then I don't have any issues for at least another 5-10 hours.