Skip to main content

I have always thought that if the crankcase was vented, since the space under the valve covers is connected to the crankcase through the pushrod tubes, the valve covers didn't need to be vented.

I have some new valve covers that are already drilled and tapped for vents.  So, I am reconsidering.

I have read that some people vent both sides and some vent only the 1-2 side saying you shouldn't vent the 3-4 side.

Some say that venting the valve covers facilitates the oil draining back through the pushrod tubes.

What do you all think?  Should I plug the holes, vent one side or vent both sides?

I have a CB breather/oil fill setup venting the crankcase and have opened up the outlets.  I also have a breather box above the transmission that two transmission vents are connected to.  If the consensus is that I should vent them, how should I route the hoses?  Should I tee them together into a single hose I connect somewhere?  Some suggest using an air filter type thing right at the valve cover.  Others say that something like that would get clogged up. 

Again, what do you all think?

1957 CMC (Speedster) in Ann Arbor, MI

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Michael........I would drill another hole in that breather box and connect both hoses from 1-2 & 3-4.  I like that you put it in that "void area", out of site. I too, had trouble with those "C" channel CB covers plus the bolts that hold them on leaked too so I went back to stock steel/snap bail covers and never had another leak. Also I welded steel tube connections into these covers (again, no leaks now) to connect the hoses to. I have found that using the valve cover gaskets that are made of black rubber impregnated cork work the best.  lastly, I spot welded a small flat piece of 22ga sheet metal tothe the bottom/inner cover wall to keep the gasket from drifting up and out of it's sealing area. Similar to what's on the top.

I have to mention too, that I used "Total Seal" piston rings during assembly. Measured with my trusty Manometer, I had no crankcase pressure what-so-ever ! When you order a set of Total-Seal rings for the 90mm pistons, only the second oil ring is used and it has the trade-mark piston ring end gap seal. When testing piston ring seal using standard leak-down procedure I was surprised how high it was compared to stock ring set readings. 

The only reason I mention this is if any of you are building and engine right now, I recommend installing a set of Tota-Seal rings. You won't have any blow-by to worry about, plus the compression stays up there where its supposed to and no increased friction from these rings as well.................Bruce

Michael McKelvey posted:

Even with my CB breather/filler with enlarged hoses and a sand seal, I am still getting oil behind the crank pulley.

@Michael McKelvey I have this issue on my engine.  It's not much oil, just enough to make an annoying little oil stain on the engine tin.  I cannot detect blow by from the oil filler.  However, I am running an aftermarket aluminum pulley and feel that it may be the problem.  My plan is to replace the pulley with a stock one.  The oil return grooves on the hub of a stock pulley are much deeper and sharper than the aftermarket pulley.  I am hoping that this will help return the oil to the crankcase.

DCD7024E-AB5D-43AE-8C4C-91F71C3443175708D76D-1C11-44CC-935A-02B3123AEC02Pat Downs uses stock VW valve covers on his engines. 

My engine that Pat built has a breather system that I designed. I have an electric fuel pump so used an aluminum block-off plate where the mechanical pump would've been. I drilled and tapped it for a pipe thread and used -8 stainless hose to connect it to a Porsche oil filter canister which hangs on my fan shroud like the P-cars did. This can is filled with scotchbrite to stop any oil from making it on through the exit hose which goes to the #1&2 side air cleaner. 

Haven't had a drop of oil leak from this engine in 5,000 km.  

Attachments

Images (2)
  • DCD7024E-AB5D-43AE-8C4C-91F71C344317
  • 5708D76D-1C11-44CC-935A-02B3123AEC02
Last edited by Will Hesch

What most venting systems need is volume for the air to slow down enough for the oil to drop out of suspension. If you're using the little flat rectangular breather box use bigger hose- it will add volume, air in the hose won't be moving as fast and most of the oil will fall out of suspension and run down the inside of the hose before it ever hits the breather box. Gordon had success when he upped the hose on his from 3/8- 5/8".

As Anthony noted in the CarlosG Spyder breather thread, the CB oil filler/breather tower does not seem to have enough volume(and they leak).

My friend Brian got the CB filler/breather on his 2332 and it does not work much at all. Puking oil from his crank pulley like crazy. He has a CB thinline 1.5 quart sump extension, so I told him to lower the oil level. But he has no VC vents, and only the filler/breather with the fuel pump blockoff plumbed to the CB unit.

In short, he(and you) need to ditch that unit for one with some volume. I think it is important to have a good deal of volume in the bottom and the scrubber pads in a much smaller area at the top. My homemade tube is about a quart in volume, has two SS Chore boy pads in the top end(one tube to one carb), size 1/2" ID. Each VC has a 1/2" vent tube. I also ran a huge 1" ID hose from the distributor hole to the breather. It works pretty darn well with the dry sump pump. I also have a 1/2" hose from the dry sump tank to the carb top. I used some nylon elbows in the system and they were small ID, so they all got drilled out to a 1/2" ID.

I don't seem to get any residue at all in the right carb where both vents go.

I know they are expensive, but both CSP and RLR make some really nice breathers that can be mounted on the firewall.

Last edited by DannyP
Post Content
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×