If you own a Charger, Challenger, or Ram powered by a 5.7 or 6.4 HEMI, you may have heard that oil catch cans are mainly a concern for gasoline direct-injection engines where fuel can't wash the intake ports. That assumption misses what the PCV system is doing on your engine regardless of injection type. A quality oil catch can 5.7 HEMI setup addresses something separate: the crankcase vapors that travel back through the intake path and the oil mist those vapors carry with them. This guide covers why port-injected naturally aspirated HEMIs are still susceptible, why supercharged Hellcat and Trackhawk applications face an additional challenge under boost, and how Tracy Lewis approaches each of those scenarios with a built-to-order system.
If you're newer to the concept, start with the oil catch can guide or the what is an oil catch can explainer before diving into the HEMI-specific content below.
Why 5.7 and 6.4 HEMI Engines Can Ingest Oil Mist
The factory PCV system on your HEMI exists to manage crankcase pressure. Combustion gases that blow past the piston rings collect in the crankcase and, if left unvented, create pressure that can push past seals and contaminate oil. The PCV system routes those gases back into the intake so they can be burned off rather than released into the atmosphere. That's the right solution from an emissions standpoint — but those crankcase gases are not clean air. They carry oil mist in aerosol form, and that oil mist enters the intake path along with them.
Port injection means fuel is sprayed directly at the intake valve, which does provide some incidental cleaning effect compared to direct injection. However, it does nothing to intercept the oil mist arriving from the PCV side. Owners who pull their intake tubes on higher-mileage HEMI vehicles often report an oily residue coating the inner walls, and photos shared across Charger, Challenger, and Ram forums show oil on intake components after normal accumulated mileage. This is the problem that an oil catch can for 5.7 HEMI applications is designed to address: intercepting that oil mist before it reaches the intake, rather than letting it accumulate there.
The PCV System, Valley Cover, and Intake Path
The factory PCV system is designed to route crankcase vapors back into the intake continuously during engine operation. On a HEMI, those vapors originate in the crankcase and travel upward through the engine toward the intake. The valley cover area — the region beneath the intake manifold — sits along that routing path and is a location owners and technicians observe when assessing oil vapor migration.
Because the routing passes through several connection points before reaching the intake, the specific hose connections and routing geometry matter for any catch-can installation. A universal can simply placed somewhere in the engine bay does not account for the actual vapor path on your specific vehicle. The correct routing needs to be confirmed based on your year, make, model, and engine before any installation begins.
Why Load Can Matter on a Ram 1500
Ram owners who tow regularly encounter a specific version of this concern. Under sustained high-load conditions — extended towing on a highway grade, for example — crankcase pressure can increase relative to lighter driving conditions. Ram owners on HEMI-focused forums and truck communities consistently report observations of increased oil mist accumulation associated with sustained load driving. A ram 1500 oil catch can installation is therefore not just about preventing oil buildup at highway cruising; it's about managing crankcase vapor behavior during the kinds of extended, high-demand operation that truck owners regularly use their vehicles for.
The routing and configuration appropriate for a Ram is vehicle-specific. More on that in the truck-application section below. And if you want to understand whether your specific use case warrants a can in the first place, the Do you need an oil catch can? article covers the ownership fundamentals.
5.7 HEMI vs. 6.4 HEMI Catch-Can Routing Considerations
The 5.7 and 6.4 HEMI share a broadly similar PCV system architecture, but they should not be treated as identical installations. The 6.4 displaces more volume and is associated with higher output levels, and forum research suggests that 6.4 owners may observe greater crankcase vapor activity — though this varies by application and driving conditions. What matters practically is that the hose routing, connection points, and engine-bay packaging for an oil catch can 6.4 HEMI installation may differ from what applies to the 5.7, and an oil catch can for 6.4 HEMI applications needs to be confirmed for the specific vehicle, not assumed from a 5.7 configuration.
For Dodge, Ram, and HEMI applications, Tracy Lewis provides installation-specific resources rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
What Must Be Confirmed Before Ordering
Before ordering any HEMI catch-can setup, you should have the following ready: your vehicle's year, make, and model; the specific engine (5.7 or 6.4 HEMI); whether the vehicle is naturally aspirated or supercharged; and your primary intended use, including whether towing is part of the picture. Tracy Lewis builds catch cans to order based on this information, which means the hose kit and configuration are matched to your actual application rather than a generic template.
Do not assume that a Charger, Challenger, or Ram with the same engine share the same hose routing. Vehicle packaging, air-box configuration, and hose-attachment geometry differ across body styles and model years.
6.4 Truck Applications
For 6.4-equipped trucks, Tracy Lewis provides a dedicated installation manual that covers the routing appropriate for that engine and vehicle configuration. Truck engine-bay packaging is different from passenger-car packaging, and the hose routing shown in the 6.4 truck manual should be followed as written for the applicable vehicle.
