• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

valve covers w/ breathers or w/o

  • Thread starter Thread starter v850mustangluvr
  • Start date Start date Nov 9, 2004
  • 1
  • 2
Next
1 of 2 Next Last
V

v850mustangluvr

New Member
Nov 8, 2004
71
0
0
Texas
Nov 9, 2004
#1
  • Nov 9, 2004
  • #1
i found a pair of valve covers on ebay that have holes w/ breathers put in them.....what is the advantage or disadvantage to having breathers??

thanks for any help coming my way!!

 

Stang8URMPRT

Active Member
Dec 28, 2003
1,100
1
38
Daytona Beach, FL
Nov 9, 2004
#2
  • Nov 9, 2004
  • #2
I have read that if you use Carb Valve covers (with breathers) on an EFI, it can cause vacuum leaks. Don't ask me how this happens or why, but almost all adds (from good sellers, aka Jegs, Summit) will state this.
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Nov 10, 2004
#3
  • Nov 10, 2004
  • #3
if one uses breathers on an EFI MAF car, there will be unmetered air entering the engine.
 

PhLoBuS

New Member
Aug 15, 2004
473
0
0
Beverly, MA
Nov 10, 2004
#4
  • Nov 10, 2004
  • #4
I have one and I have no problem at all, you are talking about the oil cap right?
 
A

Allforspeed

New Member
Oct 25, 2004
264
0
0
Nov 10, 2004
#5
  • Nov 10, 2004
  • #5
as long as the hole where the oil breather usually goes into you should be fine.........right guys??
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Nov 10, 2004
#6
  • Nov 10, 2004
  • #6
Allforspeed said:
as long as the hole where the oil breather usually goes into you should be fine.........right guys??
Click to expand...
stock EFI stangs dont have any breathers. the PCV re-routes air so as to keep the system 'closed'. an open breather allows unmetered air.
but im not sure im following you guys.
 
V

v850mustangluvr

New Member
Nov 8, 2004
71
0
0
Texas
Nov 10, 2004
#7
  • Nov 10, 2004
  • #7
what size breather fits the oil cap?
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Nov 10, 2004
#8
  • Nov 10, 2004
  • #8
v850mustangluvr said:
what size breather fits the oil cap?
Click to expand...
they sell ones that screw right into where the oil cap goes.
 
B

Boss 351

Here sthhhhhhhheeeve take a picthh of my man flowe
Jul 13, 2003
2,433
23
48
Canada
Nov 10, 2004
#9
  • Nov 10, 2004
  • #9
Isn't the closed system for anti-pollution? I got a carb'd 302 right now with two breathers, the thing will have a constant oil mist coming out. In fact the mist pops out of my hood scoop at red lights... I've even tried some more expensive K&N oil breathers and it still mists oil lol.
 

TT91

Active Member
May 23, 2003
1,536
0
36
Paramus, NJ
Nov 10, 2004
#10
  • Nov 10, 2004
  • #10
HISSIN50 said:
if one uses breathers on an EFI MAF car, there will be unmetered air entering the engine.
Click to expand...

I sure hope your being sarcastic......
 

GroverDill

GoldMember
Founding Member
Aug 18, 1999
5,442
1,490
214
Demotte IN 46310
Nov 10, 2004
#11
  • Nov 10, 2004
  • #11
I agree with Hissin50
 
B

Boss 351

Here sthhhhhhhheeeve take a picthh of my man flowe
Jul 13, 2003
2,433
23
48
Canada
Nov 10, 2004
#12
  • Nov 10, 2004
  • #12
Positive Crankcase Ventilation, has nothing to do with the MAF...

Anyway check this out: http://www.mustangworks.com/articles/powertrain/StandTall.html

And this: http://www.lapelec.co.uk/PCV.htm
 

TT91

Active Member
May 23, 2003
1,536
0
36
Paramus, NJ
Nov 10, 2004
#13
  • Nov 10, 2004
  • #13
Groverdill, long time no see, please explain why you agree with him.
 

krahkin

Member
May 7, 2004
183
0
16
Acworth GA
Nov 10, 2004
#14
  • Nov 10, 2004
  • #14
What do valve covers have to do with air intake? If by some chance air was sucked in to your valve cover through a breather, it would not affect your engine performance. There is no air inlet in your valvetrain that mixes with gasoline and combusts. If there is, it's news to me
 

crazypete

All my crevices are greased.
Oct 22, 2004
930
4
18
Arlington, MA
Nov 10, 2004
#15
  • Nov 10, 2004
  • #15
Do the PCV gasses affect the mixture at all? Is there enough there to make any difference?

With breathers on my valve covers, they basically steam. Is this combustion gasses or oil vapor?
 

