Oil Tank Questions.

[RedCSX1]

Currently I am running a breather out of the back of the intake on my 482 FE. Noticed quite a bit more oil coming out of the breather than I would like to see so I am considering switching to a oil return tank (not sure what the proper name is).

I am in the process of building one similar to the original however I am using stainless steel. Plan to mount it to the fire wall like the original.

Questions:

1. What size diameter pipe is the inlet and outlet?

2. Why are the inlet and outlet positioned at the same height? (Or at least it appears that way to me) I would think that the return line to the oil pan would be lower that line entering the tank.

3. How long is the tank and what is the diameter of the tank.

[Rick Parker]

If you have no other breathers (IE: on your valve covers, or front of manifold?) then all the pumping from the rotation of the crank and up & down movement of the crank & rods will attempt to force it out the (only one) back breather, with an increased air speed because of one opening with the ability to actually carry more oil vapor. One of the real reasons FE's are hard to keep sealed is because most are opposed to modifying the venting (installing breathers) on the valve covers or elsewhere. There is a lot of oil being whipped around by the crank & rods and the crankcase pressure has to be relieved by some means, breathers, PCV valve, or the earliest method; a road draft tube.

[RedCSX1]

Rick, All good points so let me give you further details on current oiling system.

Running PVC from right side valve cover. Have Breather in front of left valve cover.

Breather mounted in rear of intake manifold.

[Rick Parker]

Do you have any sort of mesh or foam (if it will fit?) inside the rear vent. I use fuel cell foam in the valve cover vents on my 289. Ran it hard all the way home from WCSB in May and Laguna a couple of weeks ago and not a drop any where. I realize this is a different application entirely, but just a comparative example that works well for my situation.
I have also seen a small (approx 1.5") diameter wire mesh basket made from a material similar to "Pot Scrubber Material" made of stainless, so it will not rust, that was OEM for rear location of FE. They show up on EBAY occasionally.
One last thing: The PCV valve itself, is it the one for a 427? They are all weighted differently and open or close at different points depending on manifold vacuum.

[HSSS427]

There are at least 2 other active threads on the topic of breathers, PVCs and venting around right now that you might want to check.

Here's the baffle Rick is talking about


I have almost the same set up as you and based on Rick's advice and others ended up shuting off my rear breather - just put a solid gasket under it and left it there for looks. Now running a PCV from a breather on the front of the right valve cover, and a regular breather on the rear of the left valve cover. Seems to be staying dry so far.

I too thought about buying a puke tank, but they seem pretty pricey - $300 -$500. It looks original and would address the problem in some way, but your basic problem may just be the same as mine - too much oil being thrown up into that rear breather.

I think the basket baffle would work and I have one if you're interested in buying it. I bought it online somewhere - maybe FinishLine or Gessford for about $40-$50. Not using it now as I didn't drill out the rear port on the new Edelbrock intake to accept it and don't want to pull the intake just for that.

[xlr8or]

Morgan didn't your car come with a puke tank?

If you look at valve cover breathers that have the hose attachment on them they are the same size as the puke tank. I think it's 5/8 ID hose.
My puke tank has 4 ports on it. 3 big ones and 1 small for the trans/diff line.
of the 3 larger ones there is 2 up high on the sides and one on the bottom to drain back to the pan. Mine looked like crap inside when I got it so I just vent to it from the valve covers and plugged the bottom one. The trans/diff line I use as road draft and run it down under the chassis.

[Morris]

Morgan

Are you using a mech fuel pump?

We are using two -12 lines on the Dry Sump Tank .....

And two -12 lines on the motor for venting..... one at the back of the intake....

And one where the fuel pump block off plate is mounted up to a check valve and then thru a Peterson Scavenge filter....

You can see it over at KMSAC...

Morris

[RedCSX1]

Thanks Scott and Morris and Rick, and HSS427,

Morris and Scott that is the information I was looking for. Morris I am running the mechanical pump. I have access to some stainless scrap thru work so I figured why not make something cool like you did on you Kirkham. I will post pictures when I am done with it. Not a rush project. I plan to use AN fittings and just ordered some bulk head fittings for the tank.

[lineslinger]

I modified my rear breather with a one way filter mechanism, inside of the billet container is a one way filter "plate" that allow gasses to pass through but stops any type of liquid from passing through it, so far so good.
Mark