Breather filters on intake and valve cover?

8532 Views 17 Replies 13 Participants Last post by pushVTEC, Feb 16, 2002

VR WHAT

Discussion Starter · Feb 14, 2002

I wanted to know if anyone has or knows if taking the hose off that connects from the valve cover and my CAI and replacing it with 2 small K&N breather filters (one on the intake, and one on the valve cover) makes any difference. I've seen it before in mags, but don't know if it works well. Anybody?
Chris

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phmracing

· #2 · Feb 14, 2002

the difference may be very slight if any at all. adding a breather on the valve cover will allow more air to flow to try and cool the oil, but the problem is that the air will be hotter due to engine temps. If it comes from the hose on the cold air intake, it will be cooler which might allow for more cooling effect.

PAC-MAN

· #3 · Feb 14, 2002

there was a tech archive on this on the old sho and the statement said it will eventually ruin your engine, i do remember it saying that cause i was about to by one so i looked it up in the teg forum archives. sorry i can't go further into it for ya

Bryanmoe

· #4 · Feb 14, 2002

be careful if you live in a state like Cali, cause they are illegal. The intake system must be closed by law in Cali, and by putting those filters on, you are technically opening up the system. They do look kinda cool though

romelo5179

· #5 · Feb 14, 2002

INCORRECT! It doesn't harm your engine. Here is what you do:

You take the hose that connected your intake to your valve cover off. You plug the opening from you intake and attach the breather filter to your vavle cover. I have pics of this on my web page. The reason for doing this is so your valve cover doesn't steal cold air that could be going into your intake and giving you more power. You might not notice a difference but your enginge does.

97CIVICoupe

· #6 · Feb 14, 2002

romelo5179 said:
INCORRECT! It doesn't harm your engine. Here is what you do:

You take the hose that connected your intake to your valve cover off. You plug the opening from you intake and attach the breather filter to your vavle cover. I have pics of this on my web page. The reason for doing this is so your valve cover doesn't steal cold air that could be going into your intake and giving you more power. You might not notice a difference but your enginge does.

It doesn't 'steal' anything.. There's supposed to be a hose connecting the 2 together.. SohcVtecTurboHB is right.. on the old SHO, there was a tech article about it, explaining why it's bad.. I can't remember the exact reason though.. I think it was written, or elaborated on by BlackDeuceCoupe.. I'm really not sure though..

VR WHAT

Discussion Starter · #7 · Feb 14, 2002

Thanx for the advice fellas. Ill do a little more research on the topic before I make my final decision. Damn, still have to get my sig. up.
Chris

ChaserCivic

· #8 · Feb 15, 2002

yeah i remember that article, it was well stated that those things are no good...

CIVICsTyLin

· #9 · Feb 15, 2002

i think i remember...if u take off the hose and replace it with a breather then there will be no preasure(and thats what u need)..a breather is used 2 make sure no crankcase fumes wich are full of oil and other bad things dont go into the intake and messes up ur engine(DONT LAUGH AT ME!!NOT LIKE YOU COULD REMEMBER EITHER!!)...but i rememberthe article says that you will actually lose hp

phmracing

· #10 · Feb 15, 2002

they are mostly for looks, and they do the exact same thing as having the hose hooked up. that's the bottom line. there isn't much of a difference except air temp getting into the valve cover.

VR WHAT

Discussion Starter · #11 · Feb 15, 2002

Looks like I won't be getting them since they don't really provide too much horse. Plus I want everything to run clean. Thanx,
Chris

P.S.-Damn I can't wait to install CTR cams in the spring

asiancivic

· #12 · Feb 15, 2002

I really dont think they steal or give any performance improvement, but i knw it stops dirt from getting into your intake, my breather on the valve cover is usually soaked in oil when i clean it, so i guess thats what going into your intake without it...

Mekka

· #13 · Feb 15, 2002

I also read that article, and from what I remember is that those breathers aren't a great idea because it is only a one way air source, meaning that the area underneath the valve cover can't breath and it should be able to. It is allowed to do so with the tube conected from your intake to the head. Not very technical at all I know, but that's what I remember.

Mekka

· #14 · Feb 15, 2002

asiancivic said:
I really dont think they steal or give any performance improvement, but i knw it stops dirt from getting into your intake, my breather on the valve cover is usually soaked in oil when i clean it, so i guess thats what going into your intake without it...

