Do Oil Catch Cans actually work?
Yes. A properly designed Oil Catch Can actually does a very good job of stopping oil from being sucked through the PCV system and into your intake tract. UPR Oil Catch Cans are specifically designed to stop as much oil as possible from entering your intake system while allowing the system to flow freely.
Using a complex diffuser system with multiple chambers, the oil passes through our custom formed Stainless Steel media where it coalesces until it is deposited into the bottom of the Oil Catch Can.
- A properly designed oil catch can separates oil in air.
- Prevents oil from entering air intake system.
- Oil is deposited in Catch Can for disposal.
Are all Oil Catch Cans created equal?
No. Not all oil catch cans are created equal, as the design and materials significantly impact performance.
UPR Products' oil catch cans stand out with their advanced features, including a complex diffuser system, multiple chambers, and custom-formed stainless steel media. These elements ensure superior oil separation by effectively coalescing and trapping oil vapor and debris - unlike inferior designs that rely on basic baffles, fine mesh, aluminum honeycomb, or cheap bronze air compressor filters.
UPR Products ONLY uses high quality billet aluminum, OE quality connectors, oil resistant hose / o-rings and stainless steel parts & hardware.
What are the benefits of running an Oil Catch Can?
The benefits of a properly designed UPR Catch Can consist of improved engine life, engine performance, and overall engine reliability. When a Catch Can is doing its job you will be able to run more aggressive timing and fuel adjustments and experience more power and improved gas mileage. These are common benefits you will experience and can expect from a properly functioning UPR Catch Can.
Other Benefits Include:
- Reduced carbon build-up on engine valves
- Extended spark plug life
- More efficient combustion
- Less performance degradation due to carbon covered engine valves, oil in the intercooler or turbo impellers.
Can I build my own custom Catch Can?
Yes. UPR Products offers a wide selection of DIY Oil Catch Can parts & accessories. If we don't have a kit for your vehicle, you can design & build your own custom Oil Catch Can system using our DIY parts.
Available Parts Include:
- DIY Billet Catch Cans
- Oil Resistant Hose & Hose Ferrules
- OE Fittings & Connectors
- Drain Valves
- Wrenches & Fitting Tools
Oil Catch Can FAQs
What does an oil catch can do?
A closed catch can system separates and captures oil vapor, fuel vapor, and moisture from the crankcase ventilation system before it can be routed back into the intake manifold. This prevents carbon buildup, oil contamination in the combustion chamber, and performance loss—especially in modern direct-injection engines.
Why do I need a catch can on my vehicle?
Modern engines such as Direct-Injection engines do not have fuel washing over the intake valves like port-injected engines do. This allows oil vapor from the PCV system to stick to the intake valves and cause carbon buildup. That carbon buildup over time leads to a loss of horsepower, reduced fuel economy, intake valve coking and even engine damage if the carbon buildup breaks away and enters the combustion chamber.
A catch can prevents this by trapping oil vapor and contaminants before they reach the intake valves.
Will this improve performance?
Indirectly, yes. While you won’t see an immediate horsepower gain, you will be preventing deposit build-up on your intake valves and intake manifold which will help the engine live longer, be more efficient and ultimately maintain its existing horsepower level.
How often do I need to empty it?
Every engine is different. As a general rule of thumb, check a new catch can every 1000 miles to get a feel for how much your engine will expel. Most users will empty a few ounces of liquid out of the catch can at the 5000-mile oil change interval. UPR oil catch can kits are designed to be easy to service and take less than a minute or two in most cases.
Will this trigger a check engine light?
No. UPR catch can kits are designed to retain proper PCV function and airflow. They are designed to work with factory sensors or engine management when installed correctly.
Vent to atmosphere breather tanks are for race applications not designed to be used on street-driven vehicles. Therefore, if you are installing a vent-to-atmosphere breather tank on a modern vehicle in conjunction with other modifications like superchargers or turbocharger kits, it will require a custom tune in most cases.
What makes UPR catch cans different?
UPR systems feature multi-stage internal baffling and filtration, high-flow design that does not restrict PCV flow, Billet aluminum construction, quality mounting brackets, aluminum catch can fittings and rubber braided hoses. Many applications use UPR’s Plug N Play quick-connect fittings to make installation and servicing easy.
Is installation difficult?
No. UPR catch can kits are designed to be installed with basic hand tools and include quality brackets and hoses with the appropriate fittings. Instructions are downloadable from our website or accessed by scanning the QR code on the part number label on the box. Most installs take 20-40 minutes.
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