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Catch can emptying - How often?

4195 Views 21 Replies 13 Participants Last post by  TJGS
only at oil change? or when?
I change my oil every 6,000 miles using Castrol Synthetic Oil. Schedule was determined using the owners manual. So periodically I empty the catch can at least a couple times between oil changes. When I empty the can I pour the oil back into the crankcase. What do you do?
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I check mine about every 2500 mi or so. Ususlly there's about 1/2" of oil in it....I soak it up in paper shop towl and toss it. If my motor spit it out I don't want it going back in......
I check mine about every 2500 mi or so. Ususlly there's about 1/2" of oil in it....I soak it up in paper shop towl and toss it. If my motor spit it out I don't want it going back in......
X2 :smileup:

Check it more often during the winter as condensation can also build up in there.
I usually check mine with each oil change....I use amsoil, so I stick to changing it every 6K per the owner's manual even though it's designed to go 10K. Don't want to run afoul of the recommendation and run into warranty issues. Speaking of which I went to check mine yesterday after putting my strut brace in and I must have tightened it down so much that I can't spin the sucker off. Gonna have to find someone with a vice and wrap it in a bath towel to protect the finish. Luckily it's octagonal shaped so I should be able to get a fair bite on it without marring it up.
I usually check mine with each oil change....I use amsoil, so I stick to changing it every 6K per the owner's manual even though it's designed to go 10K. Don't want to run afoul of the recommendation and run into warranty issues. Speaking of which I went to check mine yesterday after putting my strut brace in and I must have tightened it down so much that I can't spin the sucker off. Gonna have to find someone with a vice and wrap it in a bath towel to protect the finish. Luckily it's octagonal shaped so I should be able to get a fair bite on it without marring it up.
http://www.challengerforumz.com/showpost.php?p=473292&postcount=34
I have CRS so I empty it every 1,000 miles because its easy to remember.It does not go back into my motor.
I empty it about once a month - I set a reminder in Outlook for every 4th Sunday. I have a paint can that I dump the oil in and wipe the can out with a paper towel. No way it that going back into the crank case. Even though my owners manual say 5K, I still change about every 3-4K miles. Strap wrench from Sears makes taking the can off easy....
I would do it halfway through your cycle at the latest. It should be about 1/3 full then.
I R Canless!!!


it's on my list and has been ordered so I will have it all together before the driving season starts.
I change the oil every 6 months or 6k, i check the catch can once a month.
My can has a simple stop valve for easy emptying.
I change mine when I change my oil, but there was another thread out there today about some folks in winter states that are getting full cans of condensation so you may want to take that into account.
I check/empty mine at every oil change, and once in between each oil change.
but Jim is a 700 pound gorilla!!!!!
but Jim is a 700 pound gorilla!!!!!
Apparently! :)
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lol...amazing how you have the strength to put them on but never enough to get them off. Darn science!!!
lol...amazing how you have the strength to put them on but never enough to get them off. Darn science!!!
I blame heat. When it's cold, you twist it open, twist it closed, then open it again to check how tight it is, simple. Twist it back on, drive around a bit, heat from the engine blah blah blah... try to take it back off... thing is solid as a rock. Heat, expansion, frustration! That's my guess anyway. :4-dontknow:
yup...totally agree with you!
I blame heat. When it's cold, you twist it open, twist it closed, then open it again to check how tight it is, simple. Twist it back on, drive around a bit, heat from the engine blah blah blah... try to take it back off... thing is solid as a rock. Heat, expansion, frustration! That's my guess anyway. :4-dontknow:
Last time I had it open, it was warm out. Tried to check it yesterday with the engine ice cold (well ambient temp was about 50 or high 40s). I think I just put it on too tight.
Look at your catch can tightness like you would an oil filter. Finger tight, then 1/2 to 3/4 of a turn more. You just need to seat the gasket and then turn it a little more. That is, unless your a 700 lb gorilla!
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