If you're a truck owner who tows, the relevant question is not whether the engine has accumulated mileage but whether the PCV routing in your installation is correctly intercepting oil mist under the load conditions you regularly encounter. Consult the Tracy Lewis 6.4 truck installation manual for your application, and verify your configuration before ordering. The Tracy Lewis Dodge and Ram installation resources page is the right starting point, and from there you can move to a built-to-order catch-can setup once your application is confirmed.
Hellcat and Trackhawk Catch Cans Need a Boost-Capable Vacuum Strategy
Supercharged applications introduce a fundamental complication that does not exist on naturally aspirated engines. On a naturally aspirated 5.7 or 6.4 HEMI, the intake manifold is under vacuum during normal operation, and that vacuum is available to draw crankcase vapors through the PCV system. On a supercharged engine, manifold vacuum disappears when the engine comes under boost — which is precisely the moment crankcase pressure may be at its highest. A hellcat oil catch can system that relies solely on manifold vacuum therefore loses its vacuum source at the worst possible time.
This is the core problem that a boost-capable vacuum strategy is designed to solve, and it is the reason the Hellcat and Trackhawk cannot be treated as simply a more powerful version of the naturally aspirated HEMI for catch-can purposes.
What Changes When the Engine Is Under Boost
When the supercharger is building positive manifold pressure, intake manifold vacuum drops toward zero and may go positive. A passive catch can that draws on manifold vacuum as its only vacuum source will stop functioning as intended during boosted operation. At that same moment, the crankcase is under elevated pressure from combustion activity, making it exactly the wrong time to have reduced crankcase management. Without an alternative vacuum source, crankcase vapors — and the oil mist they carry — have a less controlled path.
The Role of Dual Check Valves and a Venturi Vacuum Valve
The Tracy Lewis approach for supercharged HEMI applications is a dual-valve, full-time-vacuum system designed to maintain crankcase vacuum independently of manifold-vacuum availability. The system uses dual check valves in conjunction with a Venturi vacuum valve to provide a vacuum source that remains functional during boosted operation, rather than disappearing when the throttle is wide open.
A passive can has no equivalent mechanism. It sits in the PCV path and relies on existing pressure differentials to move vapors through it. When those differentials change under boost, the can's function changes too. The Tracy Lewis system is configured to maintain consistent crankcase vacuum behavior across the engine's operating range. No catch-can system eliminates all variables, and installation and routing correctness are always factors in real-world performance.
For more on the underlying Venturi vacuum valve concept and how it contributes to full-time vacuum maintenance, that dedicated resource covers the system in detail.
2019+ Crankcase Flow-Sensor Module Considerations
Owners of 2019 and later Hellcat applications should be aware that Dodge added a flow-sensor module on the fresh (clean) side of the PCV system starting in the 2019 model year, and that module must be accounted for in the catch-can hose routing. This is not a cosmetic detail — routing that does not correctly integrate with that module can affect how the system functions. Tracy Lewis provides a dedicated installation manual for 2019+ Hellcat Challenger and Charger applications (which also covers the Trackhawk) that addresses this routing consideration specifically.
If your vehicle falls into this range, review the applicable Tracy Lewis 2019+ Hellcat installation manual before ordering, and confirm that the module is addressed in your configuration. The Hellcat catch-can system at Tracy Lewis is built to order with this in mind when the correct vehicle information is supplied.
How a Full-Time-Vacuum Catch-Can System Differs From a Passive Can
A passive catch can is, in its simplest form, a separator placed in the PCV circuit. Crankcase vapors pass through it, oil mist condenses in the can rather than proceeding into the intake, and the remaining vapor continues on. The system functions as long as there is a suitable pressure differential driving vapor through it — which, on a naturally aspirated engine at normal operating conditions, there usually is.
A dual-valve, full-time-vacuum system operates differently. Rather than relying entirely on whatever pressure differential the manifold provides, it uses dual check valves and a Venturi vacuum source to actively maintain crankcase vacuum across a wider range of operating conditions. For a 5.7 hemi oil catch can application on a naturally aspirated vehicle, this distinction may be less critical than it is on a Hellcat — but for boosted applications, it is the difference between a system that continues working under boost and one that does not.
Naturally Aspirated HEMI Applications
For owners of naturally aspirated 5.7 and 6.4 HEMIs — Chargers, Challengers, and Rams without forced induction — the correct PCV routing for their specific engine and vehicle is still the primary installation consideration. Not all naturally aspirated HEMIs share the same hose configuration, and the late-model naturally aspirated HEMI installation manual from Tracy Lewis is the appropriate starting reference for applicable vehicles.
