[2SS Capt]

Originally Posted by N Camarolina

I don't claim to be an expert on catch cans, but I have been reading threads on this site over the last couple of months. And while I am not an engineer, I am a scientist. I watched the first video link posted by Elite of their RX can HTH with an alternative can and I think I come to a somewhat different conclusion:

The Elite can seems to possibly catch more water and whatever is dissolved in it (acids?) than the other can, but doesn't capture any more of the darker (oily?) stuff that we are trying to keep off the back of our valves.

Here's the data from the video that underpin my conclusion:
-Both cans seem to trap ~100ml of material when they are positioned first in line
- When the non-Elite can is positioned second in line, it trapped ~ 4-5ml of dark (oily?) stuff and no light colored (water, etc) stuff
- When the Elite can was positioned second in line, it trapped ~ 5ml of dark stuff (similar to the non-Elite can), + about 55ml of light color liquid (presumably water +/- acids since it's underneath the dark stuff)

To be fair, the Elite can did seem to catch 55ml of water (and maybe other water soluable compounds) when positioned second in line, but the significance of this is unclear, and for two reasons: 1) It's not clear if that 55ml contained anything other than water; even if it did contain something more noxious, what risk does this actually pose to the valves that we are trying to keep clean? 2) When the Elite can was placed 1st in line, it didn't trap anymore total volume than when the non-Elite can was positioned 1st in line (perhaps it should have caught 55ml more of light colored water soluable material when it had the chance).

I like that Elite cans are designed by Engineers and had hoped to see the benefit borne out in HTH testing, but it doesn't look like this is the case; At least from the first video which seemed to be a well decently well designed HTH amateur comparison. So if you are buying a catch can to primarily catch oil, it looks like both the Elite can and the non-Elite can performed similarly.

For the benefit of all interested forum members, I encourage others to provide their views of the data shown in the video. Just please keep your comments constructive and based on the data rather than opinion.

I agree with this assessment wholeheartedly... As an Engineer...

I've been very happy with the oil catching performance of my Mishimoto Catch Can... ANYTHING I can keep off my valves (oil-wise) is a HUGE benefit...

My Mishimoto is catching plenty...

Roughly 750 miles, ALL oil... (While that may not look like much, that vaporized over 8 VERY hot intake valves would actually be a fair amount of buildup)...

[Redlinez]

Originally Posted by N Camarolina

I don't claim to be an expert on catch cans, but I have been reading threads on this site over the last couple of months. And while I am not an engineer, I am a scientist. I watched the first video link posted by Elite of their RX can HTH with an alternative can and I think I come to a somewhat different conclusion:

The Elite can seems to possibly catch more water and whatever is dissolved in it (acids?) than the other can, but doesn't capture any more of the darker (oily?) stuff that we are trying to keep off the back of our valves.

Here's the data from the video that underpin my conclusion:
-Both cans seem to trap ~100ml of material when they are positioned first in line
- When the non-Elite can is positioned second in line, it trapped ~ 4-5ml of dark (oily?) stuff and no light colored (water, etc) stuff
- When the Elite can was positioned second in line, it trapped ~ 5ml of dark stuff (similar to the non-Elite can), + about 55ml of light color liquid (presumably water +/- acids since it's underneath the dark stuff)

To be fair, the Elite can did seem to catch 55ml of water (and maybe other water soluable compounds) when positioned second in line, but the significance of this is unclear, and for two reasons: 1) It's not clear if that 55ml contained anything other than water; even if it did contain something more noxious, what risk does this actually pose to the valves that we are trying to keep clean? 2) When the Elite can was placed 1st in line, it didn't trap anymore total volume than when the non-Elite can was positioned 1st in line (perhaps it should have caught 55ml more of light colored water soluable material when it had the chance).

I like that Elite cans are designed by Engineers and had hoped to see the benefit borne out in HTH testing, but it doesn't look like this is the case; At least from the first video which seemed to be a well decently well designed HTH amateur comparison. So if you are buying a catch can to primarily catch oil, it looks like both the Elite can and the non-Elite can performed similarly.

For the benefit of all interested forum members, I encourage others to provide their views of the data shown in the video. Just please keep your comments constructive and based on the data rather than opinion.

Pretty wild, I work in Cary and drive a 1SS 1LE! Thanks for the post.

[Darth Martel]

To Elite,

Kudos to you for providing the info I asked for. While the other posters have dismissed the clear liquid being collected by your catch can, I can't disregard that fact. That liquid, no doubt, contains impurities that hasn't bonded with the oil. They're still impurities you don't want reaching the valves of your engine. I can't believe that the clear liquid is good for them either. I would venture a guess that it has some type of corrosive properties. Perhaps you can elaborate on this but, based on this information, I can see the case for spending some extra coin on an Elite product. I put my money where my mouth is so, I'll be looking to make a purchase. I'll keep an eye out for a Black Friday or Holidays promo potentially coming up.

