If you've invested any time looking for ways in order to make your pickup truck stay longer, you've probably heard people talking about a 6. 7 powerstroke ccv catch can and whether it's actually worth the trouble. It's among those modifications that doesn't necessarily give a person a massive boost in horsepower or make the wear out sound meaner, but it plays a large role in the long-term health of your engine.
Let's end up being real: the 6. 7 Powerstroke is really a workhorse, but this has a few eccentricities that can guide to headaches lower the road when you don't stay on top of them. One of the biggest culprits is the factory Crankcase Venting (CCV) system. While it does its work of venting stress, it also is inclined to dump a lot of greasy mess back in to places where it really doesn't fit in.
Why Your own Intake Is Full of Oil
Every internal burning engine has a few amount of "blow-by. " This happens when combustion gases leak past the particular piston rings plus into the crankcase. In the old days, engines just vented this stuff out into the particular atmosphere, which was basic but not really great for the environment.
Modern engines like the 6. 7 Powerstroke use a closed CCV system. Instead of venting to the air, it routes those gases—which are usually full of essential oil mist and moisture—right back into the particular intake. The concept is to burn off those vapors throughout the next combustion cycle. On paper, it's a clean solution. In fact, it means your turbocharger, intercooler, and intake manifold are constantly being coated within a fine layer of oil.
Over time, this particular oil mixes with heat and soot (especially in case your EGR is still active), creating a solid, nasty sludge. This "gunk" builds up on the consumption valves and in the intercooler pipes, ultimately restricting airflow and making your engine work harder than it needs in order to. This is exactly where a 6. 7 powerstroke ccv catch can comes into play. It acts as a filter, trapping that will oil before it can reach your own intake.
The particular Problem with all the Factory Setup
In case you've ever pulled off an intercooler boot on the high-mileage 6. 7 plus seen oil leaking out, you know exactly what I'm speaking about. That oil isn't just a messy nuisance; it's actually bad for the elements it touches.
First of all, oil is an insulator. When it jackets the interior of your intercooler, it makes the heat exchange much less efficient. Your cost air temperatures remain higher, which can lead to a slight drop within performance and higher EGTs (Exhaust Gasoline Temperatures).
Secondly, that essential oil mist isn't great for the silicone and silicone boot styles in your cost air system. More than time, the essential oil can soak straight into the material, causing it to soften, swell, and eventually fail. If you've ever endured a shoe pop off while you're towing a heavy load uphill, you know it's a day-ruiner.
By installing the six. 7 powerstroke ccv catch can , you're essentially placing a stop to this cycle. You're letting the air move through, but catching the heavy essential oil particles in a reservoir where these people can't do any harm.
Just how a Catch Can Actually Works
A catch can is really a pretty simple device, but the physics behind it are usually clever. The steam from the crankcase enters the can and hits a series of baffles or a stainless steel mesh filter. This particular forces the oil mist to reduce and drop to the bottom of the particular container. The "clean" air then exits the very best of the particular can and proceeds on its way towards the intake.
It's a mechanical separation process. Right now there are no shifting parts in order to, plus it doesn't require any fancy consumer electronics. Most high-quality kits for the 6. 7 Powerstroke are designed to bolt right into existing holes in the engine bay, producing for a very clean, factory-looking install.
Catch Can vs. CCV Bypass
You may hear some men within the forums recommending a "CCV bypass" or a "vent-to-atmosphere" kit instead. While these are often less expensive, they come having a few downsides that you should think about prior to going that path.
A bypass kit usually consists of a long hose that runs down to the frame train, venting the gases directly under the particular truck. The primary problem right here is the smell. If you're idling at a stoplight with your home windows down, you're going to smell these crankcase vapors, and it's not exactly a pleasant smell. Plus, it can leave an oily spot on your driveway or the underside of your truck.
A 6. seven powerstroke ccv catch can is the even more "responsible" middle surface. It keeps the system closed, prevents the particular oily mess inside your intake, and doesn't leave you smelling as an old tractor each time you park. It's also generally more "inspection-friendly" in states where they take an in depth look at your engine bay.
Set up Isn't a Headache
If you're a DIYer, setting up a catch can on your 6. 7 is the totally manageable Weekend morning project. Many kits are "plug and play, " meaning offered with the correct hoses and quick-connect fixtures that match the factory hardware.
You generally start by eliminating the factory hose that runs from the CCV box on top of the engine to the intake pipe. After that, you mount the bracket for the particular catch can—often near the battery holder or on the shroud. After that, it's just an issue of routing the particular new hoses.
The largest factor to watch out for is making sure there are usually no kinks in the lines. You want the crankcase to be capable to breathe freely. If you restrict that flow, a person could find yourself generating too much backpressure in the crankcase, that might lead in order to oil leaks with your main closes. But as long as you the actual instructions and utilize a kit designed specifically for the 6. seven, it's a very straightforward job.
Don't Forget the particular Maintenance
This is the 1 "catch" with the catch can—pun intended. You actually need to empty it. Because the device is capturing oil that would certainly otherwise be burnt off, that oil has to move somewhere.
How often you have to drain it depends on the few things: age your engine, how much difficulty you generate, and also the weather. In colder climates, you'll likely observe the can fill up faster because it's also catching moisture build-up or condensation (water) that forms in the crankcase.
Many people check their particular six. 7 powerstroke ccv catch can every time they do an essential oil change. Usually, there's a small strain valve at the bottom of the can. You just put a small pot underneath, open the valve, and allow it drain. In case you ignore it and then let the can get completely full, it'll stop working, and that essential oil will just start heading back into your own intake again.
Is It Really Worth the Money?
If you plan on trading inside your truck each 3 years, maybe not. But if you're like most diesel-powered owners and a person want to observe that odometer hit 300, 000 or 400, 000 miles, then yes , it's absolutely worth it.
Think that of it since cheap insurance. By keeping the consumption tract, the turbo compressor wheel, as well as the intercooler clean, you're ensuring that the engine operates at top efficiency for as long as achievable. You're also stopping the carbon accumulation that eventually leads to expensive cleaning work opportunities or part replacements.
The 6. 7 Powerstroke is definitely an incredible engine, however it thrives on clean air and clean oil. Adding a 6. seven powerstroke ccv catch can is one associated with the simplest methods to help it remain this way. It's a set-it-and-forget-it (well, almost) upgrade that will pay for itself in peace of brain.
Final Ideas
At the end of the day, truck ownership is all about how you choose to maintain your rig. Some people are good with the stock "good enough" method, while others desire to over-engineer items for maximum durability.
When you're tired of viewing oil within your turbocharged pipes or you're worried about extensive intake clogging, the particular catch can may be the way to move. It's an easy, efficient solution to the known issue, and your Powerstroke will definitely thank you for it lower the road. Remember to check that drain valve every single every now and then, and you'll be good to go.