Fitting the HPD Catch Can to the Mitsubishi Pajero

Before we start

This is a guide for installing the HPD catch can into the engine bay of a NW Pajero. It should the same for most of the Pajero models. Its broken into three parts the first is just a quick run down on the HPD catch can, then the next two are the actual fitting guide.

If you want a better understanding of how a catch can works this article is worth a read and does give a good explanation of the processes involved. How does an oil catch can work and why is it beneficial

Important Note:
A study conducted by the Curtin University of Australia sheds a light on the Catch Can. What it comes down to is that the HPD Catch Can does not perform very well. After reading this I would not recommend the HPD Catch Can but would rather suggest the Provent Catch Can. The couple of years that I have now had the HPD Catch Can confirms that the Catch Can does not collect a lot of oil and is a great disappointment to me. I wish this study would have been done before I had purchased the HPD Catch Can as I would have chosen the Provent Catch Can instead.

If you still want to install the HPD Catch Can then Read On.

Here is few webpages by 4WDing Australia that are worth a read and gives a good description of the issue.

Why I’m removing my HPD Catch Can

Provent vs HPD Catch cans; a real world comparison

The Guide:

The High Performance Diesel (HPD) Catch Can is made of billet aluminum by the South Australian company called Auto Sport Engineering. A Catch Can is designed to reduce oil vapour coming from the engine via the Rocker Cover breather hose. This oil vapour which is also mixed with air is returned to the Turbo Charger via the Air Intake duct which upon entering the inlet manifold is then combined with carbon from the EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) and over time will form into a black sludge covering the inlet manifold and the inlet ports in the cylinder head. This build up can restrict the airflow reducing engine performance and at its worst can cause engine failure.

The HPD catch can is very expensive at $385.00 and whilst other catch can such as the Provent kit are some $100.00 cheaper, I choose the HPD due to it having washable stainless mesh filters and as such should require no more running and/or maintenance costs. Plus the HPD billet aluminum appears as if it would be very hard wearing and last the life of the Pajero and them some.

Here is a few of the points that HPD give as unique features and which I think are very good.
The first being the washable stainless steel mesh filters, so no maintenance costs.
Dip stick to check level of oil in the catch can. Other catch cans I have seen have a tube at the side for a visual indicator of the oil level but most have been cheap Ebay ones.
Unscrew the Base to empty oil. Other catch cans have a value at the bottom to let the oil out. So I not sure which method would be better in practice.
Stainless steel bracket with 5 possible positions for the HPD catch can. This is very handy. I first fitted the catch can in a position that didn’t suit the angle of the hose a simple unscrewing the catch can and changing its position fixed it.
360 swivel top outlet. This is absolutely great the outlet hose can be position at any angle that suits your installation.

When I brought my HPD catch can kit OCC-B-MP which mounts to the front right side of the engine bay, a firewall bracket kit was not available on the High Performance Diesel website. It was only because I came across a post on the Pajero 4WD Club of Victoria Public Forum that I became aware that a bracket to fit the HPD catch can to the firewall is available. I phone Auto Sports Engineering and got the firewall brackets (OCC-MB-MP2 and OCC-MB-MP3) sent to me via airbag. After my phone call Auto Sports Engineering updated their website to show that the firewall bracket kit (OCC-B-MP-NX) is available.

So if you want the HPD Catch Can to fit to the firewall then order part OCC-B-MP-NX. Note that the code suggests that it is for a Pajero NX, but I have a MY2014 NW and it fitted without any problems. Also Note that if you have a Airtec Snorkel then the HPD catch can kit you would require is the OCC-B-MP-NX kit as the snorkel blocks access to where the standard kit would be installed to. The Safari Snorkel does not have this issue so either kit can be used depending on where you want to fit the catch can.

If you don’t have a Airtec Snorkel and want to fit the HPD catch can to the right side of engine bay then the kit you need is OCC-B-MP. If you want to change the current position of your HPD catch can to the firewall then the parts you would need would be the OCC-MB-MP2 mounting bracket and OCC-MB-MP3 90 degree bracket.