Arg, I wish I knew more about this kind of stuff.

I've never even seen a catch can in person, so I'm just trying to understand how I would go about replacing it with some of the things you mentioned previously. First it was stainless steel, then it was fiberglass pads, so I'm confused which material I should go with. Would it be as simple as removing the filter and filling up the tube with steel wool or would I have to fabricate a small filter out of the fiberglass pads? And speaking of fiberglass pads, where do I find them?

EDIT: Woody, I know you made the needswings catch can and this is a conflict of interest because I'm asking how I could build my own. I really have my heart set on a clear unit, and since needswings doesn't offer it, I'm kinda stuck making my own. I'd like to make sure I do it the right way though, and as a designer of the original catch can for the xfire, you of all people would know how. Any help would be appreciated...

 

Clear is sexy.

Go to walmart and get the bondo fiberglas mat to fashion a mat filter around the center post. Use a bit of small wire to secure it, I mean a washcloth would do the job but is yuccki looking.

Sorry for the technical term.

Go to harbor freight and save like 45$ for the separator and also you can touch it without being committed ( to purchase it, were all due for the institution being car nuts on here ).

THere are all kinds of info on these, BUT DO NOT THINK OF STEEL WOOL. IT will corrode with the water vapor and combustion products that the rings allow as blow by, and makes an unholy mess. That is why I did the stainless steel mesh to allow capture of vapors without the restriction.

Keep asking questions and youll continue to learn, Grins Woody

 

Thanks woody!

 

Hmm interesting mod. Not sure how that would effect fuel economy though.

I typically get 24-27 MPG in my '04 X-Fire but coming back from South Dakota on a recent road trip (and obeying all posted speed limits for once) I managed almost 31 MPG! I couldn't believe it!

Must mean I'm doing something wrong!

 

I would say that fuel additives will make the difference. I went on a trip from Denver to Las Vegas last week. I filled up with gas that had 10% Ethanol (hard to find "real" gas around here in Denver). I got about 26MPG (not bad going over two passes that are 10,500ft+). I filled up with "real" gas the next time and saw 29MPG (while still driving over mountainous terrain). I saw the same results coming back as I filled up at the same station that had the real gas.