Does Your F150 Need a Catch Can? - Ford F150 Oil Separators Tested And Explained

SID297 · Oct 24, 2019

From AmericanTrucks:

Ford F-150 Oil Catch Cans | AmericanTrucks.com

In this episode of AmericanTrucks’ (AT) ‘What’s Up With That’, Justin Dugan breaks
out the graduated cylinder to explain and test oil separators. Sometimes referred to
as a ‘catch can’, these devices are extremely beneficial to forced induction, direct
injected engines which lack supplemental port injection.

If you have an early 3.5L or 2.7L EcoBoost engine, or know someone who does, this
educational video will inform on ways to prolong engine life by keeping engine
internals, like intake manifold and valves, clean from any blow-by related
build-up.

Ford F-150 Oil Catch Cans | AmericanTrucks.com

RX1Cobra · Oct 24, 2019

I'm sure people are going to disagree here but I don't think it's needed (I limited my research to 3.5 ecoboosts). Has there even been one documented case of a DI only 3.5 with gummed up valves? Ford patented a process to wash the back of the valves with fuel even on DI only motors.

But if it makes you feel better add one. Don't think it will hurt anything.

AssPikle · Oct 24, 2019

RX1Cobra said:
I'm sure people are going to disagree here but I don't think it's needed (I limited my research to 3.5 ecoboosts). Has there even been one documented case of a DI only 3.5 with gummed up valves? Ford patented a process to wash the back of the valves with fuel even on DI only motors.

But if it makes you feel better add one. Don't think it will hurt anything.

I agree. Ford does not spend millions developing and testing these engines to leave out a catch can. I get that there may be benefits, but to me nothing worth dealing with draining a can each week. What a pia. I'm going to keep running in stock form.

railroad · Oct 25, 2019

I just added a JLT to my 2013 3.5 ecoboost F150. Looks like I am going to be emptying it about every 800 miles. I am running 5w-30 Mobil 1.
I plan on trying a different brand of motor oil and see if it vapors less.
I have no issues with my truck and was surprised I was passing so much oil.
My concern is not oil carbon on the back of the valves as much as oil caked intercooler.
I have considered Seafoaming to try and wash it, but will probably not go to the trouble. My truck is a daily driver, which I run on 93 octane. For comparison, my son's 2014 same truck has not put any measurable amount of oil in the same catch can. He has a tune on his engine.

CompOrange04GT · Oct 25, 2019

railroad said:
I just added a JLT to my 2013 3.5 ecoboost F150. Looks like I am going to be emptying it about every 800 miles. I am running 5w-30 Mobil 1.
I plan on trying a different brand of motor oil and see if it vapors less.
I have no issues with my truck and was surprised I was passing so much oil.
My concern is not oil carbon on the back of the valves as much as oil caked intercooler.
I have considered Seafoaming to try and wash it, but will probably not go to the trouble. My truck is a daily driver, which I run on 93 octane. For comparison, my son's 2014 same truck has not put any measurable amount of oil in the same catch can. He has a tune on his engine.

I couldn’t imagine. Let’s just say I had the same thing. My 2018 truck has 80k miles

I would have had to drain a catch can 100 times in a year. **** that

1 Alibi 2 · Oct 25, 2019

It was good enough for my 2011,

and good enough for my 2014,

was also good enough on my 17 F150 5.0.

.................................$ 50.00 Jegs unit..

railroad · Oct 25, 2019

CompOrange04GT said:
I couldn’t imagine. Let’s just say I had the same thing. My 2018 truck has 80k miles

I would have had to drain a catch can 100 times in a year. **** that

Who changes your oil? Part of my message point was the difference in the amount of oil that other vehicles catch. It takes longer to open the hood on the F150, than emptying the can. ,,,if you have somewhere to empty it.
I have catch cans on my 99 Mustang Cobra with KB SC and 13 Shelby GT500, not daily drivers, but empty cans about twice a year, ?

CompOrange04GT · Oct 25, 2019

railroad said:
Who changes your oil? Part of my message point was the difference in the amount of oil that other vehicles catch. It takes longer to open the hood on the F150, than emptying the can. ,,,if you have somewhere to empty it.
I have catch cans on my 99 Mustang Cobra with KB SC and 13 Shelby GT500, not daily drivers, but empty cans about twice a year, ?

