Oil Breather for Lightnings

[SVT 04]

I read in the October 2002 issue of Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords that using an Oil Breather Cap is helpful. I found out different.

The article states a common problem with the Lightnings is that the engine sucks oil thru the valve seal during heavy deceleration. Because of this, oil can work its way into the intake manifoldand even contaminate the mass air meter.

Simply installing this instead of the stock cap will help prevent this.

I did this on mine and it threw a code. The PCV popped out. Maybe it's not a good thing to do. I have heard engines with blowers to benefit from a breather.

These so-called advice columns are just that, they never say the cons to doing it or how to correct them.

:knock:

[BlueOvalBolt]

You are right, oil breathers do mess up our engines. It's not like the old days, that's for sure. However, in MM & FF's defense, the hot tip back in '01 and '02 was the installation of oil breathers and were recommended and sold by just about all the L tuners. This mod fad was stopped almost as quickly as it started when problems arose as you found out.

Websites that are helpful in gathering more info and to get a wide range of opinions can be found at these popular webites if you haven't found them already. Just look for the Lightning forums in each.

www.f150online.com
www.nloc.net
www.svtperformance.com
www.lightningrodder.com

You can also ask your L questions here as well as we have some experienced L owners who have modified their trucks (some pretty extensively) over the years as well as some past and present Ford mechanics. Our resident tuner, Marv (Yellow Iron), has experience in tuning L's as well. :thumbs:

[animal]

I don't know that it's the valve seal that coats our intakes in oil, it's the pcv system and the lack of a good oil baffle on the underside of the valve cover.

While I don't doubt valve seal issues could exist, the major reason people were going with breathers was to kill the oil in the intake tube that gets all over the throttle body, rotors, and intercooler due to the pcv system. You also have to tune for this because putting a breather on and leaving the pcv system intact can allow for unmetered air to enter the intake track behind the maf. The cpu will end up showing a lean condition.

I've read a bunch of posts of L guys completely removing the pcv system plugging the tube to the lower intake and the 2 places where it enters the intake track, and then going with 3 breathers on the valve covers just to vent the crankcase air. Supposed to cure the oil in the intake problem 100%, but the breathers then get clogged with oil and can spray the engine compartment. :)

I suppose it's all in where you want your oil: sprayed into or onto the engine :D

[jlightning450]

I have put breathers on all three of my L's and never had a problem with any codes or popping of the PCV. The PCM program does need to be changed for the breather for the reasons that Animal stated but you should be running some kind of tuner anyhow. The oil in the blower trac can be fixed by using an oil seperator. This mod is sold by most of the tuners, but don't buy it from them. You can get all the parts to make one at a good hardware store, for half the cost.
Joel

[monsterpost]

2004 Lightning- Powered by Ford and Kenne Bell

Hummmmmmmmmmmm anything else you care to tell us Joel. Me thinks you will be needing a built engine in the near future, better start saving your money.

[jlightning450]

Dean, I told you the other day, you can be the first to have a DSG but I will be the FASTEST DSG.
Joel

[SVT 04]

The mistake I made in 2005 was I didn't have a tune or an oil seperator at the time. Since having both done I have no issues with running a Ford Racing Oil breather. The vacuum pressure actually went from 21 to 19 and centered the dial on the Auto Meter boost guage. The truck even seems a little more responsive:) I know it's all in my head.

:wzup: