Burger Motorsports Catch Can

[Pappy]

Well, jury is out?

I ran an oil separator on my 22RE for a long time. It made a difference keeping the throttle body and intake from getting gunked up. Buddies that run a separator on their 1FZ engines see the same result. I think it helps.

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[Bigt]

I had dual cans on my civic type r. If you're worried about warranty. Just take it off before you bring it to the dealer for an engine problem.

 

[MT-Taco]

Please post pictures and yes, I have seen more moisture in the can in the winter

Forgot to update… We had about 10-12 days straight daytime highs near zero and night time lows -40. I pulled the catch can to check it, good thing it was half full! About 80% water the rest was oil. Heavy thick air and traveled through a lot of pretty deep snow, wind, 1/2 the time in 4x4, noticed the boost was higher than usual, mpg tanked to about 15! It was a brutal 10 days! But was fantastic skiing!

For sure catches a lot of water in cooler temps and should be checked weekly in cold conditions!

 

[Mercedes]

Within days of receiving my truck, I installed the Burger Motorsports oil separator. After one month and a bit over 500 mi / 800 km of service, I removed it yesterday.

If you're familiar with Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) systems and oil separators, you can scroll below for why I'm no longer using the Burger unit. Otherwise, I'll provide a quick brief of why some drivers prefer using separators.

Every Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) has a certain amount of cylinder gases that escape past the piston rings and enter the crankcase area. Allowing pressures to build during engine use is a problem. Generations past, an ICE would simply vent these gases to the atmosphere, via a breather in the valve cover.

In an effort to reduce emissions, manufacturers in the 60s and 70s began installing PCV systems. On one side of the engine, fresh air is allowed to enter the crankcase via the valve cover. On the other side, any gases which have accumulated are recovered and directed to the intake system.

At idle, when vacuum is highest and crankcase pressures lowest, the PCV valve is closed. Upon acceleration and throttle opening, when crankcase pressures are typically highest, the valve opens, the intake accepting any fumes.

One detriment of the PCV system is the accumulated gases are like an oily mist. Over time, the intake system can become coated in residue. Cylinder intake valves can build deposits. Oil in the combustion chamber promotes pre-ignition (ping).

The Toyota T24A-FTS engine does use direct and port injection. Direct injection, coupled with a high-detergent, Top Tier fuel, can keep intake deposits to a minimum. Modern engine oils are formulated to help prevent Low-Speed Pre-Ignition (LSPI).

An oil separator can be used to remove oil from the crankcase gases, leaving the remaining fumes to enter the intake. Separators do need maintenance. The reservoir needs to be emptied every so often, as little as once a year.

Technically, any aftermarket part installed on a vehicle can void a warranty. It depends. The dealer, situation, area of repair, and other factors will each have their own impacts as to if something is approved or not.

Generally, a dealer needs to show a direct relationship between the aftermarket part and failure to void a claim. In this example, while an oil separator wouldn't cause a rejection over a failed suspension item, it might over a broken engine component.

I do have other vehicles and do use oil separators. They do recover oil on a consistent basis. I appreciate that oil not being brought into the engine's intake system. The units also give me a window into the engine and its operation. A bit of oil here and there is normal. None or large amounts can indicate an issue with the PCV system. Water or heavy fuel smells can also be tells of other problems.

The Burger oil separator for the 4G comes with an attachment bracket, accumulator and reservoir can. There's also one hose included, to connect the separator to the engine's intake.

After installing mine, I had two concerns: 1) how the existing Toyota line from the turbo area now attached to the separator and 2) the material used for the Burger-supplied hose running from the separator to the intake.

In stock form, there is one hose from the turbo area to the intake; it's a common Toyota vacuum hose. This hose has a unique shape, to make the route in the best way to the intake. The Burger unit re-uses this this hose. Once disconnected, the Toyota hose is is bent at a near 90-degree angle and attached to the separator.

The sharp angle of the re-directed hose can bring it to near closure. The move also brings the line closer to the turbo unit.

The Burger-supplied hose, connecting the separator to the intake, is very much like a radiator hose. While the Toyota items are common vacuum lines, the Burger unit is stout, tight and almost inflexible.

Once installed, I was concerned about restricted airflow through the crankcase-to-separator pipe. I was also concerned about the long-term use of the Burger hose; it's not something that'll readily be removed and most likely have to be cut off if need be; coupled to a plastic intake, it's not something I want to be putting a lot of force on.

After a 500 mi/800 km of use, I checked the reservoir. While I did not expect a large accumulation of oil, I did expect something. There was nothing inside the unit. No residue. Not one drop of oil.

The tight bend of the vacuum line from the turbo area certainly might have had an impact. The hose I was using did not feel kinked. I have not received a On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) code or warning light. The truck has been breaking-in and functioning flawlessly.

I might not have left the unit on long enough. But while I did not see any oil, I expected at least residue. This could be because of the design of the engine; for the T24A, any accumulated gases could be slight. IDK.

Taking all that in, I simply didn't have confidence in the Burger kit. Something was gnawing at me to take it off. I felt more comfortable going without.

I don't believe the Burger unit was designed for the 4G Tacoma. I think it was more someone looked on the shelf, realized they could make the parts work for these engines, and advertised it as such. The bracket, accumulator and reservoir are well made. If Burger supplied better hoses for a custom fit, using common vacuum lines, I'd be open to giving it another go.

Still keeping the parts, in the future I could make a few runs for the vacuum lines using simple tubing, routing the assembly with more straight-forward and easier-to-use connections.

I'm not aware of another vendor offering a 4G Tacoma separator kit. I have seen several for the 3G.

Related, a link to a write-up on this generation of engine:

https://toyota-club.net/files/faq/21-09-20_faq_t24-engine_en.htm

Well into the article referenced above is the statement, "Crankcase ventilation system (PCV) - with an oil separator unit and a PCV valve installed in the cylinder head." Ford has made similar comments within their EcoBoost engine documentation, but the specifics of these designs, I need to study more.

YMMV.

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