The oil catch can, often overlooked but profoundly significant, can play a crucial role in enhancing the performance and longevity of an engine. It’s a relatively simple mod that addresses issues related to oil vapor and blow-by gases by effectively capturing and separating these contaminants before they enter the engine. This reduces carbon buildup, enhancing fuel efficiency, and ultimately safeguarding the engine’s longevity.
In this article, I will delve into the comprehensive range of options available for the 5th Gen 4Runner and hopefully help you pick the one that’s best for your needs.
Table Of Contents
Why Buy One?
Here are some key reasons why you might want one:
- Maintaining Engine Efficiency: It improves engine efficiency by preventing vapors from entering the intake system, which can reduce the engine’s oil and fuel efficiency.
- Enhancing Longevity: By capturing and separating harmful contaminants, it prolongs the life of the engine and other components.
- Safeguarding Forced Induction System: For vehicles with turbo or superchargers, this is a critical mod as they’re even more susceptible to the negative effects of these vapors.
- Reducing Maintenance: It extends the time intervals in which you need valve cleaning, saving time and money.
Different Types
There are several types of oil catch cans available, each designed to cater to different engine configurations and specific requirements:
- Baffled: Uses a system of baffles or plates to trap the oil and separate it from the air before it is recirculated back into the intake.
- Non-Baffled: Lacks internal baffles and relies on gravity to separate the oil from the air. They are generally simpler in design and easier to maintain.
- Air-Oil Separators: Separates the oil from the air using various methods, such as centrifugal force, gravity, or filter media.
- Vented: Allows the collected oil to be vented back into the atmosphere, making them more suitable for racing applications where emissions regulations are not a concern.
- Dual-Stage: Features multiple chambers or stages for more efficient separation, offering better performance and increased oil-holding capacity.
1. J&L Oil Separator (Air-Oil)
Find It Online:
- J&L Oil Separator: Check Price
The J&L Oil Separator has a solid billet construction and is compatible with a range of engines, including the 2nd Gen Tacoma, 2005+ 4Runner, and FJ Cruiser V6 4.0L models. With a standard capacity of 3 oz, this catch can offers efficient oil separation and protection for the engine.
There’s an optional reservoir extension that allows for an increased capacity of up to 6 oz, offering even greater protection and performance enhancement for the mentioned vehicle models.
Additionally, it comes with a limited lifetime warranty, ensuring long-term reliability and peace of mind for the user. It’s worth noting that J&L develops these specifically for Toyota trucks, where other kits are more universal.
2. Mishimoto (Baffled)
Find It Online:
- Mishimoto Catch Can: Check Price
The Mishimoto is equipped with a 50-micron bronze filter that effectively separates oil particles, ensuring improved air quality. It’s constructed from aluminum and aids in maintaining proper octane levels, reducing the likelihood of detonation and potential engine damage. The filter is fully serviceable for convenient maintenance.
This one is designed to be safe for pressurized applications such as turbochargers. The internal air diverter enhances oil separation by increasing air turbulence, while the inclusion of two plastic barbed 1/2″ hose fittings and a universal mounting bracket allows for versatile installation options. The Mishimoto is backed by a lifetime warranty.
3. Corsa Performance (Dual Stage)
Find It Online:
- Corsa Performance Universal Catch Can: Check Price
This robust all-aluminum unit has a capacity of 3 oz and uses a bronze filter for optimal filtration. The product includes two powder-coated machined aluminum brackets. Additionally, it comes with premium multi-ply reinforced hoses with three ID options – 3/8″, 1/2″, and 5/8″ for versatile compatibility and a secure fit.
It comes with a 1-year warranty and has an easy installation that takes about 30 minutes or less.
4. ADD W1 (Air-Oil)
Find It Online:
- ADD W1 Universal Catch Can: Check Price
The ADD W1 features an advanced design that ensures optimal performance. The closed-loop system and 9mm & 15mm fittings, along with the blue breather filter, contribute to efficient oil separation and containment.
It is crafted from quality aluminum and wrapped in carbon fiber for a unique aesthetic appeal. It’s backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
5. RIPP (Baffled)
Find It Online:
- RIPP Catch Can: Check Price
This one boasts a sintered brass-filtered breather that effectively captures even the smallest contaminants. With its larger 10oz capacity, it offers extended usage without having to empty the can.
The machined dipstick allows for hassle-free oil level checking and the aluminum fittings and bracket ensure a secure fit. It comes with pre-prepped lines with anti-chafing nylon sheathing for easy installation.
Final Thoughts
The importance of an oil catch can not be understated. Through efficient vapor and containment separation, these devices effectively prevent carbon buildup, safeguard vital engine components, and ensure consistent performance under rigorous driving conditions. While some people may be skeptical, we’ve seen a fair amount of observations (with and without one) conclude that these inevitably decreases carbon build up.