[Elite Engineering]

Sure thing Darth:


Here is what our systems trap when spun in the labs centrifuge and then analyzed:



It contains 70% water and acids, they cannot be separated once mixed. Sulfuric is the most prevalent.
23% is raw unburnt fuel that otherwise is diluting your already far to thin of viscosity oil to barely able to protect if left in as the OEM system does with much. A simple test? Pull your dipstick right after shutdown and smell the gasoline present.
And 7% is actually oil saturated with abrasive particulate matter. Mainly carbon, soot, and ash.


So none of this is good in the oil or on the valves or in the combustion chamber where you only want air and fuel. Anything else reduces the energy released during combustion and also disrupts the flame front and burn pattern.


As for the small can. it is never what you see is trapped that impacts your engine, it is what is pulled through to still be ingested. You can conduct this simple test as well. Take a soda can, mayonnaise jar, piece of PVC pipe with caps, or any other similar sized container and add two fittings and install it in place of the small can and run the same miles the same driving style and it will trap as much or more than that. So that creates a "Placebo effect" of thinking your benefiting what your not. Of course any that you stop from being ingested is a plus, but it wont be enough to prevent intake valve coking or oil dilution and contamination. But try it yourselves. No need to blindly trust anyone. All of this is easy enough if someone takes the time to actually test and see.


Just as our ongoing "catchcan Challenge". We challenge anyone NOT affiliated with us or any other brand design to simply take this challenge:


Starting out with both cans clean of oil oil/gunk install our E2-X inline AFTER your can. Drive 1000 miles (2,000 is much more accurate) and empty both cans of all caught. That would involve opening the cans to make sure you got it all to be fair. Document what each caught in a measuring beaker or simple cooking measuring cup. Then clean both and reverse the order so all is fair and equal. Duplicate the same driving style as the first portion of the test. Drive the same miles. (take pictures of the odometer) and then drain each and document. There is no influence or games from either brand design as long as your honest and truly want to see first hand what happens.


All is done equally and as identical as you can. This will show you what gets past each can to caught by the other AFTER each can did its best to remove and contain the oil and other substances you do not want to ingest. So if in the first stage of the test say your preferred choice caught 3 oz's and the second can caught 4, you have proof that the second can is more effective at benefiting your engine. If it trapped 1 oz, you would know the first can is at least 30% ineffective. Following? Now if the second can caught 8 oz's it would be at least twice as effective, correct? Actually even more. but to simplify it lets just count the obvious that is right there that you yourself proved. What if when reversed, the first ban caught say 8oz's and the second can only caught a few droplets from the vapors that passed through....would that be a small disparity or a huge one?


And that is what we urge anyone that doubts ANY companies claims. See for yourself.


So, 2SS Capt, you're an Engineer as well (Join SAE, International Society of Automotive Engineers, if you don't already belong....tons of data and discussions between Engineers on every subject you could imagine) would you be willing to conduct this test and share it in a dedicated thread so others can see each stage and the results? As I mentioned, it's not what you see a can catch that matters, it is what gets past to still be ingested. And as an Engineer you understand the work and expense to obtain a Patent on any invention now days, ours is a patented 95% effective. It would cost you nothing but your time, and it is an amazing learning experience. To learn more and go over more details as well as we can share much more on the "water" part of what is trapped (Water is the #1 byproducts released by the intense heat and pressure from the air charge, especially when below 60*F). Email us direct at: Tech@EliteEngineeringUSA.com I think we all could trust your unbiased results on this.


Cheers!


Elite Engineering USA's Engineering and Technical support team.

[v8]

I do believe in catch cans and they don't all function the same way. I recently installed an Elite E2-X on my car (vid is out this Thursday) and I'm currently doing a back to back comparison with the Elite. I bought a C7 Z06 (same engine as ZL1)

0-441kms was no catch can (Brand new car and obviously engine)
441-942 (501kms) was with a catch can
942-1450 (508kms) was with the elite can

How I will measure will be by removing the blower cover and inspecting (Still to do). Measuring what comes out of the can is deceptive unless the cans are exactly the same size, as you can have residue left in the can. Also I didn't want to run the car for too long because then its hard to measure exactly. With a short interval on a clean engine its easy to spot contamination.

I did a scientific test on the elite high flow valves and let the gauges speak for themselves.

Full disclosure, I have no affiliation with Elite and did not get paid anything to do this video.

https://youtu.be/wLV3gO-nUds

[UnknownJinX]

Originally Posted by 2SS Capt

I agree with this assessment wholeheartedly... As an Engineer...

I've been very happy with the oil catching performance of my Mishimoto Catch Can... ANYTHING I can keep off my valves (oil-wise) is a HUGE benefit...

My Mishimoto is catching plenty...

Roughly 750 miles, ALL oil... (While that may not look like much, that vaporized over 8 VERY hot intake valves would actually be a fair amount of buildup)...

Intake valves don't get very hot, and that's actually the issue. There is a reason why no one is ever worried about exhaust valves. Hint: they are much hotter than intake valves.

There is supposedly a sweet spot in terms of parts temperature for carbon buildup, and DI engines don't really benefit from Italian tune-up because of this.



And Chevy dealers don't have walnut blasting machines, just like Honda and Mazda dealers. I would think there is a reason for that. Outside of BMW(and MINI) and VW(and Audi), I haven't actually heard a great number of problems due to DI from other brands. To each of their own.