11-29-2020, 04:00 PM | #1 |
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Fuel in Oil Catch Can
Decided to check my oil catch can after the first 2K miles of driving with it installed. I was horrified when I saw what appeared to be water in the can. Upon further inspection I realized it was fuel. Now, I don't no if I should be more or less horrified. What could cause this? Piston rings?
My only mods are BM3 Stage 1 and a charge pipe. I don't drive that hard, except when passing someone on the highway. 2016 328X - 57k miles on the car that I've had since April with 46k. Thanks in advance! |
11-29-2020, 04:56 PM | #2 |
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Mine was the same, I dont think you need to worry about any serious issues.
Ran a catch can from approximately 35k miles to 95k miles on my last car (2014 328i) and it always had a fair amount of fuel in the can. Never had any issues with the car and would likely be still driving it it someone didnt crash into me and total it. Was FBO w/ Bootmod3 stage 1 tune for most of those miles. Ran like a top, sure do miss it! |
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SethRed14.50 |
11-29-2020, 06:36 PM | #3 | |
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11-29-2020, 09:37 PM | #4 |
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Fuel in the catch can isn't unusual, since the waste gases that leave the crankcase via the PCV are comprised of about 70% unburned fuel. Getting those gases out of the crankcase so that they won't condense there and contaminate the oil is part of the PCV system's job. When you consider how much fuel you burn in 2k miles of driving a small amount of fuel in the catch can is no biggy.
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SethRed14.50 |
11-29-2020, 11:31 PM | #5 | |
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11-30-2020, 07:26 AM | #7 |
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11-30-2020, 10:43 AM | #10 |
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11-30-2020, 02:27 PM | #13 | |
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Maybe this is normal, I just didn't expect to see anything but oil in my oil catch can. That's exactly what mine looks like. Just more of it over fewer miles. Perhaps it just smells like fuel because of the oiley air pumping through it all the time. |
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sspade2464.50 |
11-30-2020, 03:17 PM | #14 |
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In winter there's a lot of water condensation in the crankcase, when the temperature is above 40 there's almost none. When the engine warms up enough to boil that water off most of it goes through the catch can, and when the can is cold it condenses there as water again. At the end of summer the oil in my can looks almost as good as the oil in my filter canister. At the end of winter it looks like sludge.
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ceedawg467.50 |
11-30-2020, 04:01 PM | #15 |
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All you guys crack me up. Normal by products of condensation and combustion. It is totally normal to have fuel water and oil in your catch can. Some cars will hardly have anything. Ethanol is even worse. Just dump it before it gets extremely cold outside. I have two catch cans on my 600whp DSM and 1 catchcan on my F30 335.
Everyone calm down Jeez.
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11-30-2020, 04:15 PM | #16 |
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11-30-2020, 08:24 PM | #17 | |
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Also, it's byproducts. |
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11-30-2020, 11:39 PM | #18 | ||
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SethRed14.50 |
12-01-2020, 09:10 AM | #19 |
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I'm curious as to why some of you all are getting that much oil/water in your OCC's...in such little time.....
Ive had my BMS OCC for over 5-10k miles and not even an 1/8th inch has accumulated.
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12-01-2020, 09:22 AM | #20 |
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Read Post #14. How often has the temperature in San Antone gone below freezing lately? In my neck of the woods it can stay below freezing 24 hours a day for weeks. That makes for a lot of condensation.
Last edited by Billfitz; 12-01-2020 at 11:31 AM.. |
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12-01-2020, 09:44 AM | #21 | |
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12-07-2020, 02:20 AM | #22 |
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I don't have a catch can but my oil filler cap always smells of gas/fuel and it concerned the crap out of me. However, the car drives great (minus other little niggles) and I checked the oil filter and it does not smell of gas, nor the oil in the bottom of the housing, it also feels and looks like oil.
Therefore, I believe it's the crank case vapours making their way to the top of the engine to be burnt off causing the smell in the valve cover. If you're concerned you could carry out a compression test to check rings, HG and valves seating. |
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