Author Topic: valve cover oil breather  (Read 3837 times)

Offline hooD

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valve cover oil breather
« on: July 16, 2010 - 04:37:27 AM »
I have an after market air cleaner on the carb.  I know that this thing connects to the OEM air cleaner, but I don't want it hooked up to the new one.  What is the exact purpose of this.  Does it need to breathe or can it be plugged?  I have cheese cloth on the end of it to keep out any dust.

340 engine---passenger side valve cover
-Larry
member since AUG 2007
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvrWiLgDm7Y

southeastern michigan usa
             
 
            
1973 'CUDA 340
 
original owner
37,117 miles
  
:grinyes: *click my E-Body* :grinyes:




Offline UKcuda

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Re: valve cover oil breather
« Reply #1 on: July 16, 2010 - 05:06:03 AM »
Its where the air gets sucked in at the far end of the PCV system.  It needs to be open but I believe the only reason to connect to the air cleaner is so that it receives filtered air (poss. also for some emmission reason, like fumes that might escape from it). 

You could just put some sort of filter over it (I note what you say about the cloth) or get one which is just a filter itself, I think some of the older cars just had it like that from factory.
'72 'cuda

Offline Supercuda

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Re: valve cover oil breather
« Reply #2 on: July 16, 2010 - 09:18:04 AM »
This style has a baffle to keep oil in the engine, but no filtration medium, so it should be plumbed to the clea side of the air cleaner. Many aftermarket air cleaners have a nipple that can be installed for this. My personal choice is to not molest the new air cleaner base, and install a breather with filter in it, that will fit in the original location. Second option is to pack filter material into the breather can you have, and run it that way.

Offline Bullitt-

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Re: valve cover oil breather
« Reply #3 on: July 16, 2010 - 09:30:43 AM »
It should be simple enough to find a breather without the tube... Check the measurement of where it pushes in...... Most of the local parts stores carry some in their dress-up dept.
http://www.summitracing.com/search/Part-Type/Valve-Cover-Breathers/Valve-Cover-Breather-Attachment/Push-in/Breather-Tube/No/?keyword=breather&Ns=Price|Asc
Wade  73 Rallye 340..'77 Millennium Falcon...13 R/T Classic   Huntsville, AL
Screwed by Photobucket!

Offline Aussie Challenger

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Re: valve cover oil breather
« Reply #4 on: July 16, 2010 - 09:52:09 AM »
It is supposed to have filtered air to go into the engine to replace the air sucked out through the PCV valve for normal driving, however under hard acceleration there is a build up of pressure inside the engine and it then blows out into the air cleaner. If you fit a breather can on the rocker cover as some do you run the risk of oil fumes running over your nice clean engine.   :bigsmile:
Dave

Offline Kevin71

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Re: valve cover oil breather
« Reply #5 on: July 16, 2010 - 10:39:20 AM »
If this attached to the filter in any way wouldn't the vacum caused by the running engine put a negative pressure on the air flow pulling it out of the crank and back into the engine like the PCV.  It would have to have more negative pressure than the engine does to suck air out of the air cleaner.  I have always wondered how this works.  It doesn't make sense to me.  Mine is attached to the bottom of a aftermarket air cleaner.  If oil fumes come out of it then it is blowing out and recircluating back thru the carb makes sense.  How is the air being sucked out of the crank case replaced with air coming in.  I am guessing thru the carb.

Offline Aussie Challenger

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Re: valve cover oil breather
« Reply #6 on: July 16, 2010 - 11:01:12 AM »
If this attached to the filter in any way wouldn't the vacum caused by the running engine put a negative pressure on the air flow pulling it out of the crank and back into the engine like the PCV.  It would have to have more negative pressure than the engine does to suck air out of the air cleaner.  I have always wondered how this works.  It doesn't make sense to me.  Mine is attached to the bottom of a aftermarket air cleaner.  If oil fumes come out of it then it is blowing out and recircluating back thru the carb makes sense.  How is the air being sucked out of the crank case replaced with air coming in.  I am guessing thru the carb.
You answered the question, the air is sucked out of the engine (crankcase) through the PCV, excess blowby is pushed up the air tube and into the air stream into the carby and burnt.   :2thumbs:
Dave

Offline Aracer

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Re: valve cover oil breather
« Reply #7 on: July 18, 2010 - 12:48:58 AM »
When you rev it, pressure forces the blow by from the pistons out as smoke. At idle most is sucked up the PVC. Old cars had a tube down the back of the engine for cross draft ventilation.   

Offline mcgheejt

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Re: valve cover oil breather
« Reply #8 on: July 18, 2010 - 06:57:09 AM »
If you decide to go with an aftermarket, let me know.  I have been looking for one of those  :bigsmile:.

Offline hooD

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Re: valve cover oil breather
« Reply #9 on: July 21, 2010 - 04:33:06 AM »
If you decide to go with an aftermarket, let me know.  I have been looking for one of those  :bigsmile:.


I picked this up at autozone yesterday for $9.99 and it's a perfect fit!







-Larry
member since AUG 2007
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvrWiLgDm7Y

southeastern michigan usa
             
 
            
1973 'CUDA 340
 
original owner
37,117 miles
  
:grinyes: *click my E-Body* :grinyes:

Offline mcgheejt

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Re: valve cover oil breather
« Reply #10 on: July 21, 2010 - 08:50:43 AM »
 :lol:  What I should have said is, I have been looking for an original and if you purchased an aftermarket, would you be interested in selling your old one?   :bigsmile:

Offline Supercuda

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Re: valve cover oil breather
« Reply #11 on: July 21, 2010 - 10:32:55 AM »
Don't forget to ask for the ribbed hose that's attached to it.

Offline hooD

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Re: valve cover oil breather
« Reply #12 on: July 22, 2010 - 04:42:37 AM »
:lol:  What I should have said is, I have been looking for an original and if you purchased an aftermarket, would you be interested in selling your old one?   :bigsmile:

Sorry, but I am going to keep the original breather. 
-Larry
member since AUG 2007
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvrWiLgDm7Y

southeastern michigan usa
             
 
            
1973 'CUDA 340
 
original owner
37,117 miles
  
:grinyes: *click my E-Body* :grinyes:

Offline CUDA JAS

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Re: valve cover oil breather
« Reply #13 on: July 22, 2010 - 03:16:20 PM »
I picked this up at autozone yesterday for $9.99 and it's a perfect fit!




Nice, I have some Mopar breather that i am puting on mine, eventually.

NOW, about that fuel fiilter!!!!
74 'cuda 360/727



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