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Model specific boards => Golf mk4 => Topic started by: gtinewbie99 on 12 January 2014, 21:34

Title: catch can
Post by: gtinewbie99 on 12 January 2014, 21:34
hi new to forum,just got a mk4 gti with a catch can fitted and wondered what happens if it hasn't been emptied for ages ? where does the stuff go that usually goes into the can? cheers
Title: Re: catch can
Post by: rockmonkey69 on 12 January 2014, 21:37
Back into the engine and/or the intake depending how it's plumbed.
If its vented to atmosphere then worse case scenario is it hinders engine breathing and flows back into the engine. If its vented back into the turbo intake then it's likely to go into the turbo intake as well.

Both are bad, just empty it
Title: Re: catch can
Post by: Wazzzer on 12 January 2014, 21:46
To be fair it would take a hell of a long time to fill it up unless the engine is a heavy breather...
Title: Re: catch can
Post by: gtinewbie99 on 12 January 2014, 22:10
cheers for replies ,i emptied it earlier after reading a bit about them,it seemed to be full,don't think previous owner cared that much about it
Title: Re: catch can
Post by: Tezmax on 12 January 2014, 22:58

To be fair it would take a hell of a long time to fill it up unless the engine is a heavy breather...

How long is a "hell of a long time"? Because i empty mine about every 6 months and find it about half full!

Is that 40 Park Drive a day breathing or normal?
Title: Re: catch can
Post by: Wazzzer on 13 January 2014, 11:04
6 months is a long time for me, I tend to empty it every few weeks when I check oil/water/air levels
Title: Re: catch can
Post by: gtinewbie99 on 13 January 2014, 19:17
going by the puddle and time it took to empty ,if it wasn't full it must have been close to it.what do you mean by heavy breather?
Title: Re: catch can
Post by: northeast_gti-t on 13 January 2014, 20:44
going by the puddle and time it took to empty ,if it wasn't full it must have been close to it.what do you mean by heavy breather?
its a term for engine breathing ie its clearance between piston ring and cylinder bore as the piston motion moves up and down if there is excessive wear then you get a term called piston blow-by thats combustion gases beig expelled into the engine crankcase so if you remove your oil filler cap when the engine is running you will notice ie not much smoke or alot of smoke which almost certainly means your engine could have alot of piston ring/bore wear caused by lack of regular oil changes,short journeys diluting your oil and lessening its lubricating properties or use of inferior engine oils  :wink:
Title: Re: catch can
Post by: gtinewbie99 on 13 January 2014, 21:13
the guy said he did lots of small trips to work and not much else,said it wasn't even a ten minute drive to his work then car sat all day then drove it home where it sat all night,would you suggest an oil change?
Title: Re: catch can
Post by: Tezmax on 14 January 2014, 17:01



the guy said he did lots of small trips to work and not much else,said it wasn't even a ten minute drive to his work then car sat all day then drove it home where it sat all night,would you suggest an oil change?

Its always good practice when buying a second hand car, just for your own piece of mind.

Vw Platinum 15w 40 is ok for your 18t