Company mechanic. It’s a company truck.

I drive a lot. Full tank of fuel almost every single day. Sometimes twice

Lambeau · Oct 25, 2019

Good info!

@SID297
Should I add one to the 3.5L EB in our '19 Explorer Sport?
I don't plan on selling it for a long time...

SID297 · Oct 25, 2019

Lambeau said:
Good info.

@SID297
So I should add one to the 3.5L EB in our '19 Explorer Sport?
I don't plan on selling it for a long time...

I run one on everything I can. Some new Fords have them built in (6.7L PSD), but having one never hurts.

03cobra#694 · Oct 25, 2019

Meh, my 18 2.7 doesn't use a drop of oil at 5K changes.

railroad · Oct 26, 2019

CompOrange04GT said:
Company mechanic. It’s a company truck.

I drive a lot. Full tank of fuel almost every single day. Sometimes twice

I would not worry about it, company truck, unless you want to buy the truck at the end of the day. It may not pass much oil and your mechanic can empty it.
Then again, it might fill up quickly. I do not know what happens when they get full and do not get emptied.

railroad · Oct 26, 2019

Lambeau said:
Good info!

@SID297
Should I add one to the 3.5L EB in our '19 Explorer Sport?
I don't plan on selling it for a long time...

Under those plans, I would. You probably maintain things pretty well, with plans for long term use.

04DeadShort · Oct 27, 2019

All my current FI vehicles have a catch can. I learned my lesson on the 04 Lightning I owned.

SID297 · Oct 27, 2019

04DeadShort said:
All my current FI vehicles have a catch can. I learned my lesson on my 04 Lightning I owned.

Caked up intercooler was so much fun back in the day.

04DeadShort · Oct 28, 2019

SID297 said:
Caked up intercooler was so much fun back in the day.

Exactly. A case of engine degreaser is expensive lol.

331 LX · Oct 28, 2019

I've got a 2015 3.5 Ecoboost F150 Platinum and I have thought about adding these but I'm curious if its to late. I just turned over 100k on the truck ( I drive a lot of HWY ) and I'm not sure if it's worth it to add them at this point.

I also would like to know if anyone has had any timing chain issues with the 15+ 3.5's.... I read on F150 forums that people are replacing them at 100k. Thanks posting the vid.

railroad · Oct 28, 2019

I would recommend adding the catch can at any mileage. The oil that goes into the intake, adds to what is on the intercooler and is added to your intake charge on each cylinder.
Nothing on the timing chains.

04DeadShort · Oct 28, 2019

331 LX said:
I've got a 2015 3.5 Ecoboost F150 Platinum and I have thought about adding these but I'm curious if its to late. I just turned over 100k on the truck ( I drive a lot of HWY ) and I'm not sure if it's worth it to add them at this point.

I also would like to know if anyone has had any timing chain issues with the 15+ 3.5's.... I read on F150 forums that people are replacing them at 100k. Thanks posting the vid.

The 15+ 3.5's have direct injection and port injection. Had a Ford rep tell me the port injection is to help aid in keeping the top of the intake valves clean while also supplying adequate fuel for low rpm torque. The catch can on my 18 3.5 hardly has any oil in it when I casual drive it. It will accumulate some while towing though. I wouldn't hurt for you to add a catch can at this point. Or just stay on a good maintenance schedule and it'll be fine.

Sent from my SM-S767VL using Tapatalk

speeddemon2000 · Oct 29, 2019

These things do capture blowby. But do they trap all of it? No. Most of it? Probably Not. Just put two or even three of these inline. I guarantee each one of them will contain blowby. I am not saying not to use them. I am just questioning their effectiveness. The only way to ensure no blowby makes it into the intake is to remove the PVC all together. Then that cause another problem. When you remove the PVC those catch cans can get pretty nasty. Mine always had alot of condensation in it with a small amount of oil.

Does Your F150 Need a Catch Can? - Ford F150 Oil Separators Tested And Explained

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