Would you pour a capful of oil down the carburetor of your hot rod? Of course you wouldn’t. So why would you let the same thing happen to your daily driver? Oil vapor, along with other particulates and condensation, can flow through a closed PCV system and feed that mix into the intake system. Think of it in terms of a chest cold: your engine is coughing up crud, but instead of getting rid of that nastiness, it’s going right back into the system. Not good.
When we covered ChallengerFest 6 earlier this year, one thing we noticed on practically every late-model Mopar that showed up was an oil catch can of some type. The can is installed in-line in the PCV system and is designed to allow the oil vapor mix to liquify for collection. This removes a majority of the contaminates out of the PCV air and collects the mix for disposal. Our catch can came from Billet Technology, who have been working primarily LX Mopars since the first cars appeared on dealer lots. Well-respected in the late-model Mopar world, Billet Technology was a new name to us, but seeing how many owners were using their product and seeing how involved the company was with owners and racers alike, we felt that giving their product a shot was a solid decision.
We ordered the Original Catch Can, p/n 20010 for our 2006 Chrysler 300C, and specified a black finish so that it would blend in with the fairly stock under hood appearance and braided hoses…well, just because. (There are eight total finishes available, so if you can’t find one you like, you might be a little bit picky.) The kit comes complete with the can system (the top and can itself), two replacement hoses that are measured for the application, and in the case of our car, a jam nut used in the installation. The entire installation was performed in less than ten minutes in the dark using an iPhone for a flashlight, and the only tools you need are a wrench for the jam nut and a pair of channel lock pliers to shift a radiator hose clamp out of the way. In about a month we will check up on the contents of the can and report on how well the Billet Technology catch can performed. Check out the photos below and see what we mean when we say this is easy:
Even in one of the more tight spots of the 300C’s engine bay, there is plenty of room for the catch can. It’s out of the way of major heat sources and wiring, and can be accessed easily.
Here is the system in all of it’s glory. The layout couldn’t be any more simple.
Billet Technology uses a dual chambered top that increases the percentage of oil collected.
The can itself isn’t that big (comparable to a mini-can of soda) and is meant to be checked and emptied once a month. Take note of the rough lip at the bottom, which is meant to make removing the can easier. The can is made from 6061-T6 aluminum, and the entire system is approved by Mopar Performance.
The hardest part of the installation? Finding a pair of channel lock pliers and rotating this radiator hose clamp about twenty degrees toward the engine so that the tabs will not interfere with the can.
Many of the late-model Mopar Hemis have this one stud sticking out off of the water pump assembly for no real reason. It’s a perfect place to screw in the catch can system, and the jam nut is a simple answer to how to loosen the unit for servicing. If you don’t have this stud, don’t worry, Billet Technology has mounting adapters available.
For once, adding hoses under hood is a good thing. That’s the original PCV hose, a very short length with a slight incline that’s perfect for sending oil and condensation back into the intake.
With the engine cover on, the catch can is barely noticeable, and is easily accessible. Loosen the jam nut, turn the assembly a little bit, and unscrew the can from the top. Nothing to it.
