Oil Catch Can

[lukitas]

I was wondering if its a good idea to put an oil catch can at the breather of the cover. So it wont dirty up my air filter.

I tried searching but I couldn't find anything on this subject. I am also a noob on VW I just got my first caddy.

[ORCoaster]

If that hose goes to the top of the air box doesn't it drop the oily air behind the air filter?  That is how my 1981 works.  So that oil actually gets pulled into the piston and burns like diesel.  The air filter stays clean. 

In days of old when Knight's were bold there was a problem with early 1.5 liter engines sucking that oil into the system and that caused what we call a runaway condition.  Your engine was using the oil to run and even if you shut down the diesel it would keep on going.   Very scary if you were under way or coming to a stop, downshifted and it got a mind of its own to rev it up.

[lukitas]

well my air filter is really dirty with oil. I don't want to change it if its going to get super oily again.

[ORCoaster]

You might have an engine that has a lot of piston blow by happening.  That pushes air into the engine an out the tube into the airbox. 

Is the oil on the inside of that filter or the outside?  Was it some thing that someone sprayed oil on thinking it was like a K&N and could be cleaned?

[Blocksmith]

Oil in a standard air filter is not normal, for reasons already stated. Post pics if you are able, for better diagnosis.

[lukitas]

You might have an engine that has a lot of piston blow by happening.  That pushes air into the engine an out the tube into the airbox. 

Is the oil on the inside of that filter or the outside?  Was it some thing that someone sprayed oil on thinking it was like a K&N and could be cleaned?

i am not sure. i just got the thing, and the filter is all black with like oil and dirt. i might get a cheap filter and see if things get ugly or not. maybe it was never changed.

[thomas m]

Run-a-way !!!!!  Oh, those days of my '78 Rabbit Diesel !!!!! It would happen regularly at freeway speed, say about 60 mph. Man, would it leave a heck of a black contrail !!! The only way to stop it was to slow down and lug the engine to a stop. Keep the speed below 50 and it wouldn't happen. That car always got above 50 mpg (OIL AND DIESEL), city or highway !!! That was my favorite car and I would be glad to have another. My 91 NA diesel is ok though.