combating PCV+catch can freeze-ups - possible solution?

[rkneeshaw]

Hey have you heard of using the M56 valve cover? It has a built in CCV, and thus no need for a catch can. I'm looking into that quite seriously becuase it seems like an optimal factory solution.

[slater]

Hey have you heard of using the M56 valve cover? It has a built in CCV, and thus no need for a catch can. I'm looking into that quite seriously becuase it seems like an optimal factory solution.

interesting!! i will check that out!

[slater]

finished up the test phase of this project tonight - it is very simple. 5w 12v silicone pad heater on the bottom of the catch can, and a 0C/32F normally-closed thermoswitch mounted on top of the catch can. the idea is that when the temp of the can hits 0C/32F or below, the thermoswitch opens and fires up the 5w pad heater. once the temp of the catch can goes above 0C/32F, the thermoswitch closes.

the pad heater draws so little power that this should be a viable solution for -20C weather, even when the car sits for days on end. total cost in parts was about $25.

will post pics of the rough setup in a few days.

[BMWCurves]

Test ittttt. Take it out in ze cold

[slater]

Test ittttt. Take it out in ze cold

tested. it is -6ºC here this morning - perhaps a bit warmer in my garage, but not much - definitely still below freezing. i popped the hood and felt the top of the can - not warm, but not cold either. i felt the bottom of the can and it was warm - the pad had been on recently. success so far!

here's some pics. i silicone'd the heating pad to the bottom of the catch can (pic 1). next i wired in the harness i built directly into the +12v and ground connections at the 'drug bin' (pic 2). the harness is pretty much concealed. i used an OE audi 2-wire connector from my parts bin so that i can easily disconnect the heating pad from the car. next two pics show the can with the thermoswitch mounted on top - my catch can has a dipstick, so i enlarged one of the mounting holes on the thermoswitch to accept the dipstick as a fastener - i wanted it on the top of the can anyway - and this means no holes made in the can. it's entirely removable, and this is prototype #1, so please excuse the crudity of the wiring. i just wanted to test it.

i'm calling this system a 'CCAF' - CatchCanAntiFreeze.

[BMWCurves]

Looks good! What are your input and output pipes to your catch can?

[slater]

Looks good! What are your input and output pipes to your catch can?

input comes from the valve cover, output goes to the 'CCV ports' on the intake manifold. aside from the 4" of 3/4" goodyear heater hose running off the valve cover, i'm using some pricey ($10/foot) very high-pressure 5/8" oil-resistant hose for the rest - any off-the-shelf 5/8" or 3/4" hose i found would collapse, even under the little amount of vacuum being pulled (which is limited by the PCV valve).

[ELCID86]

You amaze me. Good work.


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"ZHP is a garbage option anyway- just some cosmetic upgrades with a different cam and diff to claw back some of the performance lost fitting those hideous and heavy wheels. Any 330 with a 3.46 diff will smoke a ZHP every time. The whole Mafia thing reeks of childish behavior." - an e46fanatic

[cakM3]

Nice work Peter!


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[slater]

You amaze me. Good work.

Nice work Peter!

thanks guys!!

it's -14C here this morning. haven't checked on the system in a few days, will check today and check the can as the car was outside last night.