Case breather

[gammaxy]

I've spent the last two evenings struggling with routing my case breather and am being stumped by this seemingly-easy task.

I have a top-mounted oil cooler and am planning on routing the 5052-O breather tube overboard (can't get any simpler, or so I thought).

I am having a difficult time bending the tube to miss the oil cooler and exit the baffle through a pre-drilled hole (not sure if it comes with the breather hole already or if the previous engine owner drilled it). I am bending by hand and keep kinking the tube and otherwise ending up with complicated bends that I have to scrap.

My plan is to have two aluminum tubes--one running down the firewall and the other one passing through the baffle with a flexible hose joining the two.

Do I need a tubing bender? Any recommendations for one for 5/8" tube? Do I just need to be patient and try it again?

[wlarson861]

I used the type of bender used for electrical conduit. The size of the breather tube does not take a small radius bend without kinking. I also used flexible hose to transition from the top of the engine to the vertical down the fire wall into the oil seperator.

[sonex1284]

Also - Anneal the aluminum to make it easier to bend. If you don't know the sharpie trick, scribble all over the tube with your favorite color sharpie. Then, use a torch to heat up the tube until the scribble totally disappears. Use the spring-type tube benders from Home Depot or Harbor Freight to make the job easier.

[dallen]

Hi tried several methods, but worked for me was the spring type tube benders you can buy a hardware store like Lowes. They are fairly cheap ~ 10 bucks or less.

Good luck.

[Onex107]

I had the same problem with my Onex. I resolved it by turning the vent casting around and running the vent tube in a big curve around the cooler on the right side up to the top of the fire wall, and then with a nylon 90 degree tube fitting, ran it down the fire wall into a home made oil separator. Works great. With the casting facing the other way a big curve missed the cooler very nicely.

[onex28]

I'll try to hit the right thread this time, no response from the aerobatic thread.

Anyone have a source for DIY oil separator? Would this one from Jegs Be suitable for a VW?

http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS-Performance- ... 5/10002/-1

David

[onex28]

Correct link

http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS-Performance- ... 5/10002/-1

David

[kmwoody]

I made my breather from an unused aluminum water bottle my son received from a school tour. I was able to find a black plastic hose fitting that screwed into the top, drilled an upper outlet hole, with an AN hose fitting and drilled a drain hole in the bottom with an AN capped fitting. All three fittings were sealed with Permatex RTV Grey. I put 2 stainless steel scouring pads inside the bottle to reduce sloshing. The outlet hose exits below the cowl. I attempt aerobatics (I don't perform them) quite a bit and do not have oil on the bottom of the fuselage. I attached it to the motor mount in a bicycle water bottle holder.
I drain about 2 ounces of oil at each oil change.
Since I had the bottle and took the holder off an unused bike the whole unit was pretty cheap. Probably $12 to $15 invested.


I attached an image of another unit I copied from, I don't have a picture of my setup. The difference is that my outlet is near the top of the bottle, I don't have any hoses inside. On this setup his inlet hose goes to the bottom of the bottle inside and his outlet hose on the bottom goes inside almost to the top.

Ken W
Sonex 959
CAMit 3300

[onex28]

Sounds like a good set up Ken. Thanks for the details and photo.

David

[SonexN76ET]

May I suggest the ACV-S03-01 AeroConversions Oil Separator? The nice thing about this one is you can put a oil return line back to your engine. It is simple to install and works great. Yes, it is a little expensive, but it is one less thing to worry about. It has proven itself to be airworthy. I have been very pleased with mine.

Thanks,

Jake