Why do you need a breather on the engine. What is an engine breather? Why is there smoke coming out of the breather

03.11.2019

Many novice motorists often hear the expression "engine breather", but not everyone knows what it is and what it is for. This article will discuss what an engine breather is, its installation locations and its main purpose.

What is a breather and its main purpose

Engine breather, what is it? In order to answer this question, it is necessary to understand its purpose. A breather (breathing valve) is a device by which a closed container communicates with the atmosphere, thereby maintaining the required pressure. During the operation of the engine, various gases accumulate in it, and if they are not bled off in time, then the operation of the internal combustion engine may stop, and the breather is responsible for this. In other words, it maintains the desired pressure inside the crankcase.

By itself, it performs the function of a valve that bleeds air from the engine at elevated pressure. In the car, this device is installed in the following places:

ICE.
Checkpoint.
Front bridge.
Rear bridge.

Now it is worth considering the installation location in more detail.

Breather installed in an internal combustion engine

Most often, the device is located next to the oil filler neck, a hose comes out of the outlet pipe, which is connected to the air filter housing. Also, in addition to controlling the required pressure, the breather prevents the engine device from getting dirt and moisture into it. Due to the fact that oil is constantly circulating through it, dirt and dust accumulate in it, so it is necessary to monitor its normal operation and clean it in time.

There is an expression "breathing the engine", this is manifested by the fact that smoke similar to exhaust comes out of all open holes of the internal combustion engine, and at the same time oil and fuel consumption increases. The main reasons for this malfunction can be:

piston ring sticking;
contamination of the ventilation system;
malfunction of the cylinder-piston group.

The consequences that such a breakdown can lead to: rupture of the crankcase exhaust hose, rupture of the valve cover, breakdown of internal combustion engine parts (knocking in the engine), and there have also been cases when the pan was pulled out.

With such breakdowns, we will immediately talk about expensive repairs, and sometimes you even have to buy a new engine. By the way, today it is possible to buy a contract engine. This is a type of used internal combustion engine, which was brought from abroad and without a run in our country.

Breather in gearbox

Why do you need a breather in the checkpoint. Just like with an internal combustion engine, this device is designed to control the pressure in the assembly. If the "breathing valve" is heavily contaminated, this will affect the operation of the gearbox, and as a result, the wear of bearings and synchronizers will increase. Also, if the valve is heavily clogged, pressure will increase in the gearbox, and as a result, oil will begin to flow through the seals.

There is also oil inside the bridges connecting the wheels, and a breather is also provided for their normal operation and maintaining optimal pressure. This mechanism acts as a protection against dirt and moisture getting inside while the car is moving. If the valve is significantly clogged, the oil inside the bridge will leak. In order to prevent this, you should clean the breather, and check that its cover moves in all directions.

Preventive work

Some motorists are wondering: why clean the breather? This is done in order to avoid problems with the operation of car components, it is necessary to clean the breather in time. Such actions will allow you to keep the allowable pressure rate, and as a result, stable and trouble-free operation of the car. It is recommended to carry out cleaning at every technical inspection (TO), and in some cases even more often. The cleaning process itself is as follows:

removal of pipes and hose. All pipes and hoses coming out of the “breathing valve” are removed, in some models it will also be necessary to remove the air filter housing;
removing breather cover;
cleaning work. Now you can start cleaning the cover and valve tube.
installation work. Assembly is carried out in the reverse order.

This is how cleaning is done. The procedure is quite simple, and you can do it yourself with your own hands, without the need to visit a service center.

Outcome

With all the information above, it's time to take stock. The breather in the car engine plays an important role for its stable and normal operation. And in order to avoid problems with its work, it is necessary to carry out preventive cleaning of accumulated oil in time. If this is done in a timely manner, then there will be no problems with the operation of the engine.

The vast majority of motorists, even those who have been driving for more than a dozen years, will find it difficult and will not be able to answer if they are asked about what an engine breather is, where it is located and what it is for. This is not surprising, because this small detail does not break down so often and many do not even know about it.