If you're at the stage of evaluating whether a catch can makes sense for your naturally aspirated HEMI before looking at specific configurations, review how oil catch cans work in the pillar resource. Once you're ready to move forward, the built-to-order Tracy Lewis Catch Can page is where to start the configuration process.
Supercharged HEMI Applications
On supercharged applications, installation correctness is non-negotiable. Check-valve direction, Venturi placement, and hose routing are all installation-critical — getting any of them wrong affects how the system manages crankcase vacuum during boost events. The 2019+ Hellcat manual specifically addresses the flow-sensor-module routing that applies to those vehicles, and it should be treated as the authoritative routing reference for that application.
Tracy Lewis does not present the catch-can system as a substitute for or modification of emissions equipment. A catch can intercepts oil mist in the PCV circuit. It is not a PCV delete, and any installation that removes or defeats emissions-related components is outside the scope of what Tracy Lewis recommends or supports.
Tracy Lewis HEMI Installation Manuals: Which Guide Applies?
Tracy Lewis provides three installation manuals for Dodge and HEMI applications. Each one addresses a distinct vehicle and engine configuration, and the correct manual for your application should be reviewed before you order or install. The manuals are available through the Dodge, Ram & HEMI installation guides hub page.
Late-Model Naturally Aspirated HEMI Manual
This manual covers late-model naturally aspirated HEMI installations and is the appropriate routing reference for non-supercharged Charger, Challenger, and Ram applications that fall within its supported range. If your vehicle is naturally aspirated and falls under the late-model HEMI category, start here.
Do not apply this manual's routing to supercharged vehicles. It is specific to naturally aspirated PCV system behavior.
6.4 Truck Manual
The 6.4 truck manual addresses the routing considerations specific to 6.4 HEMI-equipped trucks. Truck applications have different engine-bay packaging than passenger cars, and the hose routing shown in this manual reflects that. If you're a Ram owner with a 6.4 and you use the vehicle for towing, this is the manual that applies to your installation.
Verify your application against this manual before ordering. Routing that fits a 6.4 Challenger may not transfer to a 6.4 truck, and the manual provides the vehicle-specific details needed to get it right.
2019+ Hellcat Manual
The 2019+ Hellcat manual is the relevant installation resource for supercharged HEMI applications in that production range and addresses the crankcase flow-sensor module routing that distinguishes these vehicles from earlier supercharged HEMIs. Correct check-valve orientation and Venturi routing are covered in this manual and should be followed as shown.
Do not assume this manual applies to all supercharged HEMI variants. If your vehicle falls outside the 2019+ range or is a different supercharged platform, confirm applicability with Tracy Lewis before proceeding.
From the installation manuals page, you can also move directly to choose a built-to-order catch can once your application is identified.
Choosing a Catch Can for a Charger, Challenger, or Ram
Whether you're looking for a dodge charger oil catch can for a daily driver, a challenger catch can for a weekend vehicle, or a catch-can system for a Ram that spends time towing, the selection process starts with the same questions: What engine does the vehicle have? Is it naturally aspirated or supercharged? What is the primary use case? And which installation manual applies?
Tracy Lewis builds catch cans to order using the year, make, model, and engine information you provide. This approach exists because hose routing is vehicle-specific, and a configuration built for one application may not transfer cleanly to another even within the same engine family.
Information to Have Ready Before You Order
When you're ready to order, have the following prepared:
Your vehicle's year, make, and model. Your engine: 5.7 HEMI, 6.4 HEMI, or supercharged HEMI. Whether the vehicle is naturally aspirated or supercharged. Your primary intended use — daily driving, towing, track use, or a combination. For 2019 and later Hellcat applications, awareness that the crankcase flow-sensor module is part of the routing picture.
A tune is not a requirement for the Tracy Lewis catch-can system. The system is designed to operate passively within the existing PCV circuit, not as an engine-management modification.
Built-to-Order Catch-Can Options
The Tracy Lewis Catch Can is available in configurations suited to different HEMI applications. For naturally aspirated vehicles, the standard dual-valve setup addresses PCV routing needs. For supercharged applications operating above 12 psi, the high-performance check valve is required on the intake manifold side. A Monster can option is also available for applications where greater separator volume is appropriate. Every Dodge and Ram kit includes a Clean Side Separator, which addresses oil ingestion upstream of the throttle body — a path an ordinary catch can does not reach. Kits are Made in the USA and built to order, so allow a short lead time.
These are not interchangeable configurations — which is why the vehicle-specific ordering process matters. The product page walks through the available options, and Tracy Lewis can help confirm which configuration fits your application based on the information you supply.
For broader context on the Dodge and HEMI vehicle hub, including all available installation resources, that page is the right reference point before or alongside your order.
Maintenance, Emptying, and Warranty Questions
These are the questions that come up consistently in HEMI owner communities, and they're worth addressing directly before purchase rather than after installation.
How Often Should a HEMI Catch Can Be Emptied?
