I was just wondering what are the benefits of having an oil breather on a lightly modded engine. When I say lightly modded, I currently have a JLT II CAI and I have Steeda Economy CMDP plates awaiting installation. Would there be any point in getting an oil breather?

 

I would say no.

 

I have used vent breathers on my past and present vehicles with no problems. Even my grocery getters. The intake and combustion chambers will stay clean for far longer than without the breathers.

 

I believe an oil catch can - inline with your PCV valve - is a great idea to keep oily blow by out of your intake. I installed UPR's oil catch can on my '07 GT after the supercharger went on, but even an N/A GT could benefit from keeping that oily crud out.

 

 

YES! I have a Stef's setup on my lightly modded GT and every time I change the oil I get about 3 tablespoons of oil out of it. Personally I don't want that oily mist mixing with my unburned fuel in the plenum.

 

So then the consensus is that an engine like mine would benefit more from an oil catch can than the oil breather? I had never heard of an oil catch can until this thread, but after reading the description on the UPR website, I think I should look into one of these. I never knew what blow by was, but after reading that description, I think I now have an explanation as to why our Mustang has some blue smoke once in a while upon start up. Am I correct in thinking that's the cause?

 

Like this?

 

Yep, but the government requires a PCV system to burn off that blow by while bleeding off that excess crankcase pressure. A breather or catch can allows for relieving that pressure, but without sending that oily crud into the intake stream.

 

I think when you can capture crankcase vapors and trap that gunk from getting in your intake it's a good thing. I went the catch can route...

Jed

 

Let me reiterate, on a FI motor, absolutely you should have some type of catch can/breather setup.

On a N/A motor, having a cc/breather setup can help reduce (cc) or eliminate (breather) the oily crankcase vapors. But, is it really harmful to the motor? I'm sure they are thousands of 100k+ miles N/A S197's out there that run just fine.

But to the OP, if you want to jump on the breather bandwagon, grab a set. Then you'll be sure to be crud free.

 

That is my opinion also Bill.