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2.4L with a true "Dirty Side" catch can - Yes!

7054 Views 9 Replies 4 Participants Last post by  Butch65, 
S
I have a 2017 Equinox with the 2.4L Ecotec engine. The car has about 132,000 Km (about 80,000 miles) on the clock. It has been well maintained with oil & filter roughly every 8000 km (5000 miles) and it uses no oil between changes.
So after much thought I decided to add a true "dirty side" catch can and address some of the issues with the stock PCV system.

I did this mod and it works for me, but no guarantee that you'll get the same results.
Be warned that this mod will void your warantee (if any) and may cause your Equinox to fail an emission inspection.
So far it has not set any codes and shows no change in performance. The catch can is indeed working as I have collected about 2 tablespoons of crap in about 3500 Km.

Basically as I see it there are three flaws with the stock PCV system on the 2.4L ecotec engine.

1) No crankcase over-pressure protection
2) Clean side plumbing that has low spots allowing blowby/water vapour to condense, collect and freeze.
3) A dirty side that uses an orfice that is too small (not enough flow) and easily blocks and/or freezes.

And the stock design does not allow for the installation of a catch can or air/oil separator on the "dirty side" where it normally should be installed.
So after some thought I decided to make a few small modifications and to install a traditional PCV valve. This would also allow me to add a catch can to the dirty side.

1) Installed an ACDelco FC219 oil filler cap. Although the over-pressure protection built into this cap is limited, it is better than none....

2) I modified the clean side plumbing using 1/2" PCV hose, sloping the hose so that there are no low spots that would allow blowby/water mix to collect. I also relocated the connection on the inlet plenum higher so that it enters at the top of the inlet chamber. The original inlet on the plenum is capped and the chamber is repurposed as a clean side catch can.

3) Blocked-off the original "Dirty Side" PCV orfice and added a traditional PVC valve and a catch can.
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christopherlompoc
I don't think this would work for me, I don't even see how u caught anything between the intake tube and intake manifold... U can't seal anything xept that hole u made... Needs to be hose from hole on valve cover to intake tube with catch between. I wouldn't get caught on the freeway that way gonna blow ur rear main seal forsure.
No crankcase over-pressure protection?
Gasses in the crank case escape through the hole in the valve cover.

Having the pcv valve there is actually going to stop most of anything you did because it's going to block under that much vacuum either direction.

Everything else looks good that thing looks brand new.
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S
Hey christopherlompo,
I believe your thinking of a clean side catch can. This is a dirty side catch can setup where the catch can goes between the PCV valve and the source of intake vacuum.
The clean side is the big hose shown in the photo below does exactly what the small hose (now capped) used to do and is connected to the same location on the valve cover. The difference is that the big hose now enters the chamber in the inlet plenum at the top where it can't be blocked by frozen water/sludge etc. The old small hose has been cut and capped and is used as a drain. That chamber is now functioning sort of like a clean side catch can.
17026


The dirty side changes consist of adding a true PCV valve, a catch can and a vacuum fitting on the intake manifold. As well the old orfice in the intake has been blocked off
And yes there is a limited amount of over pressure protection built into the ACDelco FC219 oil filler cap.
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christopherlompoc
Like the input" at the top where it can't be blocked.. Did u do anything with the purge valve? Pcv should be going at the crank case... Otherwise it's just a tube. Going from ur intake tube to the manifold.. I'm just not seeing it.
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Ronaldi
stopwatch said:
I have a 2017 Equinox with the 2.4L Ecotec engine. The car has about 132,000 Km (about 80,000 miles) on the clock. It has been well maintained with oil & filter roughly every 8000 km (5000 miles) and it uses no oil between changes.
So after much thought I decided to add a true "dirty side" catch can and address some of the issues with the stock PCV system.

I did this mod and it works for me, but no guarantee that you'll get the same results.
Be warned that this mod will void your warantee (if any) and may cause your Equinox to fail an emission inspection.
So far it has not set any codes and shows no change in performance. The catch can is indeed working as I have collected about 2 tablespoons of crap in about 3500 Km.

Basically as I see it there are three flaws with the stock PCV system on the 2.4L ecotec engine.

1) No crankcase over-pressure protection
2) Clean side plumbing that has low spots allowing blowby/water vapour to condense, collect and freeze.
3) A dirty side that uses an orfice that is too small (not enough flow) and easily blocks and/or freezes.

And the stock design does not allow for the installation of a catch can or air/oil separator on the "dirty side" where it normally should be installed.
So after some thought I decided to make a few small modifications and to install a traditional PCV valve. This would also allow me to add a catch can to the dirty side.

1) Installed an ACDelco FC219 oil filler cap. Although the over-pressure protection built into this cap is limited, it is better than none....

2) I modified the clean side plumbing using 1/2" PCV hose, sloping the hose so that there are no low spots that would allow blowby/water mix to collect. I also relocated the connection on the inlet plenum higher so that it enters at the top of the inlet chamber. The original inlet on the plenum is capped and the chamber is repurposed as a clean side catch can.

3) Blocked-off the original "Dirty Side" PCV orfice and added a traditional PVC valve and a catch can.
View attachment 17021 View attachment 17022 View attachment 17023
Click to expand...
Can you send me how you did it , parts required , [email protected]
Ronald
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S
Ronaldi said:
Can you send me how you did it , parts required , [email protected]
Ronald
Click to expand...
Hey Ronald, I did this fix about a year and a half ago. Its still working great. In fact I had to put a bigger catch can as first one I used would fill up too quickly in cold weather. I'll have a look around for any of the info I have and I'll forward on to you. ( give me a week or so )
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Ronaldi
stopwatch said:
Hey christopherlompo,
I believe your thinking of a clean side catch can. This is a dirty side catch can setup where the catch can goes between the PCV valve and the source of intake vacuum.
The clean side is the big hose shown in the photo below does exactly what the small hose (now capped) used to do and is connected to the same location on the valve cover. The difference is that the big hose now enters the chamber in the inlet plenum at the top where it can't be blocked by frozen water/sludge etc. The old small hose has been cut and capped and is used as a drain. That chamber is now functioning sort of like a clean side catch can.
stopwatch said:
Hey Ronald, I did this fix about a year and a half ago. Its still working great. In fact I had to put a bigger catch can as first one I used would fill up too quickly in cold weather. I'll have a look around for any of the info I have and I'll forward on to you. ( give me a week or so )
Click to expand...
Hi , it's Ron from Parma Ohio , the image you have posted you have the port block off and reinstalled a fitting , right above it , where does this hose rout to , to valve cover ? Port ,
The fitting can you give me part number



View attachment 17026

The dirty side changes consist of adding a true PCV valve, a catch can and a vacuum fitting on the intake manifold. As well the old orfice in the intake has been blocked off
And yes there is a limited amount of over pressure protection built into the ACDelco FC219 oil filler cap.
Click to expand...

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Ronaldi
Hi it's Ron from Parma Ohio ,
Hi christopherlompo , can you text me , I'm still trying to figure out , the the hose you installed in box above , and it fitting , and where attaches to

[email protected] ,
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S
Ron, when I did this mod to add a true PCV valve and a catch can, I did it in four part. Part 1 was to modify the plumbing from the stock valve cover inlet to the air inlet plenum. ( as shown in your photo above ) Part 2 was to modify the intake manifold, completely blocking off the stock PCV orfice and adding a vacuum fitting. Part 3 was to modify the valve cover, drilling a hole and adding a grommet for the PCV valve. Part 4 was to install a catch can and hook it all up.

Your photo above is only part 1 and this modification was to replace the stock hose with something less likely to freeze in cold weather. Doing part 1 is only a "clean side" modification and does not give you a true PCV valve.

For the part 1 mod I drilled a hole into the air inlet plenum. The top edge of the hole was about 1/4" below the top of the plenum and above the stock outlet. ( use the photo above as a guide) I put a grommet ( Dorman 42065 PCV Grommet ) in the hole and a plastic PCV elbow fitting in the grommet ( Dorman 47032 PCV Elbow 1/2" ). I purchased a piece of 1/2" PCV hose at my local auto parts and connected it between the elbow and the inlet fitting on the valve cover. Finally I cut and capped off the original hose leaving the plenum end in place. ( I had hoped to use it as a drain but so far nothing has ever come out of it... )
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B
I'd like a copy of the complete details also -. I have a 2011 Equinox with the 2.4L Ecotec engine

ijdjr[AT} att [dot} net

Thanks


Where you now have the PCV valve on the valve cover there isn't that plastic cover that goes over it.
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