Reason:
This is one of those modifications that I figure may or may not help but is inexpensive enough that I might as well give it a try.
Considerations:
I was mainly interested in acquiring something that would be good value and not terribly difficult to install in the car. By install I mean to find a place in the cramped engine compartment where it would fit.
Options:
Catch cans run the gamut from some DIY efforts that appear to use nothing more than a beer can and some steel wool to custom built setups costing hundreds of dollars. Of the plethora of options I seriously considered the following:
- 034 Motorsports – I like buying products for my S4 from companies that specialize in the Audi brand. The downside was the size of the can, 8″ tall and 3″ diameter.
- 42 Draft Designs Stealth – Nice looking product but a bit expensive relative to the cost of the other options.
- Saikou Michi – Lots of ways to have a customized catch can. I was leaning towards this product.
- JHM Provent – Looks like a nice product with nice features but expensive.
- Steeda – Lowest cost, seemed mostly targeted at Ford vehicles.
Decision:
Because I’m not convinced my setup needs the catch can I decided to go with the least cost option and acquired the Steeda Oil Separator.
Satisfaction:
The unit has not been in use long enough to assess how well it works, but after about a hundred miles I don’t have any problems to report.
There are a few features about the product that I like. First is the size, it is rather small, making it easy to fit in the engine compartment. Because the housing is glass the level of oil can be seen whenever I care to check on it without much effort. The button to drain any oil out is a simple press pin which is quick and easy to operate. Lastly the mounting plate that it came with has bolt holes placed such that the unit will sit over a tab on a component frame in the engine compartment and remain in place, but can quickly be raised out for inspection or to move it out of the way for work.
