What does a baffled oil catch can do and why does your BMW M3 need it? Price in 2023?
BMW has a storied reputation for engineering precision and performance, and their vehicles are celebrated for delivering exhilarating driving experiences. Under the hood of these finely-tuned machines lies a complex system of components working in harmony to deliver power and efficiency. One such component that has gained popularity among BMW enthusiasts is the BMW Oil Catch Can. In this article, we’ll dive into what an oil catch can is, how it works, and why it’s become an essential addition for many BMW owners.
The Role of an Oil Catch Can
To understand the importance of an oil catch can, it’s essential to know its role within the BMW’s engine system. The internal combustion process in any engine generates blow-by gases, which are a mixture of air, unburned fuel, and tiny oil droplets. These gases are typically vented back into the intake system to be re-burned, but some oil particles can escape and accumulate in the intake manifold, intercooler, and valves.
This oil buildup can lead to several issues:
- Carbon Deposits: Oil accumulation in the intake system can result in carbon deposits forming on the intake valves and ports, reducing engine efficiency and potentially causing drivability issues.
- Reduced Performance: Over time, the carbon buildup can restrict airflow, robbing the engine of its power and responsiveness.
- Engine Longevity: Excessive oil in the combustion process can potentially reduce engine longevity and increase maintenance costs.
How an Oil Catch Can Works
An oil catch can serves as a crucial line of defense against these problems. Its primary function is to intercept the blow-by gases before they re-enter the intake system and separate the oil droplets from the air. Here’s how it works:
- Capture: Blow-by gases containing oil vapor are routed into the catch can, where they slow down and cool.
- Separation: Inside the catch can, the oil droplets condense and cling to baffles or mesh, separating them from the air.
- Clean Air: The cleaned air is then returned to the intake system, while the captured oil is collected in the catch can’s reservoir.
- Maintenance: Periodically, the catch can is emptied, preventing the accumulated oil from re-entering the engine.
Benefits of Using a BMW Oil Catch Can
- Engine Protection: Perhaps the most significant benefit of installing an oil catch can in your BMW is the protection it offers against carbon buildup. By preventing oil from reaching the intake system, it helps keep your engine clean and running smoothly.
- Improved Performance: A cleaner intake system results in better airflow and combustion, translating to improved throttle response and potentially increased horsepower.
- Extended Engine Life: Reduced carbon deposits and cleaner internals can contribute to a longer engine life, ultimately saving you money on repairs and replacements.
- Reduced Maintenance: With fewer carbon-related issues, your BMW may require less frequent maintenance, such as valve cleaning.
Conclusion
The BMW Oil Catch Can is a simple yet effective solution for BMW enthusiasts looking to protect their engines and enhance performance. By intercepting oil vapor and preventing it from accumulating in the intake system, it provides a practical and cost-effective way to maintain your BMW’s performance and longevity.
Whether you’re a dedicated BMW enthusiast or simply want to ensure the long-term health of your vehicle, the addition of an oil catch can is a worthwhile investment. It’s a small but powerful accessory that can help keep your BMW running at its best, delivering the driving experience that BMW owners have come to expect – one of precision, power, and sheer driving pleasure
- Direct fit for the 2015–2020 F8X BMW M3 and M4
- Single can mounts in line with the CCV system to separate oil from air using a 50-micron bronze filter
- Helps reduce carbon buildup on intake valves
- Patent pending billet 6061 aluminum can sealed with Viton™ O-rings
- Installs in under 30 minutes
- Robust CNC-machined anodized aluminum bracket mounts the can in a serviceable location
- Includes pre-molded hoses for simplified installation
- Defends Vanos system and essential engine components from oil blow-by
- CNC-machined aluminum barbed fittings ensure a sturdy connection between lines and can
- Catch can has a 3 oz. capacity for longer servicing intervals
- Internal air diverter increases air turbulence to improve oil separation
- Helps maintain proper octane levels to reduce potential detonation
- Filter and can are fully serviceable
- Mishimoto Lifetime Warranty
DESCRIPTION
Give your 2015–2020 BMW M3/M4 the protection it deserves with the Mishimoto Baffled Oil Catch Can Kit. The introduction of the S55 into the M3 and M4 in 2015 was the first time compact M’s saw turbos from the factory, but these engines brought along another long-standing tradition—blow-by.
The Mishimoto BMW M3/M4 catch can kit uses proven engineering from the patent pending Mishimoto 2-Port Compact Baffled Oil Catch Can, with its 50-micron bronze filter and internal baffle, to better separate the oil from the crankcase vapors. The engineers at Mishimoto designed a CNC-machined lid that features large inlet and outlet ports to match the inner dimension of the CCV hose. This baffled oil catch can defends your intercooler, intake system, and VANOS system from oil blow-by and helps maintain proper octane levels to reduce potential detonation.
The kit comes with two direct-fit hoses, which require no modification to the engine cover, and one direct-fit billet aluminum mounting bracket that is extremely easy to install and mounts the can in a serviceable location! Two aluminum, 3/4” barb fittings connect the hoses to the can. And, like every Mishimoto oil catch can, this baffled catch can kit comes with the Mishimoto Lifetime Warranty!
Our catch cans are different from most air-oil-separator (AOS) systems on a few levels. First, our catch cans are not heated. This means that all of the blow-by is able to condense in the can, including low-octane oil vapors and contaminated fuel vapors. Most AOS systems also drain the blow-by back into the oil pan, while our catch cans trap the blow-by and keep it out of the engine permanently. If you’ve seen what we’ve seen in the bottom of our catch cans, you won’t want that draining back into your oil either.
PURCHASE INCLUDES
(1) Compact Baffled Oil Catch Can
(1) Application-Specific Mounting Bracket
(2) Direct-Fit Hoses
(2) 3/4″ Aluminum Barbed Fittings
(4) Worm Gear Clamps
Mounting Hardware
Mishimoto Lifetime Warranty
NOTES
After installation, Mishimoto recommends checking the contents of the baffled catch cans every 1,000 miles until a baseline is established. Oil blow-by accumulation will vary with ambient temperatures and driving conditions. It is important that the contents of the can do not rise above the internal baffle
