You may have heard of a device called an air oil separator or AOS. These devices tap into your PCV routing system and are intended to separate the oil vapor from the incoming air. Well-constructed AOS systems can be of some use, but there is one crucial issue here. The separated content is usually routed right back into the engine, in many ways severely reducing the usefulness of the device. The reason they are designed like this is to limit the amount of maintenance the driver needs to do on the car. Many manufacturers have an AOS system built-in with their engines from the factory, but the reality of the situation is that preventing blow-by can be done with much more effectiveness.

The way to restrict the blow-by is by containing it. This is done with the use of a catch can. Catch cans tap into the PCV system, just like AOS kits, but instead of anything being recycled, the collected content stays inside of the can. How well these catch can kits perform their duties varies, depending on the design. Luckily, we have, what many consider to be a top-notch design.

Our can uses a baffle which does two things: 1) prevents anything caught from spillling back into the ports and 2) helps to condense oil and fuel vapors. Every can we make also has internal air diverters to help increases air turbulence the air, driving a more effective air-oil separation process. Another feature for this can includes a 50-micron bronze filter that helps clean the air going back into your system. The only drawback to this type of design is you’d need to empty the can to drain the contents. It’s another step regarding maintenance, but it’s worth it in the name of engine protection.

If you are an owner of a 2009+ Dodge Ram with a 5.7L Hemi, you have probably heard of blow-by issues. A clear indicator of blow-by wreaking its havoc on your engine is finding oil coating the inside of your intake tube or intake manifold. It’s not all bad though. We’re here to help.

Now that you have a clear idea of how we tackle the blow-by issue, we want to apply our design to the Dodge Ram. We explored the usefulness of our catch can on this truck. After locating the PCV system and a secure mounting point for the can, we applied a prototype kit.

The driver had planned some long-distance highway driving for the weekend, so it would be the perfect distance for our experiment. When the truck returned to our garage the following Monday, our engineer cracked open the can to see what was caught, and it delivered.

Is the above image a little tough to see? Let me clear that up for you.

The near full beaker is the content we collected from our shop 2009 Dodge Ram 5.7L Hemi. In just under 1500 miles of driving, our can nearly hit its 2oz capacity with blow-by content going over the 40ml mark. We’ve never seen a can fill up so fast in such a short amount of time. It was startling to say the least. And this wasn’t a freak occurrence. We’ve had this can mounted on the truck for the past couple of months, and it consistently catches well over 30ml of blow-by when the mileage hits over 1000 miles.

We already know that this truck can use some TLC when it comes to the amount of blow-by the Hemi produces. If you need a refresher, in only 1,000 miles, we caught nearly 50ml of content, which is on the high side of tests performed on other applications. It was clear that our can was working, but there was one problem – our original two-ounce can just wouldn’t cut it. You’d have to empty the can several times before you’re even due for an oil change. That’s an inconvenience we don’t want you to experience, so we came up with a solution.

Pictured above is our can, doubled in size and capacity. The can’s internals are the exact same, just in a bigger, 4-ounce can. Despite the size increase, its slim figure still allows for options when working within the confines of an engine bay. With this decision, we also had to pay attention to the bracket. Our engineer upgraded the thickness of the bracket to three millimeters, which is denser than what you saw in the previous prototype and is very beefy for what is being supported. It was also modified for a cleaner look and easier fit in the mounting location.

Here’s a look at how the finalized bracket and sizing settle into the engine bay:

This catch can kit has ample space for installation, easy access for can servicing, and clears all nearby engine components. The bracket will mount on the radiator support, which has proven to be a very sturdy location on our shop Ram. Thousands of miles have been put on this truck and there are no signs of foreseeable issues.

Now that we know the final product works and will protect your engine, it’s time for us to give you a chance to get your hands on it. Within the next few days, we will make the pre-sale live for you to purchase this kit at a discounted rate you won’t be able to find anywhere else on the market. Stay tuned for that update. Thanks for reading!