Breather filter

[RS12Turbo]

I've had my motor for about a year now......and have been using a breather filter on the exhaust side valve cover.....is this a bad thing, or is it ok? I'm considering a catch can, but am still confused which diagram to follow from the FAQ section........I assume a catch can between the exhaust side valve cover, and compressor inlet would be best?

[r34 gtr]

God I have no idea. Its fine if it runs fine. I would go valve covers to the can, then can to the intake manifold.

[RS12Turbo]

When I was at Track Masters up in Huntsville one time, they said it was bad for the rings to have it like I've got it.

[r34 gtr]

Yeah, but those guys dont know their a$s from a hole in the ground. Huntsville tuner shops suck the big one. I'm from there, I have to put up with their complete lack of intelligence on a daily basis.

[Nunook]

my question is if the air travels from the intake valve cover to the exhaust side valve cover.

Example: if I suck air from the intake side and leave the exhaust side open will u feel the suction on the exhaust side?

[RS12Turbo]

I dunno.............but I wonder if this is causing the plume of smoke which smells like burning oil to fog the area behind my car after sitting for 5 minutes after coming off the fwy.It doesn't do it when boosting, or idling after start-up, only when coming to a quick stop from fwy driving.

[float_6969]

Don't listen to Tim. A properly functioning PCV system is VERY important on a turbocharged car.

I'm hoping to be doing a new writeup soon on a badass way to hook the system up, but I kinda wanted to test it on my car first before I told everyone how to do it.

If you don't mind being the guinea pig, I can just spill the beans now.

[RS12Turbo]

Don't listen to Tim. A properly functioning PCV system is VERY important on a turbocharged car.

So would it be better to go ahead and get a catch can to replace the breather on my exhaust side? You think this is whats causing so much exhaust smoke after driving on the fwy and come to a quick stop and idle for a few mins? I hate to plumb the exhaust side back to the intake tract, but would it be better to do this until I get a catch can.......or until you test your design?

[dattodude]

If you have an airflow meter, keep these hoses hooked up.

If you are getting blowby oil in you turbo tract, route the exhaust cam cover breather to a catchcan, and the other hose (filtered) from the can to the intake tract.

The PCV Hose from intake cam cover to PCV should be left how it is.

And to Nunook, yes, the intake and exhaust covers are connected by a gallery at the back of the head. I know this because I dropped a valve collet in there. I retrieved it from the other side of the head.

[r34 gtr]

Fine, fine, so a functioning pcv system might be important.

[float_6969]

As others have said, a catch can on the exhaust side might help.

But I also know from experience that if your rings are worn and you get into boost and then decel, the gases will get sucked straight into the intake from the intake side valve cover.

To really do it right, you'd have to have 2 catch cans, or get creative with your plumbing.

We've covered a lot of possibilites in the FAQ.

My plan would be difficult with a MAFS setup, but do-able. I'm using a MAPS setup, so it should be quite simple for me.

I'll try and explain what I'm thinking, but I don't know if it will make sense.

First off, let me explain how the system works.

There is a tube, on the top of the oil filter seat that runs under the intake manifold, and then up to the intake side valve cover gasket. That tube's purpose is to move crankcase fumes up to the head so that they can be drawn back into the intake system via the exhaust side tube going into the suction side of the turbo, and via the intake side tube going through the PCV valve (just a check valve) and suction in the intake. So that they can ultimately be burned inside the motor.

If the system isn't hooked up properly, especially if it's not hooked up at all, the gases build up in the crankcase and start finding other routes to leave the motor. Commonly they will cause the dipstick to blow out a little bit. But they can also come up the oil drains going through the block and the head. This means that the oil can't drain back down like it should and can cause problems at high revs and boost.

So here is my idea.

-Remove the hose on the intake side valve cover that connects the valve cover to the tube. -Plug the tube in the valve cover that goes under the intake.-Install air filters on both valve cover fittings.-Connect metal pipe under intake that used to go to valve cover, to the inlet side of the catch can (if it has an inlet and outlet, otherwise it doesn't matter).-Run a hose from the suction side of the turbo to a check valve of some sort. You want the air to flow only towards the turbo. -Connect other side of check valve to a T with a hose.-Connect a hose from the PCV valve (basically a check valve that only lets air go into the manifold ) to the T. -Connect the last opening on the T to the other side of the catch can. -Voila! You now have a PCV system, that constantly draws in fresh air and the air flow only goes from the top of the motor down, so the oil flow can't be impeded.

Remember, this only works on a MAPS equipped car.

On a MAFS car, you could replace the air filters with hoses that connected to the intake tract somewhere, but I'm not sure where. I would think you would connect them to the inlet side of the turbo so that you aren't pressurizing the crankcase, but IDK if that will work or not.

Does that make any sense at all?

[r34 gtr]

Ive got the crankcase vent connected to the back of the intake side valve cover, and the front of the valve covers tee into a line going to the intake manifold via the one way valve. Seems to work alright. Why dont you just vent it into the exhaust if you are going through all that trouble?

[Nunook]

my idea was since I have a bigger turbo and more boost then stock, it will create more vacuum on the intake.

When connected to the exhaust side valve cover i should be able to disconnect the pcv hose plug it on the intake mani, and then put a filter on the intake valve cover.

???

[r34 gtr]

I mean, its got a one way valve so all you get is vacuum. I really didnt see any increase when I changed turbos. Then again I have an Autometer gauge and Autometer is about the poorest quality I have ever had the displeasure of using.

[RS12Turbo]

How well do catch cans work? They all appear to be just empty cans.......ebay ones or name brand ones. Seems like the oily residue would go in the can and get sucked right back out the other nipple and back into the intake tract. I could see if they had some kinda baffling inside it might help......but an empty can? I don't get it

[float_6969]

If it's an empty can, you're right, it won't work. My cheap eBay one, was filled with what looked like steel wool. It seemd to work VERY well.

[RS12Turbo]

now that you mentioned it.....seems like I read some where that you can stuff them with steel wool.

[float_6969]

If you think about it, it would probably work better than baffles would.

[RS12Turbo]

Wouldn't some of the steel wool particles get sucked back into the intake over time?

[r34 gtr]

Steel wool being sucked through the intake just adds character. Also, I dont think steel wool covered in oil would deteriorate, ever. I mean, its not like it can rust.

[float_6969]

Steel wool being sucked through the intake just adds character. Also, I dont think steel wool covered in oil would deteriorate, ever. I mean, its not like it can rust.

I mostly agree with you Tim, although there is a lot of moisture in there too, I seriously doubt you'd get any sucked in there.

[r34 gtr]

It works about the same as the underside of my car. It might WANT to rust, but it cant because of the tremendous amount of oil that leaks out of the engine/transmission/steering rack and gets deposited allllllllllll over the underside of my car.