I highly doubt that.

phmracing

· #15 · Feb 15, 2002

asiancivic said:
I really dont think they steal or give any performance improvement, but i knw it stops dirt from getting into your intake, my breather on the valve cover is usually soaked in oil when i clean it, so i guess thats what going into your intake without it...

the valve cover breather is one way, air goes in. It does that because of vac. suction(pressure) which only sucks air in. If your valve cover is blowing oil out, then you should really think about getting that checked out.

GroundControl

· #16 · Feb 15, 2002

romelo5179 said:
INCORRECT! It doesn't harm your engine. Here is what you do:

You take the hose that connected your intake to your valve cover off. You plug the opening from you intake and attach the breather filter to your vavle cover. I have pics of this on my web page. The reason for doing this is so your valve cover doesn't steal cold air that could be going into your intake and giving you more power. You might not notice a difference but your enginge does.

Hey - here's an idea... how about you know what the hell you are talking about before you go on and on ... when you are in fact the one that is"INCORRECT!" KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE YOU GIVE ADVICE THAT WILL FUCK UP SOMEONE'S ENGINE. The "breather filter" was invented by aftermarket companies for one reason only - to make money off of you. They serve no purpose what-so-ever. If you remove the hose that connects the intake tract and the crankcase - you're engine will not be able to breath properly. When connected - it creates a suction so that the engine is able to breathe in cool, filtered air - and fumes(very very minimal) from the crankcase are returned back into the engine. This "robs your engine" of absolutely no horesepower. I've got a question for everyone that has a little pretty chrome or pink breather filter: When was the last time that you changed it out or tried to clean it? Once that little cute filter gets dirty - your crankcases's breathing is restricted... there is not cool air pushing its way in (via breather hose)- so you've screwed up the cycle. Hmmmm.... let's see here - pay five bucks and have a little cute filter that (after a while) will earn you the fun of having your engine rebuilt to gain a whopping 0 HP - or leave shit alone - and legal?!?! Very tough decision.

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iLLeFFeKt CiViC

· #17 · Feb 15, 2002

GroundControl said:
Hey - here's an idea... how about you know what the hell you are talking about before you go on and on ... when you are in fact the one that is"INCORRECT!" KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE YOU GIVE ADVICE THAT WILL FUCK UP SOMEONE'S ENGINE. The "breather filter" was invented by aftermarket companies for one reason only - to make money off of you. They serve no purpose what-so-ever. If you remove the hose that connects the intake tract and the crankcase - you're engine will not be able to breath properly. When connected - it creates a suction so that the engine is able to breathe in cool, filtered air - and fumes(very very minimal) from the crankcase are returned back into the engine. This "robs your engine" of absolutely no horesepower. I've got a question for everyone that has a little pretty chrome or pink breather filter: When was the last time that you changed it out or tried to clean it? Once that little cute filter gets dirty - your crankcases's breathing is restricted... there is not cool air pushing its way in (via breather hose)- so you've screwed up the cycle. Hmmmm.... let's see here - pay five bucks and have a little cute filter that (after a while) will earn you the fun of having your engine rebuilt to gain a whopping 0 HP - or leave shit alone - and legal?!?! Very tough decision.

i couldnt of said it better. yea man using that filter is a bad idea.
i remember i had that on for like a week then TUAN from the integra forum made me change my mind. its not worth fucking up your engine for a cool looking think. i rather have my engine look like shit but last long.
whatever you do dont get that stupid breather.

2005 Subaru Legacy
2004 Audi S4 - sold
1989 Camry - sold
1993 Civic dx-sold
1991 Galant VR-4 sold
1991 Eclipse gsx-sold
If I two-step your A$$ then you know I'm serious!

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pushVTEC

· #18 · Feb 16, 2002

do not, i repeat do not get a breather filter. what the filter does is take away the Positive pressure created by the hose coming from the intake. Leaving the gases to linger in the crankcase. Although since the filter is free flowing the gases can leave the crankcase. But by doing this you are emitting pollutants into the air. Where at a high rpm, when you need more air and fuel, these gases could have been re-used to increase the engine's efficiency. honda has that hose there for a reason, just get a catch can if you don't want shmuck in your intake. cost about $80 from greddy.

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