3.0 Duramax Oil Catch Can Install

Hatche90

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I finally got around to creating and installing an oil catch can setup on my 3.0 duramax. I was hoping to find someone else that did this to their truck or a company that made a kit prior to creating something myself, but unfortunately I wasn’t able to find anything on the internet. After completing the install I found somethings I’d like to change in the near future. Maybe I’ll offer an oil catch can kit to the community once I make those changes and feel satisfied with the final product .
 

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I installed this setup on Monday and checked the catch can today (Thursday), so far the results are that the catch can is doing its job. I haven’t cleaned out the Intercooler pipes and Intercooler, so I plan to remove those parts and give them a thorough cleaning when time allows.Then we shall see if any oil is still getting into the intake system.
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That is what worries me after seeing how much oil Demonworks poured out of his PPE charge air cooler, looks like these engines pass a whole lot of oil out of the breather…

Seems like GMs answer to the problem was to change the oil chemistry so that burning it up and sending through the exhaust catalysts wouldn’t cause a problem instead of engineering something to intercept it. Why couldn’t they make a catch can that drained its contents back to the pan after shut down?
 

I think the kit that ppe is making will allow the oil to return back into the motor. I might do a drain back if I happen to see a lot of oil collecting into the catch can after 1000 miles or the next oil change (2500 miles from today).

Also, I had just seen this video about a valve cover issue with the 20-21 models.
 

Around the same time demonworks had posted his video I had noticed this issue with my ppe coupler. That residue you see in the pictures is oil that somehow got pushed out of the coupler. When I removed the coupler to inspect it I had noticed that oil was collecting in the pipe and the coupler. I don’t have any boost issues, so I’m not entirely sure how oil is getting on the outside of the coupler. Not sure if it’s getting passed the clamps some how or it could be that the coupler is defective and causing the oil to be pushed through the pours of it.
 

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I think the kit that ppe is making will allow the oil to return back into the motor. I might do a drain back if I happen to see a lot of oil collecting into the catch can after 1000 miles or the next oil change (2500 miles from today).

Also, I had just seen this video about a valve cover issue with the 20-21 models.
Good video, My build date is March 2021. I must have gotten one that was produced after this issue. 67,400 miles and no oil consumption noticed. Running the Mobil 1 Dexos 2 since close to 24,000 miles. Still love the engine and the truck
 

VSE has one coming out as well.

Link
I was checking theirs out. My concern with their kit is the placement of the oil catch can and having the lines interfere with the wire harness that connects to the module on top of the battery. VSE informed me that the lines won’t interfere/ rub on the wiring harness, but from what I’ve personally seen the lines could interfere with the wiring harness and cause a hole in the lines or expose the wiring over time. This is why I put my oil catch can in its current location and not the location that VSE placed theirs. It may not be noticeable, but the oil catch can lines are huge and take up a lot of room in that tight area. I have some near future r&d to do to the lines and hopefully take this setup a step further.
 

I was checking theirs out. My concern with their kit is the placement of the oil catch can and having the lines interfere with the wire harness that connects to the module on top of the battery. VSE informed me that the lines won’t interfere/ rub on the wiring harness, but from what I’ve personally seen the lines could interfere with the wiring harness and cause a hole in the lines or expose the wiring over time. This is why I put my oil catch can in its current location and not the location that VSE placed theirs. It may not be noticeable, but the oil catch can lines are huge and take up a lot of room in that tight area. I have some near future r&d to do to the lines and hopefully take this setup a step further.
Good deal. Let me know if you need another test truck! 😉
 

Excellent setup. I purchased the VSE Catch Can. I have the additional wiring harness over the battery near the firewall. This is not present on the vehicle used in the installation manual. The only way I could get the catch can in the mounting position was to remove the passenger side wheel, wheel liner, and insert from the bottom. VSE states it wouldn't interfere with the wiring harness, but I disagree. There is rubbing between the hoses and harness and I decided to abort the installation.
Which catch can was used for this install? I am very interested adding this to my truck (2021 GMC with ~40K).
 

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