The ultimate Mazda MX-5 crankcase ventilation upgrade!

During combustion in the engine’s cylinders, small amounts of combustion gases can always leak past the piston rings. These gases build up pressure in the crankcase and can be harmful to the engine if not removed. Consider, for example, leaking retaining rings or an engine that starts burning more oil. Proper disposal of these gases is therefore crucial. (see video below)

Crankcase ventilation system at a turbocharged Mazda MX-5

If a Mazda MX-5 owner chooses to add or upgrade a turbocharger, it is essential to ensure that the crankcase ventilation system is functioning properly. A properly functioning system ensures optimum performance, minimizes the risk of damage from overpressure and extends engine life.

Indeed, in turbocharged engines, the crankcase ventilation system is even more crucial. Why? Here are the two main reasons:

1. Increased pressure: Turbo engines generate more power by compressing the air supplied to the cylinders, resulting in higher combustion pressure. This increases the chances of more combustion gases leaking past the piston rings into the crankcase.
   
2. Higher temperatures: The increase in pressure in turbocharged engines is often accompanied by an increase in temperature inside the engine. These higher temperatures can increase the rate at which the oil breaks down and can also contribute to a greater amount of noxious fumes in the crankcase.

Why standard crankcase ventilation is not optimal for your Mazda MX-5.

In standard form, all oil vapors enter the Mazda MX-5’s crankcase ventilation system back into the intake and are then burned by the engine.

Why does the crankcase ventilation go back into the intake?

1. Environmental considerations: The gases coming out of the crankcase contain unburned fuel, oil and other contaminants. By returning these gases to the engine’s intake, they are re-burned in the cylinders, helping to reduce pollutant emissions. This process meets emission standards and is kinder to the environment.
2. Intake tract vacuum: By returning crankcase gases to the intake tract, it helps maintain a slight negative pressure in the crankcase. This promotes piston ring sealing and reduces oil leakage and evaporation.

How can this contaminate the intake tract?

1. Oil and contaminants: As these gases are re-burned, they are often mixed with a fine mist of oil. When this oil comes in contact with the colder parts of the intake tract, it can condense and accumulate. This results in a sticky deposit on the intake valves, intake ports and the intake tract itself.
2. carbon deposits: Over time, oil and other contaminants that accumulate in the intake tract can char, especially in direct-injected engines where the intake valves are not “washed” by fuel. These carbon deposits can restrict airflow and reduce engine efficiency.
3. Reduced performance: Once the intake tract is contaminated, it can lead to reduced performance, irregular idling, loss of power and reduced fuel efficiency.

Given the aforementioned shortcomings, the standard crankcase ventilation system of a Mazda MX-5 is certainly not ideal for pursuing maximum performance and ensuring longevity of engine components. Moreover, the original crankcase ventilation system is designed for an atmospheric engine. Therefore, when considering installing a turbocharger on your Mazda MX-5, it is wise to optimize this system.

Level7Performance Quikvent & Catch Can

We now know that oil vapors from the crankcase ventilation system can contaminate the engine. Prevent this by installing a Catch Can. This Catch Can connects to the Mazda MX-5 valve cover connectors. This separates and collects oil. Excess overpressure exits the Catch Can through a filter.

Fitting a Catch Can reduces inlet tract fouling. However, flow deficiencies remain a challenge. This is where Level7Performance QuikVent offers a solution. This replaces the Mazda MX-5 standard oil cap. With this CNC-machined product, you get two AN10 connections. You maintain a stylish oil cap at the same time.

The Level Seven QuikVent flows better which benefits the crankcase pressure and of course not entirely unimportant; connecting a catchcan is not only tremendously easy with AN-10 connection but also very stylish!

PS: Should you want to upgrade the crankcase ventilation system, I would think about ordering the installation tool with it as well.

The assembly instructions can be found here and below.

Level 7 Performance

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