Oil catch can?

[Salcat]

Hi all, picking up my cupra hatch in a few days now and have just watched a video on a fairly reputable channel that gave me some concerns (

).

It seems direct injection turbo engines are inevitably going to suffer from carbon and oil build up on the inlet valves in their lifetime, but the guy mentions that oil catch cans make a huge difference in restricting the amount of crap that gets recycled into the inlet system.

Wondered if anyone here has any experience of using one on the EA888 engine in the cupras and other VAG cars? Worth the investment?

 

[Legojon]

I've been looking at one myself recently. But was put off by the small print that said extra precautions have to be taken in winter so the lines don't freeze (recommend removing it).

So the approach I've taken is. Every 50k miles I'm taking it to R-tech for a proper strip down carbon clean. Quite a few garages do it for circa £200 or some do it themselves. Then I'll worry about it again in another 50k.

Even so, whatever build up I have now is causing me no noticeable issues. Potentially a slight loss in mpg. But I'll know at the end of the month.

 

[Boroboy]

Some direct injection engines seem to suffer more from carbon build up than others.
I know mini/BMW have walnut shell blasting machines to clean the intake valves, due to carbon build up with their 1.6t engine.
Personally as long as your engine was running ok, no loss or power or big drop within mpg, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[r@d00]

But was put off by the small print that said extra precautions have to be taken in winter so the lines don't freeze (recommend removing it).

I never thought engine oil could freeze in a normal winter. What should be the temperature for this to happen, -40 degrees Celsius? -50?

 

[Legojon]

I never thought engine oil could freeze in a normal winter. What should be the temperature for this to happen, -40 degrees Celsius? -50?

Isn't it mixed with water vapour?

 

[Deleted member 103408]

I have seen the cold weather warning but to be fair most of the post's I have seen are talking about the colder parts of Canada and US when it gets down to -20, there are also a number of comments about the location of said can, on the EA888 It normally sits right next to the engine and some of the pipework is under the engine cover. My take on this is stock car when people change every 3 years you dont need it, If you track the car then these things help stopping getting clouds of smoke under very hard breaking / cornering.

The Latest WLTP 290 engine will over time (if you believe the internet) will suffer more but as @Legojon says for day to day use just get it carbon cleaned. I have also seen on another forum (but not confirmed) that the latest PCV Value on the MK3 Is a better design so you may not need it for the track but that is only one person saying it.