Best Oil Catch Cans for 2011-2020 Ford F-150 EcoBoost

The best oil catch can for a 2011-2020 Ford F-150 EcoBoost is the J&L 3.0 passenger-side oil separator, a billet-aluminum, direct-fit can that intercepts blow-by oil before it reaches your intake valves. Ford's 2.7L and 3.5L EcoBoost V6s are turbocharged, direct-injected engines, and that combination is exactly what makes an oil separator worth installing: there is no fuel washing over the back of the intake valves to keep them clean, so any oil vapor the crankcase vents into the intake bakes into carbon. At NLP Performance in Tampa, FL, the catch can is one of the most-requested first mods on an EcoBoost or Coyote F-150, and the J&L line is what we reach for. This guide compares the four J&L 3.0 separators that fit the 2011-2020 trucks and shows which one (or two) your engine actually needs.

Why Your 2011-2020 F-150 Needs an Oil Catch Can

An oil catch can traps the oil vapor your engine's crankcase ventilation system would otherwise feed back into the intake. On a direct-injected, turbocharged EcoBoost there is no fuel spraying across the intake valves to wash them, so that oil mist cooks onto the valves and port walls as hard carbon — a problem documented across the 2.7L and 3.5L EcoBoost fleet. The result is rough cold starts, misfires, lost throttle response and, on a boosted engine, a measurable loss of octane as oil contaminates the charge air. Ford builds strong engines here — the 3.5L EcoBoost is rated up to 375 hp and 470 lb-ft (2017-2020), the 2.7L EcoBoost around 325 hp, the 5.0L Coyote 360-395 hp, and the 6.2L V8 at 411 hp — and a $169 separator is cheap insurance for keeping that output clean over 100,000-plus miles.

Forced induction makes the problem worse. Turbocharging raises crankcase pressure, which pushes more oil-laden blow-by through the PCV system. That is why the EcoBoost trucks benefit the most, but the naturally aspirated 5.0L and 6.2L V8s still vent oil mist that dirties the intake over time. A catch can does not change your tune or add a power number on the dyno — it protects the power you already paid for.

PCV vs CCV: Which Side Does Your F-150 Need?

Your F-150 has two crankcase vent paths, and J&L sells a separate can for each. The passenger-side (PCV) can handles crankcase vapor at idle and light cruise and is the one every EcoBoost and 5.0L owner should start with. The driver-side (CCV) can handles vapor under boost and wide-open throttle; adding it to the passenger-side can creates a full dual-can setup that catches oil across the entire rpm range. Here is how it breaks down by engine:

• 2.7L & 3.5L EcoBoost: Run the passenger-side (PCV) separator. This is the single can that covers these turbo V6s.
• 5.0L Coyote: Start with the passenger-side (PCV) can; add the 2011-2017 driver-side (CCV) can for a complete dual-can system.
• 6.2L V8 (2011-2014, incl. SVT Raptor): Use the dedicated 6.2L passenger-side can; the same driver-side can also covers the 6.2L through 2014.

The Best Oil Catch Cans for the 2011-2020 Ford F-150

All four separators below are J&L 3.0 units: CNC-machined billet aluminum, a 2-stage internal filter, and a direct, no-cut fit with OEM-style quick-disconnect fittings. They are all priced the same at $169, so your choice comes down to engine, side and finish rather than budget.

This is the can we recommend first for any 2011-2020 F-150. A single passenger-side separator intercepts the PCV circuit on the 2.7L EcoBoost, 3.5L EcoBoost and 5.0L Coyote, and it ships with vehicle-specific silicone hoses and pre-attached stock-style quick-disconnect fittings so it drops in without cutting a thing. The black anodized finish hides under the engine cover; it also fits the 2018-2021 Expedition that shares the drivetrain.

Pair this driver-side (CCV) can with the passenger-side unit for a complete dual-can setup on the 5.0L Coyote. It covers the crankcase vent circuit that the PCV can does not, so the pair catches oil at idle, cruise and under load. Note the fitment carefully: this driver-side can is for the 2011-2017 5.0L and the 2011-2014 6.2L — confirm your year and engine before ordering.

Running the 411-hp 6.2L V8, including the first-generation SVT Raptor? This passenger-side can is the correct PCV-side separator for the 2011-2014 6.2L trucks. For a full dual-can setup on the 6.2L, combine it with the driver-side can above, which also lists 2011-2014 6.2L fitment.

Functionally identical to the top pick and the same $169, the clear anodized version is our value pick for owners who want the raw-aluminum look in a show-bay engine bay. Same billet housing, same 2-stage filter, same no-cut fit on the 2.7L/3.5L/5.0L — only the finish changes, so pick whichever matches your build.

F-150 Oil Catch Can Comparison

Every J&L 3.0 F-150 separator shares the same billet construction, 2-stage filter and $169 price. The decision is about your engine and which side(s) you are catching. Use the table to match the right can to your truck.

How the J&L 3.0 Works and How to Maintain It

The J&L 3.0 separates oil from crankcase vapor in two stages, then stores it in a billet reservoir you empty by hand. Vapor enters the billet-aluminum housing and passes through a 1/2-inch aluminum honeycomb element paired with a stainless-steel mesh screen; the oil condenses and drops into a roughly 3 oz knurled reservoir while clean vapor continues to the intake. The 3.0 reservoir is nearly double the capacity of the older 2.0 can, so it goes longer between services.

Maintenance is a two-minute job: unscrew the knurled lower reservoir (it is sealed with an O-ring), pour out the captured oil and fuel, and thread it back on. J&L recommends draining every 2,000-3,000 miles. On a heavily driven EcoBoost you may be surprised how much it catches — that is oil and fuel that would otherwise be coating your intake valves. If you tow or run meaningful boost, check it on the shorter end of that interval, especially through a Florida summer or a cold snap when condensation is higher.

Installation: A True Bolt-On

Installing a J&L 3.0 on a 2011-2020 F-150 is a no-cut, bolt-on job that most owners finish in 20-30 minutes with hand tools. Each F-150 kit is engineered for its specific engine and ships with vehicle-specific silicone hoses and pre-attached OEM-style quick-disconnect fittings, so you unclip the factory PCV line, clip the separator inline on its bracket, and route the supplied hoses. Nothing is cut or permanently modified, which also means the install is fully reversible if you ever sell the truck. If you would rather have it done, our Tampa shop can install it alongside an intake or tune in a single visit.

A catch can pairs naturally with the other first bolt-ons we see on these trucks — browse our cold air intakes and the rest of our engine performance parts to build the package in one order.

A Note on California and CARB

J&L 3.0 oil separators are sold for off-road and non-emissions use and cannot be shipped to California. Because they tie into the crankcase ventilation system, they are not CARB-exempt, and J&L and NLP Performance cannot ship them to a California address. Outside of California, they install and operate normally. If you are in a state with its own emissions testing, keep the factory hardware so you can reinstall it for inspections.