Another Mann Provent 200 Catch Can Install on L400

[psilosin]

I picked a great day to be sick...the postman showed up with my Mann ProVent 200 catch can today. I have to say it really is the fanciest catch can I have ever seen and it looks like it will do the job as advertised easily. I was surprised to be as jazzed up over a catchcan as I got after unboxing it but I am a dork so there you go. There is no comparison between this catch can and 99% of the others sold on Ebay etc that are all show and no go. *There is also smaller ProVent100 and 150 models that would be great for the Delica also but the 200 seems to be the only one easily sourced.

There has already been a thread on this product but I installed mine slightly different so hope this isn't considered a frivilous repeat.

After looking around the engine bay I found myself thinking...wouldn't it be great it this could mount to the side of the airbox...well with only a little tweaking it can!

The only thing preventing an easy mounting to teh airbox are the webbings on the inside and outside which presumably are there to give extra strength. So I just took out a pocket knif and trimmed the webbing off inside and out where the mount and bolts would contact. Then I lined up the mount and drilled some holes for the bolts. I had some 8mm metric bolts on hand of a suitable length so that is what I used.





Test fit of the mount with airfilter in before returning to the L400. Success.



Next pic shows the airbox back in the L400 with the Provent200 attached. Note the head of the bolts do not protrude past the height of the interior webbing so they do not interfere with filter fitment. I put a blop of sealant on the outside where the bolts protruded from the airbox followed by a big fender washer to 'share the load' like frodo the elf. I followed that up wit a nut to both affix the bolt and to space the Provent out just a bit for better clearance for its drain nipple. Then the provent200 was mounted and secured on by captive locknuts.



Then the piping... The L400 pcv vent pipe has a 3/4" ID. The Provent200 nipples fit 1" ID pipe. Therefore needed some 1" ID and 3/4" ID flexi reinforced wall tube/pipe (the kind with the white nylon netting throughout) and a couple 1"->3'4" couplers and a bunch of stainless steel clamps. I like this clear tubing so you can see whats happening. Some people say it doesn't hold up to oils but I have run this stuff on my two Hilux Surfs for 6 years with no issues whatsoever.

Finished. Looks almost factory.





There is a drain on the bottom (fits 1/2" ID hose/pipe/tube/whatever you want to call it) that you are supposed to plumb back to your oil pan. I am not insterested in that action. For now I just stuck a male hose barb with a cap on the other end of teh 1/2 hose to block it off. Later on it I notice I am collecting a fair bit of oil my plan is to put a 1/2" valve in then reduce to 1/4" tube and route that down to the frame. Then when it needs a drain I can just put a can underneath, turn the valve and let it drain out and dispose of that oil with my oil change oil.

[psilosin]

Figured it was time for an update to let people know how well the ProVent200 worked. To put it simply it works fricken amazing!

After ~3months of use the intake pipe is blaaack and I have about 1/3 to 1/2 teaspoon of oil collected in the ProVent200 unit. The return pipe is absolutely clean of oil residue and looks just like it did when installed. I'm always surprised when things work anywhere close to how they are advertised and the ProVent works flawlessly so...WINNING!!! Lol seriously I have no hesitation in recommending this unit, its great.

Pics:

Here you can see both the intake pipe and return pipe (also I had many requests from the ladies to takle a picture of my hand so grrr baby here you go ) . The white paper is just to show off how black and opaque the intale pipe is and how clean and translucent the return pipe remains.


Close up of intake pipe:


Close up of return pipe:

[Artacoma]

Good job!! thanks for the follow up , nice to see some poof of a system

[psilosin]

March 2013 Update:

So this was my first winter of driving the L400 (last winter I took it off the road and drove the Surf instead). I just did an oil change yesterday and upon pooping the hood it looks like my valve cover gasket and/or half-moon blew and it was a bit of an oily mess and it looks like the catch-can is the cause.

I had noticed in the summer that occasionally a small amount of condensation would appear inside the Pro-Vent 200 but the amounts were so tiny that I never gave it much of a thought and the catchcan was virtually maintenance free, just drain out any oil every few months. I guess that whatever leads to the condensation is intensified greatly in the winter. On popping the lid the catchcan was about 1/2 full of water!!!...and a lot of it had whipped up nicely with the oil creating a sticky black pile the consistency of baby-poo/cake frosting. Any this oil poo looks to have made it way into the 'out' pipe completely clogged it up (some made its was as far as the airfilter). Alas since the gases could not pass this then allowed the crankcase pressure to build up and blamo gasket failure. FFFFfffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffudge!

So not sure why I am getting a crazy amount of condensation forming in the catch can but take this as a heads up to give your catch can a peek regularly in the winter. I do not think it is a Pro-Vent specific problem and could occur in any catch can that actually works well at agitating and mixing the air enough to condense oil vapour (ie you won't see it in a greddy hollow can since they do F all but look cool).

[Feds]

I'm actually chasing this same issue on my home-made catch can. Hardly any accumulation in the summer, then lots of water/oil goo, followed by an oil leak in the winter.

Part of the issue is that the can is cold, so water will freeze/condense then remain in the can, and be stuck there. So definitely drain the can more often in the winter.