There is no single universal interval. How frequently a catch can needs to be emptied depends on your driving conditions, the climate you operate in, how hard the engine works regularly, and your vehicle's specific application. Owners in northern states often notice more material collected during winter months, partly due to condensation from cold starts cycling through a warmer PCV system. Towing regularly will produce different results than light highway driving.
Inspect your can early in the ownership experience to establish a baseline for your conditions, and adjust from there; if you are unsure, ask Tracy Lewis Performance about your application. Avoid setting a fixed interval in miles without first observing what your specific driving profile actually produces.
Will a Catch Can Require a Tune or Affect Warranty Coverage?
The Tracy Lewis system is designed to operate passively and does not require an engine tune. The catch can intercepts oil mist in the existing PCV circuit without altering ignition timing, fuel delivery, or any calibrated engine parameter. It is not a PCV delete and is not presented as a modification to emissions equipment.
On warranty questions, Tracy Lewis does not provide legal warranty advice, and the interaction between aftermarket parts and dealer warranty claims can vary by situation and dealer. A catch-can installation that does not remove, defeat, or alter emissions-related components is generally viewed in owner communities as a less invasive modification than a full PCV delete — but any specific warranty concern should be discussed with your dealership and reviewed against the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act as it applies to your situation.
For broader questions about catch-can ownership and whether a system makes sense for your vehicle, the Do you need an oil catch can? article covers the fundamentals, and the oil catch can fundamentals pillar resource covers the underlying system concepts in detail.
Find the Right HEMI Catch-Can Configuration
The key distinction that runs through everything above is this: naturally aspirated 5.7 and 6.4 HEMIs and supercharged HEMIs require different attention to PCV routing and vacuum-source behavior. A can that works well on a naturally aspirated Ram 1500 is not automatically the right configuration for a Hellcat under boost. And within the naturally aspirated category, a Charger and a Ram with the same engine may still require different hose routing based on vehicle packaging.
Before you order, identify which installation manual applies to your vehicle and review it. Confirm your year, make, model, and engine. Then supply that information when you order a built-to-order Tracy Lewis Catch Can so the configuration reflects your actual application. If you're still working through the options, explore Dodge and HEMI resources including all three installation manuals and related application guidance.
A properly installed oil catch can 5.7 HEMI setup — or the correct supercharged equivalent — starts with correct identification and correct routing. Everything else follows from that.
HEMI Oil Catch Can FAQs
Does a 5.7 HEMI need an oil catch can?
Port-injected 5.7 HEMIs still ingest oil mist through the PCV system during normal engine operation. The PCV system routes crankcase vapors — which carry oil mist in aerosol form — back through the intake path. MDS activation and sustained-load conditions are among the factors HEMI owners associate with oil vapor activity. A catch can intercepts that mist before it reaches the intake. Whether one makes sense for your specific vehicle and driving profile depends on how you use the vehicle, and the Do you need an oil catch can resource covers that evaluation in more detail.
What is the difference between a 5.7 HEMI and 6.4 HEMI catch-can setup?
The 5.7 and 6.4 HEMI share a broadly similar PCV system architecture, but they should not be treated as identical installations. Hose routing, connection geometry, and vehicle packaging must be confirmed for each specific application. The 6.4 is associated with higher output levels and may see greater crankcase vapor activity, though this varies. Tracy Lewis provides dedicated installation resources for both configurations, and the correct manual for your engine and vehicle should be reviewed before ordering.
Why does a Hellcat catch can need a boost-capable vacuum system?
When a supercharged engine comes under boost, manifold vacuum drops significantly or disappears entirely. A passive catch can that relies on manifold vacuum as its only vacuum source loses that source at the moment crankcase pressure may be highest. The Tracy Lewis Hellcat system uses dual check valves and a Venturi vacuum valve to maintain crankcase vacuum during boosted operation, rather than depending solely on manifold vacuum that will not be consistently available.
How often should I empty a HEMI oil catch can?
There is no fixed universal interval. Emptying frequency depends on your driving conditions, climate, engine application, and how hard the engine works in regular use. Cold-weather operation tends to increase condensation visible in the can. Towing and sustained high-load use may produce different results than light highway driving. Inspect the can early to establish a baseline for your conditions rather than relying on a generic mileage figure, and ask Tracy Lewis Performance if you are unsure about your application.
Will a HEMI oil catch can require a tune or affect warranty coverage?
The Tracy Lewis catch-can system is designed to operate passively and does not require an engine tune. It intercepts oil mist in the existing PCV circuit without altering engine calibration parameters. It is not a PCV delete. On warranty questions, interactions between aftermarket parts and dealer warranty claims vary by situation. Tracy Lewis does not provide legal warranty advice, and any specific concern should be reviewed with your dealership in the context of applicable consumer protection law.