Does the C8 Corvette Need a Catch Can, or Is It a Waste of Money?

This C8 Corvette catch can seems to have caught a decent amount of oil after a few thousand miles, but is that proof that it’s necessary?

In recent years, oil catch cans have become incredibly popular among enthusiasts as direct-injected engines have become more prevalent. The premise is quite simple – blow-by is generated in an engine when pressure escapes the combustion chamber by seeping past the piston rings, at which point oil can get in the intake manifold. Over time, this build up can reportedly worsen fuel economy, horsepower, and cause misfires. Catch cans act as a filter of sorts and “catch” this gunk before it can get to the intake, and they aren’t terribly expensive. Thus, that should make them a bit of cheap insurance for cars like the C8 Corvette, or at least one might think. But this topic recently stirred up quite the debate at Corvette Forum after one member posted the results of his catch can experience after a few thousand miles.

“Last November, one of the first things I did after picking up my 2022 HTC was to install a UPR Products catch can,” said trynt. “Very soon afterwards I read they weren’t needed on a C8 and were a waste of money. Fast forward 6,500 miles, and you can see the amount of oil in the can. Admittedly not much. I would guess about one third of what was deposited in my C7 GS. Is it worth the money? I don’t know. You be the judge.”

There is certainly a little bit of oil in the catch can, which would alarm just about anyone after only 6,500 miles. But quite a few folks still don’t believe that catch cans are necessary at all, even though certain manufacturers sell them in their very own catalogs. “Engineers who designed the engine and GM that warranties the engine don’t think a catch can is needed,” said TBD. “The engineers know a whole lot more about engines than I do, and GM sure doesn’t want to pay for warranty work. I will trust their collective judgement.” “The GM engineers answered this in an interview a while back. The way their dry sump system works that oil would have made it back into the sump, not the cylinders,” added Shoal07.

On the flip side, there are also plenty of folks that feel like this is just proof that you do need a catch can on the C8 Corvette. “GM only needs the engine to operate for 5 years. After that you’re on your own. Any oil in the catch can didn’t coat the MAF or the intake valves,” said DSOMrulz. “If you did road course events you would have 4 oz+ per day with the full throttle, compression braking, full throttle cycling,” said AzDave47. “I would get that much (what your picture showed) in 2,000-3,000- miles of highway driving, but 4 oz each track day in my LS7, stock or full HCI. Only in road course driving does any real amount of oil go thru the PCV system if the engine is working right.”

This is certainly a fascinating debate, and one that seems to have a pretty equal number of Corvette Forum members on each side of it. Thus, we’re curious to hear what you think – are catch cans a great form of cheap insurance for your engine, or are they an unnecessary waste of money? Head over here and give us your take on this hot topic!

Photos: Chevrolet, Corvette Forum

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