missing hose/breather from SLR cam cover???

[rkell]

I have a new to me 2004 Caterham SLR with a supersport Zetec engine? There is a 1/2 inch connector running out of the right cam cover which is open but has no hose or breather attached. Shown in the middle of the second picture below. I assume this was a breather tube to the airbox in a standard engine. Should I have some kind of breather on this? Any guidance will be appreciated. Thanks, Randyhttp://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1747547827_SLR 039.jpghttp://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/427375777_SLR 009.jpg

[JBH]

Your car is identical to mine. My breather hose goes down to the ground, but in the interest of keeping the track dry (and other drivers on course), I am rerouting it to a catch vessel. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1879170762_Engine-red.JPG

[11Budlite]

I run a hose from the oil separator on the left side of the block to a catch can and put a simple K&N breather filter on the cam cover. I haven't run my car on the track yet, but it has worked well so far for me. I wouldn't want to run my engine long with nothing attached to the connector (I'm paranoid about dust/debris getting into the engine) so as a temporary measure I'd at least put a filter on it. Where does the hose from the oil separator on the left side of the block go?

 

Bruce :7drive:

[Al N.]

Randy-

 

Welcome to the forum (I assume since the SLR is new to you that you might be new to here)...there are lots of Se7eners in the DC area.

 

My old SLR was set up the same as JBH's, simple vent tube to the ground. If you are going to track the car, the catch cannister/vent filter setup that Bruce mentions is good.

 

JBH and Randy...when I look at your engines, I think "they need a Raceline water rail"...it tidies up the left side of the engine. Cat-USA doesn't seem to believe in them, but many Birkins have them and they are popular on Zetec rigs in the UK...every mechanic that's seen my car has commented "that's a nice casting" and/or "that's smart the way they get rid of the rear plastic housing".

 

Just my 2 cents.

 

Cheers all!

 

-Al

[pksurveyor]

My Zetec also has a vent tube point to the ground.

[rkell]

Thanks for the input. I will run a vent tube down and out of sight. Al, I had seen your posting on the Raceline water rail and had determined to add one--sure is a nice looking piece. Also, I want to add the anti-squeal kit and probably will do both projects together. Have any of you installed the anti-squeal kit on your Zetecs? Do I recall that there was some issue regarding the waterpump direction being reversed with this kit--is there a problem or concern with this that I should know about? Thanks, Randy

[JBH]

The Raceline will be my Fall/Winter project.

 

I am not sure why, but at Mid-Ohio, there was some oil coming out of that breather hose. I changed the oil right before the event, so maybe I overfilled or used the wrong weight. It only happens under high rpms and warm engine - I never see it when driving on the street. Whatever, if you are going to track the car, the breather hose should also go to a catch. That's also the way my Formula Ford is configured.