Hello all,

Replaced my intake boost pipe the 90' degree one as my boost gauge was removed due to warranty work and found a load of oil in the pipe. Well I say a load I mean a thin uniform coating. As the oil breather pipe isn't far away would it be an idea to install a catchment tank? Any pros and cons? Anyone installed one prefer if fitted to diesel so I can get an Idea on where to fit one or even buy one from? I would imagine if I fit one of these there will be hardly if not any oil making it's way done the intake toward the inter cooler.

Comments and thoughts welcome. Ta

Anyone? I'm sure someone knows something?

i think its normal for the intercooler hoses to have some oil in it, at least mine does

Ive heard it done on mondys and had thought about it for mine too but as yet not got round to it.

Thin layer of Coating is normal on mostly all the intercooler piping I'v removed.

If its Thick and tacky you should completely Gut and clean the system and see if the problem returns.

These are the sort of things fitted, although they are a bit more fancy compared to what I have seen in the past. They now have a drain plug and a little clear tube on the side to see how full it is.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OIL-CATCH-TANK-FORD-FOCUS-MONDEO-ST-RS-9MM-15MM-FITTINGS-INCLUDED-BLUE-ROUND-/151134713596?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&fits=Model%3AMondeo&hash=item233054b6fc

As above a little oil shouldnt matter, but, obviously it will build up over time, so intercoolers could end up having oil collecting at the bottom of them without your knowing which will mean less air space to cool the air. When I took my I/C off to put a larger one on, I stood it up in a corner for a while. When I came back to it there was a nice pool of oil on the garage floor :(

Also there is mention that the oil may corrode the rubber hoses, Im not so sure about that thought, but if in doubt you could get silicone hoses, which are actualy cheaper that ford rubber ones and will probably last the lifetime of the car.

These are the sort of things fitted, although they are a bit more fancy compared to what I have seen in the past. They now have a drain plug and a little clear tube on the side to see how full it is.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OIL-CATCH-TANK-FORD-FOCUS-MONDEO-ST-RS-9MM-15MM-FITTINGS-INCLUDED-BLUE-ROUND-/151134713596?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&fits=Model%3AMondeo&hash=item233054b6fc

As above a little oil shouldnt matter, but, obviously it will build up over time, so intercoolers could end up having oil collecting at the bottom of them without your knowing which will mean less air space to cool the air. When I took my I/C off to put a larger one on, I stood it up in a corner for a while. When I came back to it there was a nice pool of oil on the garage floor :(

Also there is mention that the oil may corrode the rubber hoses, Im not so sure about that thought, but if in doubt you could get silicone hoses, which are actualy cheaper that ford rubber ones and will probably last the lifetime of the car.

oi son i want one of them catch tanks now lol No sure how i'd plum it all in.

Yeah oil and rubber don't usually miss unless designed to like fuel and rubber. But anyways I think it would be better as the car would breathe cleaner air still considering the egr is blanked. I just don't want oil in my pipe work. Another thing to clog up with dirt eventually. Would I take the breather off the crankcase and plumb it to the tank via a pipe reducer and blank the inlet off where I've taken it off from the intake? If that makes sence. But there isn't a lot of room in there so not too sure where to put it?

Would I take the breather off the crankcase and plumb it to the tank via a pipe reducer and blank the inlet off where I've taken it off from the intake? If that makes sence. But there isn't a lot of room in there so not too sure where to put it?

I think its best to fit it inline in a manner of speaking. have the hose coming from crankcase to tank, then from there out to the air intake. Im not sure if blanking would affect the running or the sensors on the car so probably safer not to tempt fate.

Yeah oil and rubber don't usually miss unless designed to like fuel and rubber. But anyways I think it would be better as the car would breathe cleaner air still considering the egr is blanked. I just don't want oil in my pipe work. Another thing to clog up with dirt eventually. Would I take the breather off the crankcase and plumb it to the tank via a pipe reducer and blank the inlet off where I've taken it off from the intake? If that makes sence. But there isn't a lot of room in there so not too sure where to put it?

You can blank the inlet - the engine will run better with no problems, that is how they would do it on a race car, for best performance and to keep the inlet clean - but the gases from the crankcase have to go somewhere, you must be careful they do not find their way into the cabin, the gasses may contain carbon monoxide, ideally, it should go out, under the car and exit like an (2nd) exhaust, on a diesel this would be measured for particulates, for the MOT

I have divertted the breather an all my own cars, going back years, they all ran better the FOCA-mobile has a total-loss breather system

on a road car it is more normal to just put the catchtank "inline" - i would not decrease the diameter of the breather hose as it may restrict the breather flow,

Apart from reacting/ melting the rubber pipes, the breather oil tends to sit in the intercooler as it condenses/ cools here, it can coat the inside surface of the intercooler, reducing its efficiency, it goes on to mix with the carbon from the exhaust in the inlet manifold

The gases from the breather are warm and contain burnt gases, as well as the oily spray from the crankcase - its a small percentage compared to the clean air going into the engine when the engine is new, but as the engine wears or the dpf (if fitted) gets blocked, it can become more of a problem as more oily gasses are released

The pipes leading to the breather can be extended and the catchtank fitted in a cool place, this makes it more efficient as the cool walls allow the oily gasses to condense, "catching" more oil, so less is fed back into the inlet, or into the atmosphere (depending how the catchtank is plumbed) many catchtanks have a seperator built in to do this the pipes going to and from the catchtank can have a "run" on them, so any residual oil runs into the catchtank

A thing called a firetrap or an activated charcoal filter can be fitted after the catchtank to further filter the oil/ gases from the breather and clean up the gasses from the breather some more