A breather is nothing more than a breathing valve that constantly relieves excess pressure that forms inside the engine during operation. The need, the need for this simple, relatively inexpensive part, is difficult to overestimate.

Where is the engine breather

From engine to engine, different automakers can place the breather in different places. But in most cases, it is located on the valve cover, next to the filler neck. Although there may be options: it is better to clarify in the instructions-description for the car or find out on thematic forums.

In the picture on the right, the crankcase ventilation system of the VAZ 2111 engine, which also includes a breather:

Crankcase.
Breather.
Hose from breather to valve cover fitting.
Oil separator under the valve cover.
Thin hose from the valve cover to the nozzle with the throttle body jet.
A fitting with a jet on the throttle body.
Thick hose from valve cover to intake pipe.

But the breather is installed not only in the internal combustion engine. It is in:

Gearbox. Otherwise, the gearbox would begin to work jerkily, and the wear of the gears on the secondary shaft would increase many times over. Something similar is observed when the breather becomes clogged, ceasing to perform its function.
If the design of the car provides for a separate transfer case, then a similar mechanism may be in it.
Front, and in rear- / all-wheel drive vehicles - in the rear axle. Moreover, this inconspicuous detail not only equalizes pressure, it protects the mechanisms from dirt and moisture ingress when overcoming water barriers.

However, even their appearance is often similar, and often identical: they perform the same function.

Breather device

Usually, the internal structure of the breather is very simple. Let's analyze it using the example of a breather for a checkpoint / bridge.

The outer casing of the breather. It is made of metal, so it will not be possible to damage it while driving.
Clamp spring. Thanks to it, the mechanism does not need an electro/mechanical drive, everything is autonomous.
Rubber gasket. It is she who provides tightness when excess pressure is not relieved.
Lock nut. The easiest way to fix: although in other models there are a variety of options.
The body of the breather itself. The through hole allows the unit to “breathe”, relieving excess pressure.

Although this breather is not used for motors, the principle is the same. An elementary module that simply cannot be dispensed with.

Why is there smoke coming out of the breather

The breather can have only one malfunction: it began to poorly pass the accumulated gases, comparing the pressure inside the engine with atmospheric pressure. But the smoke coming from it can say a lot:

Cylinder oil scraper rings are stuck or worn out. Simple decarbonization by folk methods or special chemistry will no longer help here, so you have to disassemble the motor.
Similarly, if one / several exhaust valves burned out. A simple compression test will help determine this.
Oil caps. Just change them if the time is right or they show signs of increased wear.
The shaft seals were worn out, allowing oil vapor to pass through. Change them without hesitation, preferably without shelving.
The engine oil is old and needs to be replaced. No comment: as practice shows, repairing the “heart” of a car is ten times more expensive than changing it.
White smoke on a hot engine - coolant enters the lubrication system. Where exactly to leak - you have to look.
Oil overflow. In an internal combustion engine, it is just as dangerous as underfilling: engine wear / fuel consumption increases significantly, so check its level with a dipstick on level ground when the engine is well warmed up. Then you will see how well the masters at the service station (or you yourself) performed its replacement / topping up.
The oil is of poor quality / does not fit the car / counterfeit. The only way out is to replace it. Similarly, if you filled up fuel at an unknown gas station: just don’t do it again.
Finally, the breather itself clogged from time to time, not working at 100%. Simple cleaning, prevention will eliminate this.

An impressive list of various situations. And there is no doubt that if your car has a breather that smokes, you have definitely found your case among them.

Breather repair and maintenance

Due to the low cost, as well as the ease of removal / installation, breather repair almost always comes down to replacing it. But even forgetful car owners who maintain it from time to time will not need this, since there is simply nothing to break.

All its maintenance comes down to timely cleaning. Outside, it is enough to wipe with a rag, and if the dirt is old, you will have to use a knife, screwdriver or scraper.

Cleaning from the inside is somewhat more difficult, but still very simple. The breather must be removed (it can be bolted or hard-fitting) and cleaned with a primitive ramrod, which can be made from a piece of wire. We do the same with the oil catcher: in rare cases, when it is heavily clogged, mechanical cleaning will not be enough. And then it needs to be burned, pouring quite a bit of gasoline, or soaked in aggressive chemicals for several hours.