MustangMuscle86

New Member
Sep 25, 2004
24
0
0
North Ridgeville,Ohio
Nov 10, 2004
#16
  • Nov 10, 2004
  • #16
crazypete said:
Do the PCV gasses affect the mixture at all? Is there enough there to make any difference?

With breathers on my valve covers, they basically steam. Is this combustion gasses or oil vapor?
Click to expand...

It's more than likley oil vapor...about the only way it's combustion gases is a cracked head or a broken head gasket somewhere odd.
 
B

Boss 351

Here sthhhhhhhheeeve take a picthh of my man flowe
Jul 13, 2003
2,433
23
48
Canada
Nov 10, 2004
#17
  • Nov 10, 2004
  • #17
crazypete said:
Do the PCV gasses affect the mixture at all? Is there enough there to make any difference?

With breathers on my valve covers, they basically steam. Is this combustion gasses or oil vapor?
Click to expand...

oil vapor... You'll also need to clean your valve covers more often - at least that's the case with me. The PVC gasses are sent into your carb/EFI intake to be burned up instead of being set free into the atmosphere.
 

GroverDill

GoldMember
Founding Member
Aug 18, 1999
5,442
1,490
214
Demotte IN 46310
Nov 10, 2004
#18
  • Nov 10, 2004
  • #18
Under vacuum conditions, engine vacuum sucks on the crankcase through the pcv valve. It pulls any blowby into the intake manifold. Because you don't want to create a vacuum in the crankcase, there has to be a path to LET METERED AIR INTO the crankcase. That's what the little hose between the throttle body and the valve cover nipple are for. Under high manifold vacuum, metered air travels from the throttle body to the crankcase through the valve cover nipple. Some people who remove the hose and cap off those openings hear squealing sounds under vacuum as air gets pulled into the crankcase past the front or rear seals.

At w.o.t., there is crankcase pressure, and atmospheric pressure in the intake manifold - no vacuum. If the crankcase pressure is greater than the manifold pressure then crankcase venting will occur through the pcv valve/line AND through the valve cover to throttle body line. You can now see that the throttle body to valve cover line is bi-directional. Under some circumstances, air moves from the t/b to the crankcase; under other circumstances air moves from the crankcase through the throttle body. At part load when there is low manifold pressure and low blowby (crankcase pressure) the differential can't overcome the small check valve in the pcv, so venting of the crankcase occurs through the valve cover to throttle body line.

That's what that hose is for. There is absolutely no performance benefit to disconnecting/capping it off - and it may be detrimental. If you have a functioning pcv hooked to manifold vacuum, I'd hook it back up. For breathered valve covers, it's unnecessary.

this is a copy of a post from or own Mr Yount.
 

crazypete

All my crevices are greased.
Oct 22, 2004
930
4
18
Arlington, MA
Nov 10, 2004
#19
  • Nov 10, 2004
  • #19
So this will probably clog/oil up my carb after a while, wont it? I should inject this under the carb rather than above.
 

90NotchBack

New Member
Feb 15, 2004
306
2
0
Loxahatchee/Pembroke Pines, FL
Nov 10, 2004
#20
  • Nov 10, 2004
  • #20
Boss 351 said:
Isn't the closed system for anti-pollution? I got a carb'd 302 right now with two breathers, the thing will have a constant oil mist coming out. In fact the mist pops out of my hood scoop at red lights... I've even tried some more expensive K&N oil breathers and it still mists oil lol.
Click to expand...


That is called blow by! On most racecar they have vacuum pump to suck out all the moister in the motor Or they run some hose to the header and let the exhuast suck it out. Like this



 
  • 1
  • 2
Next
1 of 2 Next Last
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
Valve cover leak
  • joetiii
  • May 13, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
3
Views
326
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- May 14, 2025
General karthief
M
Resolved PCV Tube and Valve Cover Breather Hole Locations
  • MDrisc
  • Sep 11, 2024
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
3
Views
1K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Sep 22, 2024
MDrisc
M
D
Question about EGR valve, replacement, and a part on the valve.
  • DPP
  • May 9, 2026
  • SN95 V6 Mustang Tech
Replies
1
Views
120
SN95 V6 Mustang Tech May 23, 2026
DPP
D
C
1997 3.8l v6 timing cover mismatch *eBay guaranteed fit* haha please HELP
  • chasondragons
  • Apr 3, 2026
  • SN95 V6 Mustang Tech
Replies
0
Views
106
SN95 V6 Mustang Tech Apr 3, 2026
chasondragons
C
N
Metal Chunk in Oil
  • nlord
  • Nov 15, 2025
  • 2015 - 2023 (S550) Mustang -General/Talk
Replies
2
Views
160
2015 - 2023 (S550) Mustang -General/Talk Nov 15, 2025
nlord
N
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?