Oil catch can Please chime in

UPR catch cans is basically the defacto Bronco catch can at the moment. @Bschurr provided a link.

In terms of your question... typically you do not want anything in the intake other than air and fuel... and if you get oil/carbon built-up on the intake it can impact your air flow and reduce engine performance. The valves themselves are lubricated via oil pumped through the cylinder head, so you are not starving the valves of needed oil by using a catch can.

On port injection engines (such as the 2.7L EcoBoost) you don't need to worry about build-up as much simply because the fuel injected into the intake acts almost as a natural cleaning solvent. BUT, catch cans are extremely valuable on direct injection engines (such as the 2.3L EcoBoost) because the fuel is injected into the cylinder itself rather than the intake—which effectively means that natural cleaning process never happens on direct injection engines.

Even still, you do not strictly need a catch can, even on direct injection engines. Most people will never have an issue as long as you use high quality oil and change the oil on a regular basis. And if it does get bad or you keep your Bronco for a long time (150,000+ miles), you can always take apart your intake manifold and clean it manually (walnut blasting is usually the preferred approach).

RagnarKon

UPR catch cans is basically the defacto Bronco catch can at the moment. @Bschurr provided a link.

In terms of your question... typically you do not want anything in the intake other than air and fuel... and if you get oil/carbon built-up on the intake it can impact your air flow and reduce engine performance. The valves themselves are lubricated via oil pumped through the cylinder head, so you are not starving the valves of needed oil by using a catch can.

On port injection engines (such as the 2.7L EcoBoost) you don't need to worry about build-up as much simply because the fuel injected into the intake acts almost as a natural cleaning solvent. BUT, catch cans are extremely valuable on direct injection engines (such as the 2.3L EcoBoost) because the fuel is injected into the cylinder itself rather than the intake—which effectively means that natural cleaning process never happens on direct injection engines.

Even still, you do not strictly need a catch can, even on direct injection engines. Most people will never have an issue as long as you use high quality oil and change the oil on a regular basis. And if it does get bad or you keep your Bronco for a long time (150,000+ miles), you can always take apart your intake manifold and clean it manually (walnut blasting is usually the preferred approach).

Why didn't I take auto mechanics in high school? Crap.

jamtra

Why didn't I take auto mechanics in high school? Crap.

Should have... would have been handy. ;)

In my case... my father is a (now retired) Ford engineer. He dragged by grumpy do-nothing teenage butt out into the garage to help him with his car projects and taught me a bunch of stuff. To be perfectly honest I didn't give crap at the time, but now that I'm in the "real world"... I'm starting appreciate all the countless Saturday mornings he woke me up to help him.

(Don't tell him I said that though. Gotta retain my cool image. :cool:)

jamtra

Why didn't I take auto mechanics in high school? Crap.

They don’t teach that $hit in HS - @RagnarKon is dropping knowledge right there…

Bschurr

They don’t teach that $hit in HS - @RagnarKon is dropping knowledge right there…

I know. I was in high school 30 years ago. When the average joe could still work on your car yourself.

RagnarKon

UPR catch cans is basically the defacto Bronco catch can at the moment. @Bschurr provided a link.

In terms of your question... typically you do not want anything in the intake other than air and fuel... and if you get oil/carbon built-up on the intake it can impact your air flow and reduce engine performance. The valves themselves are lubricated via oil pumped through the cylinder head, so you are not starving the valves of needed oil by using a catch can.

On port injection engines (such as the 2.7L EcoBoost) you don't need to worry about build-up as much simply because the fuel injected into the intake acts almost as a natural cleaning solvent. BUT, catch cans are extremely valuable on direct injection engines (such as the 2.3L EcoBoost) because the fuel is injected into the cylinder itself rather than the intake—which effectively means that natural cleaning process never happens on direct injection engines.

Even still, you do not strictly need a catch can, even on direct injection engines. Most people will never have an issue as long as you use high quality oil and change the oil on a regular basis. And if it does get bad or you keep your Bronco for a long time (150,000+ miles), you can always take apart your intake manifold and clean it manually (walnut blasting is usually the preferred approach).

Great response, however, you note... "valves themselves are lubricated via oil pumped through the cylinder head, so you are not starving the valves of needed oil by using a catch can."
I understand this happens in and around the valve guides. It must or you would burn out the retainers and soft shaft guides in four minutes.
What I am saying/asking is, if they are running a PVC system (which they are as the valve cover has a rubber pipe attached to the manifold through a direct tube with something looking rather similar to a PVC device (sure looks like one to me), then Ford is, in a sense. more than aware or expecting oil to return through the intake. Having adjusted and developed an engine to do this, and an engine with half the displacement but double the HP of the standard gas engine, my question still remains... how safe it is to completely remove such flow. Now, will a catch can still allow oil through, just cleaner and without water? If so, then I see the true benefit. Or... do they completely stop the oil (hence they must be drained so often)?

To add further, I read a post today in which a Ford customer went in to have a block heater installed at the dealership and while there asked the dealer to do an oil can and they directly refused his request ( an F150 2.7) Now... could be b/c it wasn't a Ford part, but I also wonder if it is because Ford doesn't want things messing with a high compression ( I believe the 2.7 is 11 to 1!), twin-turbo, highly tuned engine?