Assembly, as it is quite predictable, in reverse order. Therefore, the whole process will not take much time and will not require special tools or skills.

At the same time, it is best to do this during a seasonal oil change or the passage of the next MOT. On most vehicles with average mileage, it is enough to carry out this simple operation twice a year. But it is the engine breather that confirms the indisputable truth: there are no trifles in a car, especially a modern one.

Breather on the engine (breathing valve) - a device for equalizing the pressure in a closed container relative to atmospheric pressure. In other words, the breather valve allows the closed container to vent to the atmosphere. In internal combustion engines, the breather equalizes the pressure inside the crankcase.

During the operation of the vehicle and the operation of the power unit, the pressure in the crankcase may increase, as a result of which crankcase gases escape through the breather, excess engine oil is squeezed out, etc. If the pressure in the crankcase is below atmospheric, then outside air enters the crankcase through the breather, thereby eliminating the difference between the external atmospheric and internal pressure in the crankcase cavity.

Read in this article

Where is the breather installed?

Breathers on the car are installed:

in the engine itself
in the checkpoint device;
in the design of the front and rear axles;

Note that the functions of these devices are almost the same regardless of the installation location. It should be added that the valve also has an additional filter that does not allow mechanical particles, dirt and moisture to enter the engine along with the outside air.

In other words, the breather allows those nodes to “breathe” from which the working fluid cannot be allowed to flow out, as well as the ingress of water and dirt from the outside. During operation, the internal combustion engine in the crankcase heats up, which leads to its expansion. It also expands the air in the crankcase and builds up pressure. If this pressure is not relieved, then the oil will begin to squeeze out through the seals, oil seals and engine gaskets. This statement is also true in relation to other components of the car (bridges, razdatka, checkpoints).

After the engine stops and other components stop working, as well as when it enters the water (relevant for SUVs), cooling occurs. When cooling down, the pressure in the container drops, a pressure difference reappears and the outside air tries to force its way in through the gaskets, etc. To counteract these phenomena and safely equalize the pressure on the engine, gearbox, etc. breathers are installed. It turns out that the valve prevents water and dirt from entering the power units when the pressure drops, and also does not allow the gaskets to be squeezed out and the working fluid (lubricant) to flow out when excess pressure occurs.

Why you need to clean the breather

Operation under the conditions described above suggests that the breather may become clogged. Oil leakage through the valve is accompanied by the subsequent accumulation of dust, which clogs the valve passage. As a result, when heated, excess pressure is created or insufficient pressure when cooled, which leads to oil leakage through the oil seals and gaskets of the engine and other units.

To fix the problem, the breather must be removed for cleaning or replacement. It is recommended to change the engine or gearbox breather for a new one if it is heavily contaminated. Before installing a new breather, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the place of its installation. This will avoid its rapid re-contamination.

Now a few words about other nodes. The transmission breather also requires increased attention, as this mechanism begins to malfunction and wear out much faster if the valve is clogged. Often in the box, breathers are installed in the area of \u200b\u200bthe crankcase cover. A faulty breather can let dirt into the gearbox, the risk of box leaks increases, accelerated wear of synchronizers, etc. occurs.

It should be borne in mind that breathers on bridges (dispensers) operate in conditions of constant contact with water, dust and dirt. In this case, they should be checked much more often. The risk of moisture entering the lubricant through the breather should not be ruled out, especially if the machine is often used in severe off-road conditions, often crosses water obstacles, etc. The result is a significant deterioration in the lubricating, protective and cooling properties of the oil in axles, which means a quick failure of units of this type.

It is quite obvious that it is advisable to check the breathers at each MOT (10-15 thousand kilometers), especially if the car is often used off-road with the passage of water barriers. In some cases, the breather should be cleaned after 2-3 such trips. This will help to avoid oil leaks through various seals. It can also be concluded that if oil leakage is detected on the engine and other units, the first thing to pay attention to is the breather. The device must be removed, after which the course of its cover is checked. The breather cap must move freely, no sticking of the part is allowed.

