Cold Weather - OCC Frozen Contents?

[MiWiAu]

We've had some wicked cold temps in SE Wisconsin the last couple weeks, and I think some of the contents in my OCC (Rx Monster can) have frozen. I have gone almost 900 miles since my last drain. I tried draining it last week, but not a single drop came out.

This is suspicious to me, since in cool (above freezing) weather my can has been collecting a considerable amount of moisture, so I suspect my drain has frozen. I also noticed a slightly rougher idle this AM, so I'm wondering if the can isn't running as efficiently due to the colder weather and sucking more moisture than usual.

For those of you who run catch cans in frigid temps, have you experienced freeze ups, and if so, do you do anything preventive to protect from freezing? Mine is installed in front of the left fender, so it's not that easy to get to. Our high temps today are supposed to get up to ~30*F, so I'm thinking when I get home tonight, I'll leave a light bulb on under there to try and warm things up and get it drained tomorrow morning.

I'm planning on some dyno runs on Friday, and I'd have more peace of mind if I could drain the OCC prior to my pulls.

[paokara777]

I don't have an aftermarket OCC but my car has had rough idle this winter. I've only owned it for 6 months so i don't know if this is just how it runs in extreme cold or if there is something wrong like a fouled plug or otherwise.

[derfdog15]

We've had some wicked cold temps in SE Wisconsin the last couple weeks, and I think some of the contents in my OCC (Rx Monster can) have frozen. I have gone almost 900 miles since my last drain. I tried draining it last week, but not a single drop came out.

This is suspicious to me, since in cool (above freezing) weather my can has been collecting a considerable amount of moisture, so I suspect my drain has frozen. I also noticed a slightly rougher idle this AM, so I'm wondering if the can isn't running as efficiently due to the colder weather and sucking more moisture than usual.

For those of you who run catch cans in frigid temps, have you experienced freeze ups, and if so, do you do anything preventive to protect from freezing? Mine is installed in front of the left fender, so it's not that easy to get to. Our high temps today are supposed to get up to ~30*F, so I'm thinking when I get home tonight, I'll leave a light bulb on under there to try and warm things up and get it drained tomorrow morning.

I'm planning on some dyno runs on Friday, and I'd have more peace of mind if I could drain the OCC prior to my pulls.

Idk if you have tried yet, but maybe get a piece of wire and try to poke into the drain nozzle, that will confirm if it is frozen up or not. I think the lightbulb idea will work well, or possibly even a portable heater if you have one.

Good luck!

[MiWiAu]

Idk if you have tried yet, but maybe get a piece of wire and try to poke into the drain nozzle, that will confirm if it is frozen up or not. I think the lightbulb idea will work well, or possibly even a portable heater if you have one.

Good luck!

I haven't tired a wire yet, but that's a good idea. We'll get closer to the freeze point tonight, so I'm hopeful that I can get this thing drained by the morning. Before I moved to a house with a garage, I used to use the 100W light bulb trick and a shop blanket on my F150 to keep my battery warm on -15 degree nights when I was parked out in the street (no block heater). I was always paranoid a neighbor kid would trip on the extension cord, though. LOL.

I don't have a portable heater, and I don't really want to lay under the truck with a hair dryer, so I guess I'll try the bulb route for now.

If a considerable amount of liquid comes out, I may look into a way to add a heating element or heating mat to the can and/or hose that I can plug in for cold weather, but do it in such a way that it doesn't insulate/heat soak it any worse in the summer (and thus reduce efficiency).

Thanks!

[Gjkrisa]

I'd go with one of these https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000I8XDBM/ref=pd_aw_sim_263_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=JCNZB2MK83SH5ZYSQQGE

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[MiWiAu]

I'd go with one of these https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000I8XDBM/ref=pd_aw_sim_263_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=JCNZB2MK83SH5ZYSQQGE

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Sweet! Yeah, that's kind of what I had in mind. Thanks.


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[MiWiAu]

Well, got home and opened the drain and out came just over 12 oz. Temps must have gotten just high enough today to start the melting. I knew there'd be something in there.

I left the drain open and put my shop light under there to hopefully melt any remaining ice cubes over night.

EDIT: FWIW, I found an older post from Tracy on a F150 forum that indicated the RX Monster can max capacity is 32 oz and will run peak efficiency up to ~20 oz.

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[SHOdded]

I hope your shoplight is incandescent LOL

And we definitely don't want any of that crud sucked back into the intake ...

[MiWiAu]

I hope your shoplight is incandescent LOL

And we definitely don't want any of that crud sucked back into the intake ...

LED, but I made sure to point it directly towards the can.

J/K. I'm just using a 60W incandescent, since I'm not sure the rating of the fixture. It does have a metal shade/reflector, so that should help direct a gentle heat. I don't want to set anything ablaze in the middle of the night, LOL.

Agreed on the sucking! Especially with the dyno pulls coming up. Next week I have a 1000mi Christmas road trip as well, and I'm sure that would have topped that baby off! Yay for a high capacity can!


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[SHOdded]

You might need to knit a blanket for that monster CC.  How is your needlecraft LOL?

[MiWiAu]

You might need to knit a blanket for that monster CC.  How is your needlecraft LOL?

HAHAHAHA! Funny you should ask! My wife just started crocheting, and literally finished her first hat on Saturday. An OCC blanket wouldn't be too big of a stretch! LMFAO


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[SHOdded]

Oy that's a coinkydink alright LOL.  Post a pic of the hat and future projects if she's ok with it

[metroplex]

No issues with my JLT 3.0 and our temps have been in the single digits for the past several days. The engine compartment is usually warm enough to keep the JLT above freezing.

[MiWiAu]

No issues with my JLT 3.0 and our temps have been in the single digits for the past several days. The engine compartment is usually warm enough to keep the JLT above freezing.

Cool! Err... Warm! Being in Michigan, has your JLT collected much this winter? I'm not sure I could live with a 3oz capacity in the winter based on this last drain. It didn't collect all that much during the warmer months.

The Rx instructions had an install location in the engine compartment (in front of the oil fill cap), but I elected to install mine in front of the left fender like JimiJak and glock-coma, so it would stay cooler and condense more vapors. Guess it stayed cooler, haha!

[metroplex]

I had my car washed earlier this week and usually my tailpipe tips would be pitch black by now, but they still look rather clean. Maybe the JLT is helping reduce the amount of oil vapors being ingested.