Guys with breathers, got a question.
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Joined: 09-02-05
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From: Salt Lake, UT
Guys with breathers, got a question.
Hey all...
I pulled my air return line that runs from the back of the engine around to the intake off over the weekend. Just got tired of it... wanted to make sure only clean air was going into the intake, and the little breather on the back just adds a bit more flash under the hood.
Anyways. I was wondering... what did y'all use to plug the nipple on the intake side? I don't want to put another breather on there b/c I'd be sucking hot air through it. I've got it taped off right now... but I really need something to cover that up.
Suggestions?
I pulled my air return line that runs from the back of the engine around to the intake off over the weekend. Just got tired of it... wanted to make sure only clean air was going into the intake, and the little breather on the back just adds a bit more flash under the hood.
Anyways. I was wondering... what did y'all use to plug the nipple on the intake side? I don't want to put another breather on there b/c I'd be sucking hot air through it. I've got it taped off right now... but I really need something to cover that up.
Suggestions?
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From: Twin Cities, MN
if you have the spot on the intake, you should have it connected as it helps to pull pressure... only if you DON'T have the availability on your intake should you put on a breather instead.
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From: Salt Lake, UT
Yeah... it's for venting the crank case... and it throws oil back into the intake.
The air line is after the MAF so the airflow isn't measured.
What harm does unhooking this do?
The air line is after the MAF so the airflow isn't measured.
What harm does unhooking this do?
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Joined: 05-01-06
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From: West Coast, FL
I found a plastic nipple in the shop that built my intake. Granted my intake doesn't have the return line, my stock one still had it and I had to throw it back on for a week after testing so they could finish the intake...
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From: Twin Cities, MN
but y'all do what ya want. i'm trying to figure out how to get the necessary parts & stuff to get my procharger installaton to HAVE this.
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From: West Coast, FL
You think that little hose, especially if it has a catch can attached, is pulling the pressure out?
I'll guarantee that with a breather filter on the valve cover vent nipple, there is no issue venting that polluted air into the atmosphere. GM put it there from the factory to reduce emissions. It's not there to "draw" air out.
EDIT: That air has to go somewhere and GM wouldn't look to good throwing it out into the atmosphere straight from the factory. I've had a breather on there for less than 5K miles and the fact that it's practically black now should make anyone at least want to use a catch-can...
I'll guarantee that with a breather filter on the valve cover vent nipple, there is no issue venting that polluted air into the atmosphere. GM put it there from the factory to reduce emissions. It's not there to "draw" air out.
EDIT: That air has to go somewhere and GM wouldn't look to good throwing it out into the atmosphere straight from the factory. I've had a breather on there for less than 5K miles and the fact that it's practically black now should make anyone at least want to use a catch-can...
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From: new jersey
I always thought that was the EGR hose.. (exhaust gas return) if it is, you definitly need to put it back.
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From: West Coast, FL
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From: Hellertown PA
I didn't see this before. I'm not familiar with the setup on the 2.2's if they use a maf or not (for some reason I thought they were speed density, correct me if I'm wrong), but don't do this on an lsj. Since our maf is all the way down by the end if you put on another breather on the intake tube you'll be sucking in unmetered air.
And yes that little line is supposed to pull out pressure. It may be little, but it works. It also makes it emissions compliant too, instead of venting it to atmosphere like stated.
And yes that little line is supposed to pull out pressure. It may be little, but it works. It also makes it emissions compliant too, instead of venting it to atmosphere like stated.
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From: Salt Lake, UT
Thanks for the interesting replies so far...
I just popped a generic breather on there... works fine.
The screw idea may just work if I can't find a plastic cover... definately don't want to be sucking in air through that hole.
I just popped a generic breather on there... works fine.
The screw idea may just work if I can't find a plastic cover... definately don't want to be sucking in air through that hole.
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From: here
The ECOTEC doesn't have a PCV valve that hose is used in its place. If you just allow it to vent itself rather then have vacuum pulling it its been prooved the engine makes LESS horse power! When the piston travels down into the crankcase if the presure is only vented and not drawn out your relying on the underside of the piston to push out the nasty blow by gases, that slows down the piston. Now you probly won't fel any real lose in power but its there so is a lose of fuel economy and an increase in polution from venting directly to the air.
Why do you think car manufacturers put PCV valves on in the first place? You have to think about whats going on inside your engine rather then just the external looks. Don't use a breather filter GM put that little hose there for a reason.
If you want to free up some HP, seal the rings to the cylinder walls better and have a slick looking set up then use a catch can and an electric vacuum pump and hook that up where the little hose is! You'll create negative presure in the crankcase which translats into faster revs, and more HP. you need to run a return line to the oil pan but thats the only pain in the butt part.
Why do you think car manufacturers put PCV valves on in the first place? You have to think about whats going on inside your engine rather then just the external looks. Don't use a breather filter GM put that little hose there for a reason.
If you want to free up some HP, seal the rings to the cylinder walls better and have a slick looking set up then use a catch can and an electric vacuum pump and hook that up where the little hose is! You'll create negative presure in the crankcase which translats into faster revs, and more HP. you need to run a return line to the oil pan but thats the only pain in the butt part.
The ECOTEC doesn't have a PCV valve that hose is used in its place. If you just allow it to vent itself rather then have vacuum pulling it its been prooved the engine makes LESS horse power! When the piston travels down into the crankcase if the presure is only vented and not drawn out your relying on the underside of the piston to push out the nasty blow by gases, that slows down the piston. Now you probly won't fel any real lose in power but its there so is a lose of fuel economy and an increase in polution from venting directly to the air.
Why do you think car manufacturers put PCV valves on in the first place? You have to think about whats going on inside your engine rather then just the external looks. Don't use a breather filter GM put that little hose there for a reason.
If you want to free up some HP, seal the rings to the cylinder walls better and have a slick looking set up then use a catch can and an electric vacuum pump and hook that up where the little hose is! You'll create negative presure in the crankcase which translats into faster revs, and more HP. you need to run a return line to the oil pan but thats the only pain in the butt part.
Why do you think car manufacturers put PCV valves on in the first place? You have to think about whats going on inside your engine rather then just the external looks. Don't use a breather filter GM put that little hose there for a reason.
If you want to free up some HP, seal the rings to the cylinder walls better and have a slick looking set up then use a catch can and an electric vacuum pump and hook that up where the little hose is! You'll create negative presure in the crankcase which translats into faster revs, and more HP. you need to run a return line to the oil pan but thats the only pain in the butt part.
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Joined: 07-09-06
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From: PA
The ECOTEC doesn't have a PCV valve that hose is used in its place. If you just allow it to vent itself rather then have vacuum pulling it its been prooved the engine makes LESS horse power! When the piston travels down into the crankcase if the presure is only vented and not drawn out your relying on the underside of the piston to push out the nasty blow by gases, that slows down the piston. Now you probly won't fel any real lose in power but its there so is a lose of fuel economy and an increase in polution from venting directly to the air.
Why do you think car manufacturers put PCV valves on in the first place? You have to think about whats going on inside your engine rather then just the external looks. Don't use a breather filter GM put that little hose there for a reason.
If you want to free up some HP, seal the rings to the cylinder walls better and have a slick looking set up then use a catch can and an electric vacuum pump and hook that up where the little hose is! You'll create negative presure in the crankcase which translats into faster revs, and more HP. you need to run a return line to the oil pan but thats the only pain in the butt part.
Why do you think car manufacturers put PCV valves on in the first place? You have to think about whats going on inside your engine rather then just the external looks. Don't use a breather filter GM put that little hose there for a reason.
If you want to free up some HP, seal the rings to the cylinder walls better and have a slick looking set up then use a catch can and an electric vacuum pump and hook that up where the little hose is! You'll create negative presure in the crankcase which translats into faster revs, and more HP. you need to run a return line to the oil pan but thats the only pain in the butt part.
Finally someone who post something that is truth. Plane and simple, why put a ricer brether on when it does more harm then good. Case closed.
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From: Milwaukee, WI
I just read thru the gm build book again
If it wasnt such a big deal then why did they worry about it. Obviously there are adverse effects to not having a function breather system. Like i said before IT NEEDS VACUUM to operate correctly and to keep oil out of the intake use a catch can.
Thank you very much!
And BTW this is in the 400-600hp section of the book on page 68. So obviously its needed at less then a 1200 HP engine.
the production OE cast aluminum cylinder head is used on most ECOTEC race engines. Since high rpm operation requires that the crankcase have more breating capability, a breather provision has been added to the cylinder head cover. We recommend that at least a -12 AN breather line be used for highly boosted applications.
Thank you very much!
And BTW this is in the 400-600hp section of the book on page 68. So obviously its needed at less then a 1200 HP engine.
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From: Salt Lake, UT
So finally someone comes up with a good answer.
Thanks, that's what I was wanting to know.
I'll switch it back and snag a catch can off of jegs.
So here's part 2 of the question... does the catch can kill the vac or what?
Thanks, that's what I was wanting to know.
I'll switch it back and snag a catch can off of jegs.
So here's part 2 of the question... does the catch can kill the vac or what?
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From: West Coast, FL
According to these guys it doesn't and aparently I have a lot more to learn about our PCV system. I would assume you'll be alright. If you want to go a cheaper route than the Jeg's catch can, I've heard you can use a glass carburated fuel filter in-line w/o the filter...
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From: West Coast, FL
No hard feelings bro. Like I've said before, everyone's at a different level and I'm still learning. I'm currently working out a way to plumb mine back to see if it helps at all with my tuning issues.
My intake is powdercoated so I'm going to plumb it back into the rubber pipe connecting my intake to my TB...
My intake is powdercoated so I'm going to plumb it back into the rubber pipe connecting my intake to my TB...