Finally, we add that constant monitoring of the performance of breathers allows you to extend the life of the engine and other units in the design of which a valve is used. Heavily contaminated breathers are best replaced with new ones immediately, since the cost of this part is quite affordable for the vast majority of motorists.

Where is the breather installed?

Breathers on the car are installed:

in the engine itself
in the checkpoint device;
in the design of the front and rear axles;

In other words, the breather allows those nodes to “breathe” from which the working fluid cannot be allowed to flow out, as well as the ingress of water and dirt from the outside. During engine operation, the engine oil in the crankcase heats up, causing it to expand. It also expands the air in the crankcase and builds up pressure. If this pressure is not relieved, then the oil will begin to squeeze out through the seals, oil seals and engine gaskets. This statement is also true in relation to other components of the car (bridges, razdatka, checkpoints).

Why you need to clean the breather

KrutiMotor.ru

Why do you need a breather in a car?

A breather (or breathing valve) is a device by which the container communicates with the atmosphere in order to maintain pressure equality. In a “simple” language, the breather lets in air and gases that result from the operation of car devices, which makes it possible for air to pass inside when the car’s mechanisms have stopped working. This is necessary in order to restore the same pressure in two planes.

Where are breathers used?

In automotive practice, the breather can be found in the engine, gearbox, front axle, and also the rear axle. But at the same time, in any place it performs the same functions.

Breather in the engine

The breather in the engine releases the gases and air passing through it, which are generated by the operation of the cylinders, thereby preventing oil from leaking from the crankcase.

In the event of an engine shutdown, the pressure in the crankcase space and the atmosphere is equalized by the intake of air from the atmosphere. The breather prevents dirt and moisture from entering the engine assembly. Thanks to this quality, today breathers are very often installed on SUVs, because they are indispensable when driving off-road.

But still, do not forget to periodically check all the breathers in the car. Due to the constant movement of oil, debris and dust accumulate in it. To get rid of them, you need to properly remove and clean the breathers. In case of severe contamination, it will have to be replaced with a new one. But before installing a new breather, thoroughly clean the installation site to avoid further contamination of the new device.

Breather in gearbox

Quite often, due to severe contamination of the gearbox breather, the latter starts to work poorly. In the gearbox, the breather is located on the box crankcase cover. When dirt and dust enters the breather, the wheel mounted on the secondary shaft begins to seize. As a result, the risk of wear of bearings and synchronizers increases. To avoid this, you need to clean the breather every time you pass a technical inspection (and sometimes more often). If the valve is very clogged, then pressure will increase in the gearbox, and as a result, oil will flow through the seals.

Bridge breathers

There is oil inside the bridge connecting the wheels. And since the internal cavity is in contact with the outside world, it does this with the help of a breather. Thanks to this valve, an increase in pressure inside the bridge itself is prevented. In addition, the breather acts as a "protector": it protects the bridge from dirt and liquid getting into it while overcoming water barriers. And inside the bridge there is a special hole through which oil flows.

The rear axle housing breather requires more attention. It is located in the upper part of it, on the right side. If this valve is clogged, oil may leak. To solve this problem, you need to clean the breather and check that the breather cap moves in all directions.

After the breather cover has been cleaned, it is recommended to check it after 20 kilometers. If you again find traces of oil, then this means that you need to replace the device. Remember that the rear axle breather plays an important role in the operation of the entire vehicle, and therefore it should always be kept in good condition.

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auto.today

What is an engine breather - device, purpose

What is a breather and its main purpose

By itself, it performs the function of a valve that bleeds air from the engine at elevated pressure. In the car, this device is installed in the following places:

Front bridge.
Rear bridge.

Now it is worth considering the installation location in more detail.

Breather installed in an internal combustion engine

occurrence of piston rings;
contamination of the ventilation system;
malfunction of the cylinder-piston group.

Breather in gearbox

Breather in bridges

Preventive work

removal of pipes and hose. All pipes and hoses coming out of the “breathing valve” are removed, in some models it will also be necessary to remove the air filter housing;
removing the breather cover;
cleaning work. Now you can start cleaning the cover and valve tube.
assembly work. Assembly is carried out in the reverse order.

