I installed nwp spacers on my ride a few weeks ago and decided to do the diy home depot/lowe's catch can that most people do. After driving with it on for these last few weeks, I think this is a must do mod for every v6 altima, even if your bone stock. Up until this point I overlooked this simple mod, but knowing what I know now, I would have installed the catch can on Nissan's lot, the same day I bought the car. Here's a quick writeup for those who haven't done it yet and want to do it.
You need the following from lowes, home depot, or any other hardware store :
You'll need (1) mini general purpose filter (located where the air compressors are) I went with kobalt from lowes, because the blue color matches my color scheme under the hood. Depending on which air filter can you get, you might have to seal off the bottom of it with a vacuum cap.
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(2) 3/8 x 1/4 barb (located in the plumbing section). And if you route the catch can like I did, you'll need (2) 90 degree 1/4 elbows(also in the plumbing section). Also, get a few hose clamps and sealant tape while your there.
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Now, go to any auto store and get about 3 feet of 3/8 black fuel hose line ( shouldn't cost more than $4 bucks for the hose). That's everything you need to buy.
Putting the catch can together is straight forward. Use the thread sealant tape on the threads of each barb and screw into catch can. Don't over tighten it.
The line you want to tap into is located on the back of the upper IM.
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Note: if you are installing spacers, use all new hosing for the catch can since you already have the upper manifold off. If you are attempting to install this catch can with the manifold on the car, it may be easier to just unhook the original hose from the IM and clamp it into the "In" side of the catch can. Then run new hose from the "out" part of the catch can to the back of the upper IM (in this case you wouldn't need the full 3 feet of new hose).
If you are using new hose, cut the new hose you bought in half and run from the rear pcv to the in arrow on the catch can(use a hose clamp), then run the other half of the hose from the out arrow on the catch can to the back of the upper IM (use hose clamp) where you removed the original hose. You won' t be able to use hose clamps on the rear pcv, because it's almost impossible to get a flat head screw driver to it. Just use the clamps that nissan originally provided for that one.
Pics of the finished product
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After only about 3 weeks of driving, here are a few pictures of what was collected. Sometimes I drive in a conservative manner, while other times aggressive. For the past 3 weeks, I've mostly been aggressive and here are the results.
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This shows why I had an excessive amount of oil all over the place when I was first doing the spacers. Like I said earlier in the post, I only wish I had done this sooner.
You need the following from lowes, home depot, or any other hardware store :
You'll need (1) mini general purpose filter (located where the air compressors are) I went with kobalt from lowes, because the blue color matches my color scheme under the hood. Depending on which air filter can you get, you might have to seal off the bottom of it with a vacuum cap.
(2) 3/8 x 1/4 barb (located in the plumbing section). And if you route the catch can like I did, you'll need (2) 90 degree 1/4 elbows(also in the plumbing section). Also, get a few hose clamps and sealant tape while your there.
Now, go to any auto store and get about 3 feet of 3/8 black fuel hose line ( shouldn't cost more than $4 bucks for the hose). That's everything you need to buy.
Putting the catch can together is straight forward. Use the thread sealant tape on the threads of each barb and screw into catch can. Don't over tighten it.
The line you want to tap into is located on the back of the upper IM.
Note: if you are installing spacers, use all new hosing for the catch can since you already have the upper manifold off. If you are attempting to install this catch can with the manifold on the car, it may be easier to just unhook the original hose from the IM and clamp it into the "In" side of the catch can. Then run new hose from the "out" part of the catch can to the back of the upper IM (in this case you wouldn't need the full 3 feet of new hose).
If you are using new hose, cut the new hose you bought in half and run from the rear pcv to the in arrow on the catch can(use a hose clamp), then run the other half of the hose from the out arrow on the catch can to the back of the upper IM (use hose clamp) where you removed the original hose. You won' t be able to use hose clamps on the rear pcv, because it's almost impossible to get a flat head screw driver to it. Just use the clamps that nissan originally provided for that one.
Pics of the finished product
After only about 3 weeks of driving, here are a few pictures of what was collected. Sometimes I drive in a conservative manner, while other times aggressive. For the past 3 weeks, I've mostly been aggressive and here are the results.
This shows why I had an excessive amount of oil all over the place when I was first doing the spacers. Like I said earlier in the post, I only wish I had done this sooner.
Interested to see how much if any oil/residue ends up in the catch can after a week or two. Did you leave it empty inside or did you add some steel wool like some people do?
