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Oil Catch can question. Most Effective Positioning??
What side are you supposed to install a Catch can?
On my 06 GT I have it on the drivers side. Recently a post on FB came up and the person put it on the passenger side.
I mentioned that was wrong and I got a lot of backlash from others saying I was wrong.
Now I'm reading other threads saying it's supposed to be on the passenger side?
So what side is it? My car has a 09 gt engine in it.
Well, a Jlt Goes on Passenger Side 0n 4.6L S-197. It Would Vary I Guess on Other Models Depending on Location of Stock PCV Valve! Now on a 4.6L No Actual Separate Valve is Used if Memory Serves So Kinda Weird. 5.4L & 4.0 Have One. Valve is Integral To LH Valve Cover on 4.6L.
Can always count on you KC. Thank you for the reply and pdfs. So it seems I do have it on the wrong side all these years. Kinda makes me mad. So much misinformation out there. I'll switch it over when I do an oil change.
On the 4.6 3V my understanding is that it should go on the driver side. I think the confusion comes from the later years where it goes on the other side, or both.
I have had the JLT on my 2010 for several years, on the driver side, and it has collected so little oil, that I don't even bother checking it any more. This reminds me, maybe I should check it, last time it only had a drop or two in it.
This is so confusing.
On the FB post ppl are saying "the passenger side is the side that gets ALL of the blow by" . And "The intake manifold pulls a vacuum" from the passenger side.
But Bert says it's the drivers side, which I also have found when searching. So for a 2009 gt engine.... You know what, I'll put back my other one on the passenger side. Do an oil change and see what side has more oil in it after like 3 months. Then I'll know for sure which side is best.
Knowing How The PCV System Works I Would Think The Passenger Side Would Get The Most Oil on Your Application! Bert's Comments On How He Gets So Little Oil Also Makes Me Think That is an Accurate Thought!
Too Bad The FB Crowd Seems To Want to Be Combative Vs Getting To The Bottom of The Question. It's All About Learning Together With a Bit of Courtesy. Anyhoo That's How I Try & Roll!
I Think You are On The Right Track!
If you Were To Try Either Side For a Set Number Of Miles as Said With Very Similar Driving Patterns and Measure How Much Oil you get I Guess That Would Be The Proof of The Pudding for Your Detractors. Either Way Good Info as To Effectiveness of Where Installed!
It Will Be Good Info!
I Look Forward To Your Results!
BTMO!
KC
Actual Ford Pic! Kinda Primitive But Accurate!
Simple PCV System
here is reply I got on another forum about why the catch can goes on the driver's side on the 4.6 3V:
The driver's side is where the PCV hose is situated and where the vacuum from the intake manifold draws in crankcase oil vapors from under the valve cover. The crankcase under passenger side valve cover draws fresh air from the intake tube, and therefore doesn't need a catch can unless you have piston ring blowby. On the Coyote engine it's the reverse.
I Thought About That But What if the Oil Issue is When Valve is Closed Then The Inverse Would Be a Scenario! So I'm Curious To Vgm's Testing Cause I'm Still Wondering! Chicken or The Egg! I See Now Why Vgm Got Confused! Certainly Different Point of Views on This Concern!
On A Side Note My Supercharged Harley Truck Would Really Benefit From a Catch Can as The T/B Really Gets Oiled. It Has an Odd Pcv System With Two Inlets For Vacuum. Been Like That Forever as Far as Oiling So Not a Wear issue But Design!
Edit
Ok, So I Did Some More Digging and My Thought is Normally a Single Catch Can Would Be Best on PCV Side. If Motor as Bert Suggests Has a Lot of Blowby A Second one Could Be Useful on Opposite Side. Anyhoo That is Where I'm at for The Present! I Think Supercharged Vehicles Would Be Even Better Candidate For Cans as Well.
Just to clarify, the PCV on all 2005-10 S197 3v models is on the driver's side... The passenger side is the clean air side... When the 2011-14 Coyote 4v cars arrived, Ford changed the PCV design over to the passenger side which has a removable PCV valve...
The PCV on the older 4.6L 3v models require uninstalling the driver's side cam cover and then cutting out the PCV meter from the underside of the cam cover... I've seen some S197 3v cars with catch cans on both sides, but mostly on the driver's side...
My 2006 GT w/catch can on the PCV driver's side location...
Last edited by m05fastbackGT; May 25, 2025 at 09:15 PM.
here is reply I got on another forum about why the catch can goes on the driver's side on the 4.6 3V:
The driver's side is where the PCV hose is situated and where the vacuum from the intake manifold draws in crankcase oil vapors from under the valve cover. The crankcase under passenger side valve cover draws fresh air from the intake tube, and therefore doesn't need a catch can unless you have piston ring blowby. On the Coyote engine it's the reverse.
Exactly 110% spot on!!!
Last edited by m05fastbackGT; May 25, 2025 at 09:16 PM.
So I'm Curious To Vgm's Testing Cause I'm Still Wondering! Chicken or The Egg! I See Now Why Vgm Got Confused! Certainly Different Point of Views on This Concern!