This is how cleaning is done. The procedure is quite simple, and you can do it yourself with your own hands, without the need to visit a service center.

Outcome

Sincerely, Maxim Markov!

carsmotion.ru

Breathe the engine. The reasons why the engine breaths and how to eliminate them.

In this article, we will talk about why the engine breaths, what it is fraught with in the future, and what sores can come out when diagnosing an engine with such a disorder. Let's start with the fact that any, even a normal, serviceable engine will breathe, because the piston rings cannot hold all the air compressed in the cylinders. Some of this air passes through the piston rings and creates excess pressure inside the engine. Such pressure, as everyone probably understands, does not lead to anything good, because of it the oil will begin to be squeezed out of all kinds of oil seals.

Therefore, not stupid designers came up with a crankcase ventilation system, which over the years has been more and more modernized and improved, and if earlier this system was only a hole in the valve cover, covered with several layers of a very fine mesh (so that oil vapors do not fly out, but "cling" to the veins nets and flowed back into the motor), now this is a super duper intricate system, her mother. On some modern and not very foreign cars, there are three or four holes in the valve cover, and all this is a crankcase ventilation system. And all these holes must be connected, as I learned as I gained experience. For they are tied to the work of many sensors, without the correct operation of which the engine will start to hell. And one more thing that I noticed - the smaller the engine, the more intricate the crankcase ventilation system is, not everyone, of course, but there are instances.

Well, since you are here, the problem described here has affected you too. You understood this when you opened the filler cap and saw a bluish smoke flying out of the engine (cars, foreign cars) in a good stream, or on your MAZ or KAMAZ, or other heavy, almost the same flow of gases flies out of the breather as from the exhaust, or maybe does the probe knock out on your mtz? It doesn't matter, everyone has the same problem. However, its causes and remedies are different.

The reasons why the engine breaths.

The most basic and common reason is the wear of piston group parts. Over time, as the engine runs, the cylinder walls grind off, the piston rings grind off and, of course, the piston. As a result, the thermal gap between the piston and the cylinder walls increases, worn or stuck, coked piston rings can no longer provide the necessary sealing qualities, as a result - increased consumption of engine oil and breaths the engine. By the way, at the expense of the rings, here it is worth figuring out whether they are worn out or coked. If it is worn out, then of course it is for replacement and the engine for capital, but if it is coked, then it is possible to coke it without expensive repairs, although I am not a supporter of this method. I would do decarbonization only in the absence of money and the need for their urgent acquisition by draining the tortured car. Well, in general, in this case, your path is as follows:

measure compression, not enough - remove the cylinder head;
They removed the cylinder head and looked at the condition of the valves and guide bushings, if they are broken, then no new valve seals will help you;
GBC is alive? Fine! We look at the condition of the piston. It is advisable to measure the cylinders with a bore gauge, it will show the exact output and you can decide whether boring is needed. Again, for a caliper to the specialists, if I haven’t been lying around at home, by the way, I can buy it if I don’t need it. Strong development can be determined without a caliper, and it will be clear there anyway. If there is no output, or is acceptable, try changing the rings or decoking, depending on the wallet. I would recommend a replacement.

In general, I think it is understandable that piston wear is the boring of a block, the replacement of pistons and rings. Now consider more extreme options. A piston burned out in one of the cylinders, the photo shows how it is, there is a hole in it. The engine will troit, guzzle oil in buckets, warm up and breath terribly. It is calculated by measuring the compression, in the cylinder in which the piston burned out it will not be.

Another not so common reason - piston rings burst into small pieces! Rhyme! Quite often, such a misfortune occurs on heated raped basins. It is also calculated by measuring compression and based on the testimony of the owner about the manner of operation. It is treated in different ways, quite often the block is bored for the next piston size.

