crankcase ventilation tubes

wolfe10 wrote:
Yup, first step is to CALIBRATE the engine oil dipstick. It was NOT provided by your engine manufacturer. It may or may not be accurate.

IF you overfill, your engine WILL puke it out.

If you still have a problem after verifying that you are not overfilling the crankcase, indeed fit a catchment jug. Just make absolutely positive that you do not restrict air flow.

And if you are going to use something such as the steel wool recommended (a reasonable concept), use something that will not rust. So bronze wool (marine store) or stainless steel. Regular steel wool when exposed to the moisture it will be exposed to in that location, will turn into a pile of rust and if left long enough will restrict air flow.

Sure, if you live and drive in the desert SW, not a problem.

In doing a search with regard to Crankcase Ventilation Tubes (a.k.a. Slobber Tubes) I've read of several references to these catchment containers. Wondering if anyone who has done this might have photos of your installs and retrofits? I'm somewhat interested in possibly putting one on mine, but can't figure out where in the world I would mount it? Looking for ideas on how others may have done it.

Yup, first step is to CALIBRATE the engine oil dipstick. It was NOT provided by your engine manufacturer. It may or may not be accurate.

IF you overfill, your engine WILL puke it out.

If you still have a problem after verifying that you are not overfilling the crankcase, indeed fit a catchment jug. Just make absolutely positive that you do not restrict air flow.

And if you are going to use something such as the steel wool recommended (a reasonable concept), use something that will not rust. So bronze wool (marine store) or stainless steel. Regular steel wool when exposed to the moisture it will be exposed to in that location, will turn into a pile of rust and if left long enough will restrict air flow.

Sure, if you live and drive in the desert SW, not a problem.

Our previous coach with Cat C7 had the slobber tube. I just put an extension on the tube and ran it out past the radiator assembly. We've always had a toad, and even with the extension, I never found any oil residue on the front of the toad.

Ron

The oil in the vapor needs something to cling to. Just slowing down the vapor will not let much of the oil settle out. The steel wool can be reused by washing it out in gasoline. I would use course steel wool and even some course scrub pads in the bottom. You could get carried away and do a tri level one... scrub pads in the bottom, course steel wool in the middle and fine steel wool in the top. A screw on lid gallon jug would make it easier to build and service... holes in lid for tube and vents.

If you have a lot of oil in the vent... getting the car dirty I would be concerned about the amount of blowby in the engine and what's wrong with it. If it's a 04 Cat C7 then a different vent system might be necessary as it had problems with excessive oil from the side vent.

If you do not over fill the crank case, you should not have any oil coming out the breather tube. The problem Cat had with their engines was that on the 3126-E and early C-7 engines originally instructions were that it took 24 quarts of oil. When the problem got real bad and oil was getting on some radiators a new revision was put out by Caterpillar that the engine required only 19 quarts of oil.
The problem was solved.

Mine come out of the factory with the slobber tube already extended all the way down to the top of the mud flap and I never had any oil coming out of the tube. But I did read and I wittnessed an AirStream coach that lots of oil sprayed all over the bottom of the engine. It was ugly and that is where I first saw the revision that that gentleman got directly from Caterpillar.

Not sure if they had the slobber tube problem with the Cat 3126-B which did have the deep oil pan and it took a lot more oil.

I also heard Cummins also had a slobber tube problem, but again not sure what their problem was.

Ivylog wrote:
Plastic gallon jug with steel wool in it. Slobber tube goes in it's opening to the bottom and you add some extra holes at the top to vent.

I'm curious. Why the steel wool, to keep the vented oil from sloshing?

Plastic gallon jug with steel wool in it. Slobber tube goes in it's opening to the bottom and you add some extra holes at the top to vent.