Porkchop4464

Great response, however, you note... "valves themselves are lubricated via oil pumped through the cylinder head, so you are not starving the valves of needed oil by using a catch can."
I understand this happens in and around the valve guides. It must or you would burn out the retainers and soft shaft guides in four minutes.
What I am saying/asking is, if they are running a PVC system (which they are as the valve cover has a rubber pipe attached to the manifold through a direct tube with something looking rather similar to a PVC device (sure looks like one to me), then Ford is, in a sense. more than aware or expecting oil to return through the intake. Having adjusted and developed an engine to do this, and an engine with half the displacement but double the HP of the standard gas engine, my question still remains... how safe it is to completely remove such flow. Now, will a catch can still allow oil through, just cleaner and without water? If so, then I see the true benefit. Or... do they completely stop the oil (hence they must be drained so often)?

Yes Ford definitely accounted for oil and other particulates returning from the PCV system, and even if you do have a catch can it will not remove everything. Most of those pollutants just get burned up in the combustion cylinder honestly, but some does stick to the back of the intake valves, and over time will gunk up the intake. There are only three real reasons Ford and most other manufacturers don't have a catch can or oil separator for most of their vehicles:

1. Most people aren't driving like they're on a track
2. They only need to warranty vehicles for 5 years or 60,000 miles
3. It would add to the maintenance the average buyer won't want to deal with. If they use a catch can, someone has to remember to empty the catch can.

Many would argue that catch cans really only become "necessary" if you are dealing with high levels of boost and high RPMs. The more boost you have the more chance of blowby/leaks you get, which in turn makes the PCV system work harder, which sends more gunk back into the intake. Catch cans are fairly popular for high-performance vehicles, and Ford themselves sells one for the Mustang (in the form of an oil separator).

If you are going to drive your Bronco like a Mustang and it will be under a lot of boost, you'll probably want a dual valve catch can with a clean side separator (or a dual catch can setup) to account for situations when the manifold isn't under a vacuum due to the high levels of boost. I actually don't know anyone sells a dual valve or CSS specifically for the Bronco, but it would not at all surprise me if UPR ends up releasing one, as I know they make them for the Mustang and the F-150.

Realistically, most people will not be driving their Bronco like it is a Mustang or towing 10,000 lbs at 7,000 ft elevation in their F-150, so I really do think it is unnecessary. BUT, I will admit it helps keep the intake clean over tens of thousands of miles. So if you are looking to get 300,000 out of your Bronco with minimal intake maintenance it probably is a good idea.

Porkchop4464

To add further, I read a post today in which a Ford customer went in to have a block heater installed at the dealership and while there asked the dealer to do an oil can and they directly refused his request ( an F150 2.7) Now... could be b/c it wasn't a Ford part, but I also wonder if it is because Ford doesn't want things messing with a high compression ( I believe the 2.7 is 11 to 1!), twin-turbo, highly tuned engine?

Yeah Ford will definitely not take kindly to vehicles that have third party catch cans or oil separators on them. I can mess with the emission systems or cause PCV malfunctions if designed incorrectly. And safe to say that if you do have a catch can on your vehicle and your PCV system malfunctions it is highly unlikely to be fixed under warranty. I also think third party catch cans are just straight up illegal in California due to emissions controls.

BUT, if designed correctly catch cans can help an engine maintain more consistent performance for a longer period of time.

Personally, I have a 2.3L Bronco on order and I will be installing a catch can, but I'm not in any particular rush to install it and I may decide to just wait until my warranty period ends. Haven't decided yet. There is a lot of mods I want to do to the Bronco, money is finite, and a catch can is somewhat far down on the list to be perfectly honest. But I'm also comfortable taking apart my intake manifold to clean everything if necessary.

Ragnar,

Thanks for the information and comments. I agree with all, especially the fact that Ford prob doesn't have too much faith in its mainstream customer banks regarding maintenance, figuring most people won't do drain or even understand it. Interesting the Mustang has a system available, I will def read up on that one as well. Man! I love Bronco Nation and the info you can garner from it!

I personally am going to talk to the service manager when my 2.3 comes in. If I don’t get a hard “it will void the warranty” then I will be installing a catch can. My current Kia has a GDI engine and I run seafoam through the intake every 7500 miles to try and keep the valves cleaner. The service department advised me on that one a catch can, is an instant warranty killer though Kia so I never installed one even though I think the car could use one.

I have the 2.3 in my 2020 Ranger and checked my catch can after 1000 miles the other day and emptied a little less than an ounce of crud . Looks like a good bit of water settled to the bottom . I have no plans to install one on the Broncos 2.7 though .

jamtra

Why didn't I take auto mechanics in high school? Crap.

i took home economics.Way better looking class mates.

1Five1 Garage

i took home economics.Way better looking class mates.

Lol. I would agree with that.

RagnarKon

If you are going to drive your Bronco like a Mustang and it will be under a lot of boost, you'll probably want a dual valve catch can with a clean side separator (or a dual catch can setup) to account for situations when the manifold isn't under a vacuum due to the high levels of boost. I actually don't know anyone sells a dual valve or CSS specifically for the Bronco, but it would not at all surprise me if UPR ends up releasing one, as I know they make them for the Mustang and the F-150.

So... speaking of dual valve catch cans and CSS... was on the @LethalPerformance website while on the toilet this morning (I do all my shopping on the toilet it seems :sneaky:) to see if they had the beadlock rings in stock—they do.

Decided to check out the other accessories... and apparently UPR has a dual valve catch can and CSS for the 2.7L. Dunno when that happened—must have released it over the holidays when I wasn't paying attention.

Rydfree

I have the 2.3 in my 2020 Ranger and checked my catch can after 1000 miles the other day and emptied a little less than an ounce of crud . Looks like a good bit of water settled to the bottom . I have no plans to install one on the Broncos 2.7 though .

Wow! That is impressive. It looks like gas, does it smell?