6 replies to this topic

[I-B-Quick]

I need some bright ideas on how best to clean out the gause in the engine breathers before I connect them back to the carb where they are supposed to be. The flywheel side one looks pretty clogged up but will be easier to clean as it can be removed but the timing chain side I'm not sure about.

You can't remove the breather easily. Can I airline down it , flush it in any way in situ. Run and change oil soon after ?

Just want some ideas really.

thanks

[Dan]

The proper way to clean them is to take them off. I wouldn't advise blowing the junk that's in it back into the box, mainly because you'll have to slosh parafin down it first to shift all the gunge and you'll never be sure you've got all the parafin out of the box again. Take them off, fill with parafin, slosh round, empty, rinse with water, empty, leave to dry properly.

Edited by Dan, 23 January 2008 - 12:31 PM.

[strebblo]

I'd say you really need to take them off - they can't be that hard to remove? Then give them a good spray with some brake cleaner and air line them dry as you have one.

If you do it in situ, then you'll probably just throw all of the clogged up gunk back into the breather assembly or worse, the engine.
10 minutes with a screwdriver and some swearing and cleaning is always better than shoving unknown carp into the engine...

***

Gah, Beaten to it....

Edited by strebblo, 23 January 2008 - 12:34 PM.

[998dave]

The proper way to clean them is to take them off. I wouldn't advise blowing the junk that's in it back into the box, mainly because you'll have to slosh parafin down it first to shift all the gunge and you'll never be sure you've got all the parafin out of the box again. Take them off, fill with parafin, slosh round, empty, rinse with water, empty, leave to dry properly.

I'd go with this method, you could also use diesel or petrol to rinse i they're more easily available, ensure you allow it to dry before refitting. You could 'back flush' my spraying compressed air through if you've got any!

Dave

[dklawson]

Gauze breathers? Though it would cost a bit, why not buy the K&N filter cleaning kit and use it?

[I-B-Quick]

Thanks all - bearing in mind the engine is in the car I'm not sure about getting the timini chain cover off. I think I'm right in saying the crank end bolt and pulley have to come off to allow the cover to come away. Flywheel side no problem , off already and waiting to be flushed though.

[dklawson]

My mistake. I misunderstood which breather and type of breather you were talking about. I thought you meant the little gauze conical breathers that are sometimes added to the clutch cover.

Since you're talking about the stock one on the timing cover I agree that you should be careful not to backwash anything into the block since you don't want to remove the timing cover. I have a friend who pulls the old metal gauze out of the breathers and replaces it with the coarse grill/stove cleaning copper scouring pads that grocery stores sell over here. I don't know what those pads would be called in the U.K. I suppose with the right tools and luck you could pull the old gauze out through the hose connection so you could do this "in place" ... but it doesn't seem like it would be worth it.