I think that is normal. A blown head gasket will give u frothy oil on ur dipstick.
Troy

 

+1 plus issues in Coolant possibly.

---------- Post added at 08:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:07 PM ----------

So what does a catch can to do?

Don't take this the wrong way, I am an old man. What did you buy the catch can to do?

Ok, the young guy inside of me says you bought it for the 2nd reason I did, it looks Kewl

Art (the first reason was to keep oil out of the air intake)

 

So what does a catch can do?

 

It keeps the oil from going to your intake and gumming things up there, or affecting the octane of the gas. On my 2006 the system allowed the oil vapor in before the throttle body and it really gummed that plate up; with the Xcharger Xtreme the oil vapor will clog up the intercooler fins; on my 2013 I noticed that the intake manifold had a lot of oil in it when I was testing a new intake manifold. Got the catch can after that.

And that sludge is normal in cold weather. It will have a funny color too on really cold days because you have condensation getting in as well as the oil vapor.

 

Actually, the oil comes through the pcv valve. Vacuum from the intake pulls crankcase vapors out of the motor through the pcv valve. So the oily mist originates at the pcv valve. The oil catch can keeps the oil out of the intake tract and helps keep valves from gumming up.

 

^ + 1mil

 

I too also find about a spoon full of oil about every 500 miles. I empty it by soaking it up in a paper shop towel. I can remember 60s-70s Ford engines having Cans or breather elements in line the PCV hoses from the factory, but you replaced them not empties them. Anyone recall one that you empted rather than replaced? Working in parts stores in the mid-late 70s, I never once had a customer ask for a breather can, they just sat on the shelf with dust on the boxes.

IIRC, the smog pumps also had paper breathers that needed replaced and metal valves on the exhaust manifolds that connected to heavy hoses. [SHUDDER] They hardly even replaced those either, the owners would let them rust away and cut the hoses off. (I'm talking about folks that HAD to fix their own cars themselves, not folks building street or show cars)

 

Engines used to have a tube that came off the back of the engine and then to the bottom of engine to vent crankcase oil. The first federal emission regulation required the PCV valve to prevent the discharge of those fumes. Many rodders in the 70s would replace them with valve cover vents.

The history of the PCV valve goes back to WW2, but did not make it into cars until the early 60s. It was designed by GM to solve issues with tank during fording. When emissions started to be a factor, GM made the design available to all manufacturers. By 1964, almost all cars world-wide had them.

 

They are effective in capturing oil mist that is part of the crankcase breathing system. Years ago, it started with the pcv valve. Yes, our mustangs still have one of these, it's on the passenger side cover that sits over the head. A tube runs from this over to the air intake tube. On the drivers side, there is also a tube that runs close to the air filter box to the drivers side head cover. This is the air "inlet". This side does not require a catch can, as it is on the "air going INTO the crankcase" side.

The oil mist FROM the crankcase is drawn through the tube on the passenger side and runs into the air inlet tube to be reburned. It over time collects on the throttle body plate, and can cause poor idle conditions, and possibly fuel economy. Catching this oil mist using a catch can reduces the oil mist from collecting on the throttle plate.

There are two ways to help prvent this oil mist from the throttle plate, one is by using a catch can on the passenger side, the other is to remove the tube on the passenger side, plug the nipple on the air inlet side it connects to, and install a simple breather filter like they used on valve covers from years ago. This method can cause the filter to get saturated with oil though, and requires periodic cleaning. The catch can is easier to dispose of the collected oil.
Think it's not needed? Ask someone who has one (me included) as to how much oil mist is collected monthly (about 3 to 5 ounces). Want that to collect on your throttle body plate?

The other question asked is "why didn't the manufacturers equip catch cans"? The reason I believe is that the pcv valve was approved by the EPA or federal government for effectively capturing the crankcase fumes and recerculating them back to the engine for reburning. This is why it is still in place today.

 

Yep, Bucko is correct again:

The other question asked is "why didn't the manufacturers equip catch cans"? The reason I believe is that the pcv valve was approved by the EPA or federal government for effectively capturing the crankcase fumes and recerculating them back to the engine for reburning. This is why it is still in place today.

I got this from CFM because me being an old guy likes stuff like this,


It replaces your filler cap and allows the crankcase to breath a little better.


I still use a JLT oil catch can on my passenger side. It also collects oil and needs to be emptied.

Ronnie

 

A great setup Ronnie. Clean look too.

 

Yea the brown color is just water vapor mixed with oil and normal for cold weather, this is why you want to drive your car long enough to evaporate all the water out of the oil, this is what I pull out of my catch can in the winter

 

Glad to know that's not milky oil or coffee

 

Not sure what to say about it being cold. I live in Germany and it's cold as **** here, and I've never had anything but black, silky oil... I'm no expert, though. As for the blown head gasket, not a chance. Someone mentioned earlier about frothy oil, that's your biggest tell. Plus, your oil doesn't look whitish or milky...

2012 3.7L
Airraid CAI. Bama tune. AMR wheels. SR lowering springs. SR lower control arms. Boss 302 tower brace. Pypes bombs. Borla LTs and O/R X pipe. Barton short throw shifter and bracket.

 

That backround view in your avatar is making me miss being over there.
The locals of course do not miss me; they got tired of hearing me yodel and run around the hill side singing "the hills are alive...."

 

Short drives in the winter, you'll get (i do) milky looking stuff in your catch can. Its just water vapor like others have said