How important is a pcv catch can on a daily driver ecoboost?  The wife has an Explorer Sport with the 3.5EB.  After a recent wash I noticed how completely fouled the exhaust tips are (not even fully clean after simple green and a nev-r-dull scrub), which isn't the end of the world but I figure it indicates some type of oil consumption.

Given that these engines are known for oily pcv vapors, as well as valve stem crud due the DI I wonder if a catch can would be important or not on a daily driver.  I have no interest in dress up or soup-up for this vehicle, just reliability and we want to take it into high miles (I aim for 200k for my vehicles).

It won't destroy the car and you will prob make it to 200k just fine. Though you will likely see some power loss around 60k+. You can also just clean the heads either with walnut blasting or intake sprays (not sure about those yet but some people are starting to swear by them).

Periodically take off the intake pipes for the turbo and look for signs of pooling oil (a light mist is ok).  Also check CAC/intercooler for accumulated crud.  If both those areas are pretty clean, you probably do not need a catch can.  If you DO find buildup, clean it out, and check it again at the next oil change, or 3K miles whichever comes later.  If no buildup, then I would say it is good to go.

The only ways I have seen for reducing/eliminating soot are
a) higher E fuel (mix with E85), E15 or so
b) an MDesign CAI

Use Top Tier fuel.

Quote from: SHOdded on September 10, 2016, 11:13:58 AM
Periodically take off the intake pipes for the turbo and look for signs of pooling oil (a light mist is ok).  Also check CAC/intercooler for accumulated crud.  If both those areas are pretty clean, you probably do not need a catch can.  If you DO find buildup, clean it out, and check it again at the next oil change, or 3K miles whichever comes later.  If no buildup, then I would say it is good to go.

The only ways I have seen for reducing/eliminating soot are
a) higher E fuel (mix with E85), E15 or so
b) an MDesign CAI

Use Top Tier fuel.

just curious . . how does the mdesign Intake help with the oil consumption?

It doesnt that i know of.  It helps decrease the soot on the tailpipes, which is a byproduct of GDI technology.

Here's 1 OCC drain that had about 750 miles on it.
I've drained this amount or more several times, almost 8oz.

Quote from: SHOdded on September 10, 2016, 07:37:52 PM
It doesnt that i know of.  It helps decrease the soot on the tailpipes, which is a byproduct of GDI technology.

Sorry to bring up an old thread, but was it ever discovered why the MDesign reduces soot?  I've been searching around a lot and all I could find was guess work.  I couldn't find a solid answer.  Could it be that the motor is getting more air, but not adding more fuel causing it to stop running a rich air/fuel mixture?  A leaner mixture would produce less soot right?

An aftermarket intake will not change air fuel ratios...i would say there are other variables at play if any amount of soot was reduced...purely coincidence

I figured it wouldn't change them intentionally, and the computer should keep it consistent.  Just wondering if maybe the way it repositions a sensor could make that sensor read inaccurately and lead to a leaner mix, even though the computer thinks it normal...  I admit I am totally guessing here, but I couldn't ever find anything concrete on the topic. 

No idea why it reduces soot ...

Quote from: SHOdded on July 16, 2017, 11:24:18 PM
No idea why it reduces soot ...

It doesnt

Quote from: Agentlongwood on July 16, 2017, 11:11:50 PM
I figured it wouldn't change them intentionally, and the computer should keep it consistent.  Just wondering if maybe the way it repositions a sensor could make that sensor read inaccurately and lead to a leaner mix, even though the computer thinks it normal...  I admit I am totally guessing here, but I couldn't ever find anything concrete on the topic.

Listen very carefully..you are correct in the sense that you are totally guessing

The sensor that you are referring is an air temp sensor....it has no bearing in fuel in any way shape or form...the air fuel ratios are unchanged with any air intake on this motor

You could remove that sensor or brake it off and fueling would remain the same

Quote from: AJP turbo on July 17, 2017, 01:53:38 AM

Quote from: Agentlongwood on July 16, 2017, 11:11:50 PM
I figured it wouldn't change them intentionally, and the computer should keep it consistent.  Just wondering if maybe the way it repositions a sensor could make that sensor read inaccurately and lead to a leaner mix, even though the computer thinks it normal...  I admit I am totally guessing here, but I couldn't ever find anything concrete on the topic.

Listen very carefully..you are correct in the sense that you are totally guessing

The sensor that you are referring is an air temp sensor....it has no bearing in fuel in any way shape or form...the air fuel ratios are unchanged with any air intake on this motor

You could remove that sensor or brake it off and fueling would remain the same

Would it be better to use the emergency brake or the regular brakes for that? 

Sorry couldn't help it

Quote from: SHOwoosh on July 17, 2017, 02:31:58 AM

Quote from: AJP turbo on July 17, 2017, 01:53:38 AM

Quote from: Agentlongwood on July 16, 2017, 11:11:50 PM
I figured it wouldn't change them intentionally, and the computer should keep it consistent.  Just wondering if maybe the way it repositions a sensor could make that sensor read inaccurately and lead to a leaner mix, even though the computer thinks it normal...  I admit I am totally guessing here, but I couldn't ever find anything concrete on the topic.

Listen very carefully..you are correct in the sense that you are totally guessing

The sensor that you are referring is an air temp sensor....it has no bearing in fuel in any way shape or form...the air fuel ratios are unchanged with any air intake on this motor

You could remove that sensor or brake it off and fueling would remain the same

Would it be better to use the emergency brake or the regular brakes for that? 

Sorry couldn't help it

Regular brakes are fine lol

Quote from: AJP turbo on July 17, 2017, 01:53:38 AM

Listen very carefully..you are correct in the sense that you are totally guessing

Hey, I have no problem admitting when I am out of my depth on these things, lol. I'm pretty sceptical about the soot reduction in general but the folks using the intake seem convinced. I can't think of a reason it could possibly make a difference, but I also haven't seen results first hand.