A clogged crankcase ventilation system - this happens, it delivers a lot of vysers to both the owner and the masters whom he turns to, especially if they are beginners and without an experienced mentor (like I once was). A 2002 Lexus arrives, a three-liter, oil says it eats a liter per 1000 km, well, we think it’s not normal of course. That owner of the Lexus was somehow "smart", he first went somewhere to a special center, they told him so and so they say, it is necessary to change the valve seals and charge some exorbitant amount for the work, he sent them and said that in a nearby garage they will do it no worse and twice as cheap, it’s us fools who later found out how much such work costs. In general, even when they were dismantling, they noticed that there was oil in the air, and it was normal, there were no turbines, where did it come from? In general, back and forth, while they took it apart, he brought us spare parts already, it’s fucking over my soul, they say the car is urgently needed. They gathered for a quickie, they didn’t seem to smoke, he left. Three days later he arrives, again says, it didn’t help, he drove the car back to that center. Arrived so and so says everything changed did not pass. Those eagles immediately realized, removed the valve covers, drilled and cleaned the breathers and voila, everything is perfect again, and we squirmed in vain out of ignorance of what happens anyway.

I also remember the incident with the Nissan Sunny, the old car was, the oil ate prohibitively for its volume. The block wasted valve bushings seals gaskets all changed, oil consumption seems to have been eliminated. Another problem arose - gasoline consumption. But we found out about this when the car was brought to us on a tow truck with an exploded valve cover, on the wreckage of which a dirty breather was clearly visible. Why the lid exploded and I think you can connect the expense.

This is how I started my acquaintance with foreign cars, by trial and error, but it was 16 years ago. Now I need to sign up for repairs in two months.

yamotorist.ru

Why does diesel breath

Under the concept that the engine is breathable, one should understand the appearance of smoke from the oil filler neck, engine oil leaks in various places due to the design of the internal combustion engine (breather), as well as in the area where numerous seals (seals) are located. It should be noted that even a relatively new diesel or gasoline engine can breathe a little.

A breather is a device that is a valve. This valve is used to equalize the pressure in containers for various purposes by communicating with the atmosphere. In an internal combustion engine, the breather equalizes the internal pressure in the engine crankcase with the external atmospheric pressure.

The fact is that part of the gases in the cylinder breaks through the sealing rings and enters the engine crankcase, creating excess pressure. To solve this problem, a crankcase ventilation system was created.

Under certain conditions, the crankcase ventilation system does not always successfully cope with the increased pressure and removal of excess through the breather. The result is a noticeable increase in oil consumption, oil seal leakage. Sometimes the pressure in the engine rises to such a point that the dipstick simply squeezes out.

Why is crankcase pressure rising?

Having noticed oil leaks in the engine compartment and / or a decrease in the oil level in the crankcase, it is necessary to determine exactly what the diesel engine is breathing. This can be done in the following way. It is enough to unscrew the oil filler cap on a warm diesel engine. If you notice the appearance of blue smoke from the neck, then the problem is obvious.

Cylinder-piston group and cylinder head

The main reason that a diesel engine breathes is the wear of the cylinder-piston group. During the operation of the internal combustion engine, scuffs form on the walls of the cylinders, the cylinders themselves gradually break and acquire a changed shape of the walls, and the piston rings wear out or break. As a result of heating, the thermal gaps between the piston and the cylinder walls become too large.

In addition to reducing the efficiency of sealing, wear of the rings is superimposed, their coking, which deprives the rings of mobility. Under such conditions, engine oil abundantly enters the combustion chamber, diesel smokes blue smoke. Also, the gases formed during the combustion of the fuel-air mixture and the gases entering the engine oil cylinders actively fill the engine crankcase.

If the diesel engine is badly worn, then a major overhaul is needed, which will mean reboring the cylinders, replacing pistons, rings, etc. Accurate diagnosis of CPG problems requires a compression test to determine cylinder spread.

In the event that the diesel engine does not breathe much and the malfunction is only at the initial stage (wear of the cylinder walls is within acceptable limits), some auto mechanics resort to the method of decoking the piston rings. This measure is considered temporary, since further long-term operation of the unit after the decarbonization of the rings should not be expected. The best solution is to replace the rings with new ones.

