Aftermarket air/oil separator on NA 4.2

[carmudgeon]

File this under "I was bored".

Cold winter weather plus short commutes netted me this clogging up the factory PCV valve:




Remembering I had a spare air/oil separator laying around the garage I decided to install it. The idea being that it would be easier to clean and wouldn't clog as easily. All it took was a couple of feet of 3/4" hose and a 3/4" splice. The new air/oil separator is installed inline and upstream of the factory PCV valve. The brace from the coolant expansion tank to the ABS module makes a sturdy place to mount the new one.




Now that warmer weather has returned it also seems to have helped with the mild detonation issue I was having under moderate to hard acceleration. I've had detonation on forced induction engines before but this is the first time I've had it caused by blowby on a NA engine. Part of me wants to do a compression/leakdown test but then I remember I'm lazy.

[Battle_Tested]

I'm checking my PCV valve later tonight for clogging. Might be the last piece to address my subpar 14-15mpg's. Might just do the mod to do it. It does look pretty sick!!

[bpark1210]

When you say air/oil separator is that the same as a standard oil catch can?

[carmudgeon]

I use the terms interchangeably, the internet police will soon correct me I'm sure. This one is from ECS Tuning, I liked it better than others because the fittings both come out in the same direction instead of sticking out the sides. It has a set of reversible baffles so the inlet/outlet sides can be reversed if needed.

[bpark1210]

Good stuff carmudgeon, and here I thought catch cans were only good for turbo setups. I'll have to put this on my list.

[carmudgeon]

Might be the last piece to address my subpar 14-15mpg's

Ummm, you do realize it weighs two tons?