2002 VW Jetta "Resto-Mod Project" (Page 3/3)
Blacktree DEC 12, 12:06 PM
Just a quick update on the Jetta. I installed a catch can, about 6 months ago. The VW TDI engines tend to build up black goop in the intake manifold (a combination of oil vapors and soot from the EGR). Plus oil vapor from the PCV system tends to pool in the intercooler. A catch can, in theory, should mitigate those issues.

It's an el cheapo catch can. And I wanted to know if it's actually working. So I opened it up to find out.



Spoiler Alert: It seems to be working.

[This message has been edited by Blacktree (edited 12-12-2020).]

Blacktree DEC 15, 12:20 PM
The Jetta reached a milestone... 250k miles! Time for an oil change.

Blacktree JAN 02, 11:42 AM
Just a quick update...

About 6 months ago, I installed Hella headlight bulbs in the Jetta. One of them burned out already. I was careful not to touch the bulb during installation. So I don't think that's the problem. Maybe I just got a bad bulb?
Blacktree FEB 01, 12:06 PM
Awhile back, I replaced the rear brakes with ceramic pads and coated rotors. I also painted the calipers. I was really happy with the results. The ceramic pads don't make my wheels look rusty. And the coating on the rotors prevents rust. So when the front brakes wore out, I decided to do the same thing up front.



Also, Super Clean sent me some cleaning supplies, free of charge. I tried out their tire & wheel cleaner on my calipers and wheels. The results look promising.
thesameguy FEB 15, 01:49 PM
That's interesting about the intake manifold buildup... I have a turbodiesel Jeep that has the exact same problem, with apparently the exact same cause. I recently tore the whole motor down and cleaned out the intake manifold of the *disgusting* buildup and I'd like to avoid it happening again. A lot of folks with these cars use Provents to filter out the goop, but they're quite large and there isn't a good spot... I've been thinking about something smaller. I realize it won't be as good as a Provent, but it'll be better than nothing!
Blacktree FEB 15, 02:18 PM
As I understand it, the intake buildup is a common problem in direct injected engines, especially diesels.

The VW turbo-diesels also have a quirk that makes things worse. The intercooler is the lowest point in the intake tract. So oil vapors (from the PCV system) tend to collect there. If you drive conservatively, it can accumulate a lot of oil in the intercooler. Eventually, a bunch of that oil will get sucked into the engine all at once. Not good! It's common to drill a small hole in the bottom of the intercooler, and put a screw in it. Then you can drain the intercooler every so often (for example, with every oil change). The catch can also reduces the amount of oil that collects in the intercooler.

Not sure if the Jeeps have that issue.
thesameguy FEB 15, 02:58 PM
Man, the Jeeps have all sorts of goofy issues. Like apparently either the owner's manual is wrong, the engineers were wrong, or the dipsticks are wrong... Either the thing isn't supposed to take 6.4 qts of oil, the engineers over-spec'd it, or the dipstick "sometimes" shows 7 qts. On mine, full on the dipstick is 7 qts.... properly full it's about halfway between min and max, and even still it has a propensity to suck oil from the crank case under high boost. I just run it at "MIN" to mitigate that issue. 6 quarts is a reasonable amount of oil for a 2.8l engine.

I could *definitely* see that oil would collect in the intercooler - if there was a good place to put a screw I'd do it... Unfortunately the intercooler sits on a beefy cross member, so it'd have to come out to drain it anyway. And of course the AC condenser is bolted to it.

I need to work on the catch can... the bottom of the engine bay is empty, but the top is quite crowded. I don't want to have super-long PCV hoses, but I want to have oil collecting even less. Whose catch can did you end up using?
Blacktree FEB 16, 12:34 PM
I just used an el cheapo catch can from Amazon. It didn't have any mesh inside, so I got a stainless steel scrubber pad from Walmart to act as the mesh. Seems to be working OK.
Blacktree APR 25, 01:57 PM
The Jetta is getting some more love. The shocks and struts were worn out, so I replaced them. It was pretty straightforward... which is a nice change of pace.