Among the various options above, the J&L oil separator stood out to me, combining a solid billet construction, reservoir extension, and simple installation. Coupled with its reasonable price point and limited lifetime warranty, this is a great option with solid value.
Construction quality, capacity, ease of installation, and warranty all play crucial roles in selecting the right one for your vehicle. So, please share your thoughts in the comments below with what you’ve chosen!
I’m sure these guys have so much more experience than Toyota engineers.🤣🤣🤣
if we needed one it would exist from the factory. It’s raw conjecture that the issue in the video is from this or not.
I presume then that if you believe this, that you have not changed a single thing in your car?
My first question to you is – Toyota engineers are good, but you can’t call them the gold standard. How many different issues have they missed over the years? Plenty. Including some pretty major recalls, no person, and no product, not even Toyotas, can be called perfect. And it’s not a factory item, because it adds another item for a consumer to maintain. People run diff fluids until something breaks, I believe the Toyota intervals are 30k. If someone won’t change major fluids, why would they think about small ones? And a catch can would cause an issue if you never drained it.
Need is a tricky word. The language has been updated in the post now if that’s your concern. Just because you don’t “need” this the same way you “need” to do oil changes, doesn’t mean that the product doesn’t have benefits. Do you need good gas? No, hit every cheap gas station if you want. But prepare for the longevity of your vehicle to suffer. Not sure why this is tough to understand.
The simple concept is – keep it out of the motor. Again, not saying the engine “needs” it, but it does perform better long-term? You could stand to argue it primarily decreases build-up, which would result in better engine performance. As seen by the fluid they collect, etc.
As for the video, I can’t speak to that. You have to reply to Vinny directly. But I think all he’s trying to say is – there’s a part of the engine design that causes oil to suck into the vacuum line in a 3rd Gen Tacoma. Having a catch can to collect that could potentially prevent oil from burning.
Some days, 4Runners last for 500,000+ miles and are amazing. Then, we talk about how I need to screw with the oil system because Toyota engineers don’t know everything. Pick a lane and stay in it.
The lane I have chosen (personally), is that there is always room for improvement. And for my own sake, I like to test things to have a better understanding and firsthand experience, typically before I draw any conclusions/opinions.
I have the J&L and it’s very good quality, it’s on the cheaper end for the ones listed here, but works great for me and does it’s job
Good build quality and it does the job! Very happy with mine.
Chris,
Thanks for posting and we appreciate your business!
Vinny
J&L Oil Separator Co.
Not legal in California CARB laws
Bernardo,
Unfortunately you are correct, one odd thing to note…Oil separators are actually on the CARB inspection exempt list when you take your vehicle in for smog. Only in California can you not sell a product that isn’t illegal to have installed. 🙂
Vinny
J&L Oil Separator Co.
Waste of money for a port injection engine.
Valves do not get build up like direct injection engines.
How does an OIL catch can separate vapors?
Roger,
Oil Vapor is traveling through the PCV line as it’s under vacuum suction, the filter in the oil separator (At least the J&L) condenses this vapor and allows it to collect in liquid form in the reservoir. The clean air is then allowed to pass through.
While these are for sure most important for direct injected engines, keeping oil out of the combustion chamber of any engine can help reduce carbon build up on the top of the pistons and back side of the valves over time.
Another thing they can help with the overland/off-road folks, since the PCV valve is on the back of the valve cover on the 4L and 3.5L engines they can be prone to oil pooling near them when on a steep incline off-road. This can cause the PCV system to draw in raw oil into the intake manifold causing a ton of smoke and even hydro-locking in extreme cases. If you check YouTube, you can find a few videos of this in both the Tacoma and 4runner applications. The oil catch can gives this oil somewhere to go. (Here’s a video I found quickly – https://youtu.be/kSmLH0svmJQ?si=HumbwaQL1MQjkb2f)
We get it these parts aren’t for everyone, they are cheap insurance and a longevity mod. I’m sure most people have spent more money on less for their vehicles.
Hope this helps,
Vinny
J&L Oil Separator Co.
Appreciate the technical details, Vinny!
I do recall the @offroadhub on YT hydro-locked his FJ doing some steep rock crawling and had to replace the motor later.
Killer reply. Thanks, Vinny. That’s the stuff we need to hear. A lot of unnecessary negative impressions around this product.
I’ve ADD W1 setup on both V6 4th gen and 5th gen 4Runners. I get nearly half a catch can of oil every 6 month when I change oil. I can’t even imagine that much oil going into intake side of the engine.
For sure. I know the engine can “handle it” but that doesn’t mean it’s optimal.