They even made it sound like catch cans, which I thought would help the engine have fewer problems are the cause of engine damage. They mention “vent to atmosphere” and say it: “PCV systems that are modified (vented to atmosphere being the most common modification) can result in a condition where oil gets past the turbine seal even on an undamaged, fully functional turbocharger.“
Has anyone heard of this??
Certainly. Used to be a common mod on older N/A engines so eliminate the crankcase vapors being drawn into the intake manifold. You’re most likely to see it on old (60’s/70’s) muscle cars; you’ll notice a breather filter on both valve covers. It’s not good for the engine, as there is no positive vacuum to draw out crankcase vapors, moisture, blow by, etc.
On turbocharged/DI engines, a functional PCV system is even more critical due to higher cylinder pressures and richer fuel mixtures.
Catch can systems do not vent to atmosphere; they simply provide a reservoir for oil to accumulate while allowing vapors to pass into the engine. The most common issues with catch can systems is improper design (reducing PCV system functionality), leaking connections, and PCV related DTCs. These occur because federal emissions regulations have changed over the past few years, requiring closer monitoring of the PCV system.
Ford can actually void a warranty? I’m kind of confused. I thought they could only deny repairing certain parts related to an aftermarket modification. I thought they couldn’t refuse to cover an entire vehicle, but I know you understand this better than the rest of us. Guess this means a FMIC without a tune...
Yes. They can void a specific portion of the vehicle, such as powertrain or chassis, or void the warranty on the entire vehicle. However, this is not common. It is typically only seen on salvage vehicles, such as those that have been through a flood. As you mention, if your aftermarket modification is attributed to the failure, only the affected parts/system will not be covered.