Diesel can also breath due to wear of valves, guide bushings, valve seals, etc. Similar to piston malfunctions and ring decoking, timing problems are effectively eliminated only by a comprehensive repair. Replacing some valve seals does not give a lasting effect.

Engine ventilation system

Second on the list of the main reasons why a diesel engine breaths is a clogged crankcase ventilation system. The decrease in the throughput of this system in terms of symptoms resembles the wear of a CPG: increased consumption of engine oil, diesel smoke with blue smoke, etc. In some cases, it is possible to normalize the operation of the motor and eliminate excessive oil consumption by cleaning the breathers.

Many novice drivers are interested in what an engine breather is. After all, you can often find references to this part of the motor in recommendations for car care. Also, the breather can play a rather serious role in diagnosing some problems with the power unit. If there are problems with it, various negative consequences for the engine can occur. Therefore, the owner of the car should know all the features of its structure. And also know and be able to carry out the prevention of malfunctions of this element of the motor.

This can save you from more costly repairs. In fact, the breather, although it does not seem like a very significant detail, in practice is of great importance for the health of the power unit.

purpose

What is an engine breather? Before answering this question, it is important to understand what it is intended for. This is directly related to the principle of its work. The main task of this device is to reduce the pressure in the crankcase of the motor. During the operation of the power unit, various gases are collected in the crankcase. Gradually, they accumulate and create quite a lot of pressure. If you do not bleed them, the engine may stop, the pressure will support the pistons. In this case, the gas will seek an exit through any available opening. To prevent this from happening, a breather is installed.

Also with the help of this device happens. Unwanted gases are removed from it. Thus, the temperature inside the engine is somewhat reduced. There are 2 tasks on the motor breather: ventilation and pressure relief. In some cases, the operation of the breather can indicate the presence of problems in the operation of the engine. or damage to the piston, gray smoke characteristic of the exhaust will fly out of the hose. So you can diagnose these malfunctions without disassembling the engine. In normal condition, a slightly noticeable transparent smoke comes out of the breather.

Device

The breather is, in fact, a valve that bleeds air from the engine. When the pressure rises, it begins to pass through itself a certain amount of gases. The greater the pressure, the more air can pass through it. To avoid atmospheric air getting inside, the valve is able to pass only in one direction. But on some cars this process is mutual. In such versions, a filter is installed in the valve to prevent dust from entering the motor.

Most often, the breather is located next to the oil filler neck. Much less often you can find options with its location on the side of the cylinder block. From the outlet there is a hose connected to the air filter housing. This arrangement is typical for all cars. It can differ only in small nuances due to the features of the body. Sometimes there are 2 pipes, in which case the second hose is connected to the injector.

Faults

The most common cause of breather problems is clogging. This is manifested by squeezing oil through any available holes. Most often, the crankshaft seals suffer. It is through them that oil usually passes. Much less common is squeezing lubricant through candles or under the valve cover. It can also often knock out the probe.

When the pressure rises, it “shoots off” with a characteristic pop. The blow can be so strong that it will leave a mark on the hood. If any of these signs appear, you need to clean the breather valve.

Cleaning

To clean, you need to remove the breather. Then they clean it up. This work is done in several steps:

Preparatory work is being done - hoses are being removed. Some models will require removal of the air filter;
The breather cap is unscrewed. It can be mounted on 2 or 4 bolts. After removal, it should be inspected for damage;
The nut located on the stud of the oil separator is unscrewed. On some models, it is not recommended to remove it entirely; various structural elements will interfere with putting it back on;
Clean the tube with a ramrod. It can be made from a regular piece of wire. Near the outer end is a "brush" it should also be cleaned;
The breather is being reassembled.

After the work is done, it is necessary to check their quality. To do this, start the engine, open the oil filler neck and cover it with plastic wrap. With a properly cleaned breather, the film should not rise.

Conclusion. Various processes are constantly taking place in a car engine. In order not to have difficulty diagnosing problems, it is advisable for the driver to know what an engine breather is. After all, this element is important for the reliable operation of the power unit. Sometimes it is recommended to clean it from the oil accumulated there. It is especially important to do this before winter. Otherwise, the crankcase ventilation system will fail you during the first severe frosts.