21 replies to this topic

[.Jack.]

I am looking to replace the breather system on my SPI mini cooper to run it through an oil catch can. My question is, how will the engine run if the breather sensor is removed? Thanks

 

[.Jack.]

Anyone have any idea?

[BKozan]

I'm curious myself. I'd like to remove a lot of the emissions crap simply to clean up the engine bay, and the number of charcoal canisters, purge valves, breather rails, hoses and fittings is amazing. Hopefully someone has some answers for you. 

[owm]

Did anyone ever carry this out? Am considering the same as well

[viz139]

What are you calling the "breather sensor"?

The sensor in the air filter housing is the air inlet temperature, are you changing the type of air filter?

The unit connected to the manifold next to the breathers is the purge valve which is used to stop the engine running on.

The mechanical diverter on the hoses diverts the fumes between the engine and charcoal filter.

[FlyingScot]

What are you calling the "breather sensor"?
The sensor in the air filter housing is the air inlet temperature, are you changing the type of air filter?
The unit connected to the manifold next to the breathers is the purge valve which is used to stop the engine running on.
The mechanical diverter on the hoses diverts the fumes between the engine and charcoal filter.

The original post was 4 years ago so you won’t be getting an answer. Your description is incorrect.
The purge valve let’s petrol fumes from the charcoal canister back in to a warm engine and is to prevent petrol fumes reaching the atmosphere. The parallel section of the breather tubing is to take engine back pressure into the fuel injection unit and burn it off.
Me I’d leave it alone

FS

[.Jack.]

I have removed it all now, engine now breathes into a catch can, charcoal canister gone, silly valve thing from the canister gone. It works fine without it all, get rid of it! 

[mina08]

I have removed it all now, engine now breathes into a catch can, charcoal canister gone, silly valve thing from the canister gone. It works fine without it all, get rid of it! 

can you post some pics or go into more details of what you did to convert

cheers

[campino89]

Did anyone do the same and got pictures?

What about the two hose-to-rail connectors on the front of the injection unit? Can I just connect them to each other?

[brivinci]

I am currently working on this as well. I wanted to eliminate any potential oily air getting back into my system. I have installed a small catch can but I am still running the rail and evap system. I'll try and snap some pix. My one issue is that the valve cover I am running is a vintage alloy finned type with a sealed cap and a breather on top. I need to figure out how to tie it all into the can as I have ZERO room to run another inlet barb on the can. 

 

Let me just say, there is so soooo little room in these engine bays. I fabbed up a bracket that goes off the coil bracket and it fits in like a puzzle piece. Barely any wiggle room so stuck with how it sits.

[tmsmini]

And the benefits to doing this are?

[campino89]

In my case the SPI Engine will go into a way older chassis and I don't want to take all the evap system, charcoal filter thing with me. So why don't get rid of ALL the fiddling?

[tmsmini]

In my case the SPI Engine will go into a way older chassis and I don't want to take all the evap system, charcoal filter thing with me. So why don't get rid of ALL the fiddling?

That makes sense. I have two early cars with MPi engines, but the rail was modified so it could continue to be used. We did not use the evaporative system either.

[craig 1010cc]

When I fitted the MPI conversion I removed it all. I took the breather from the throttle body to the clutch housing breather, blanked off the two small breathers on the throttle body and fitted a small filter onto the timing chain breather.
All seems to work fine and no problem with emissions at the mot

[brivinci]

So, I was in the shop and finally working on my SPi and snapped a pic of what my breathing system currently looks like. Why I went about this was that some time ago, when I had a freshly rebuilt...and completely rubbish motor (thanks awful machinist!!) my car was consuming oil. I wanted to eliminate all possible ways for this to be happening. I think paranoia got the better of me. Currently, my motor is extremely healthy. Compression and leak down both checked out great and my plugs are not at all oily. I'd imagine this is now overkill BUT here it is. 
This is my setup while running an oil separator. Honestly, would love to hear your thoughts on it.