I emptied my catch can for the first time and this is what it had collected. At first nothing came out. It was plugged up with a tan colored sludge. I was a bit surprised as I have seen others which was more black/dark brown. There wasn't as much fluid as I expected after about 5,000 miles.

 

This was what my Needswings Oil Catch Can collected over 6000 miles after an oil change using Mobil 1 0W40

 

When you tilt that is it more of an amber color like mine?

 

No it was pretty dark ...almost black really

Although the oil I drained from the engine wasn't black at all.
It was a dark honey color but not black like the oil in the catch can

 

stupid question: to empty it, you just unmount it and open the plug on the bottom? I'm due for my first oil change with it installed

 

Yes, just undo the nut and lift it still attached to the hoses, unscrew the bottom plug and drain. Mine was dark colored sludge like Valks.

 

Looks like a catch can is a good investment on NAs also.

 

You betcha. I never leave home without it. ( or my AAA card )

 

That looks like water and a bit of oil. Is it hooked up correctly?

 

Oil has to coat the inside of the can. The first time it's drained there will not be as much as expected. Run for another 5000 and there will be more.

 

First time I emptied mine after about 3600 miles, I got about a shot glass full of black fluid. As 180 notes, hopefully you're not getting coolant in the oil. Check the dipstick oil to see if it's also tan colored. Could just be condensation from cold weather or short trips. Here's a post from another forum with the same issue:
Milky Brown engine oil??? - Dodge Challenger Forum: Challenger & SRT8 Forums

 

Well that's not a good thought. I bought the catch can used from someone else. This is the first time I have emptied it after about 5000 miles so I was surprised this is all that came out. I do only drive it once or twice every couple of weeks. It took me a year to put 5000 miles on it. I had checked the oil level and it wasn't over filled. Unfortunately I just had the oil changed and didn't see it. The coolant level has remained constant since it was changed in 2011. Yes the can is installed correctly. Any ideas on what to check next?

 

Just double checked again. The coolant level is constant. Here is a pic of what came out of the can now that it has settled. Tried to see if it would burn in case it was gas. Would not.

 

On this pic, top is what I whipped off the oil cap, middle three are off the dip stick, and bottom is new Mobil 1. The dip stick does have a Very faint smell of gas. Could I be getting a little unburned gas under WOT?

 

Maybe it's residue from the prior owner's car?
If coolant level is steady, catch can is correctly installed and the hoses and passages are clear, I'd let it go for another year and see what it looks like then.

 

My car did less than 2,000 miles and I had the black oil in my can. I think something is wrong if that is 5,000 miles of what the catch can caught.
Is it possible the throttle body is not sucking properly, maybe the "T" is not blocked off.

 

If I bought a used one, I'd wash it out real good with gasoline, then air pressure to dry it out.
I'm pretty sure all it has in it is some fine mesh wire, perhaps Rob can advise if washing with gas is a bad thing ?
( Send him a PM - needswings )
At least this way you won't be borrowing trouble from another car.

 

Just placed an order for a Blue Catch Can. Rob is awesome. I was very surprised how fast he was with responding to my inquiry even with the time difference here in Guam.

 

The previous owner said he emptied it before sending. I sent him a PM asking about it. I didn't clean it out or check the hoses before install. I'll take it apart tonight and see if the hoses or anything is clogged.

 

the tan colored gook is a combination of oil and moisture. discard with your other waste oil, do not put it back into your motor.


gasoline will not harm the can internally, I would use mineral spirits myself though