I puked about 1/2 quart of oil recently while on track. Puked it through the air filter--caused quite a mess. In researching why this happened i heard from several others that also had this experienced . No one knows for sure why this happens--it is thought to occur because something plugged the little crancase vent we have---once the plug becomes dislodged etc--then the problem goes away.
Several of use have used a valve cover breather filter (looks like a mini cone k&N) inserted into a cut out in the middle of the oil cap. That seems to work.
Just passing this on to those of us that track occasionaly.
olddragger

 

Do you have a pic so i can see an example of this? I noticed when I cleaned my K&N the last time that I had puked some oil up on it.

 

Its quite basic: If you notice, just below that yellow factory oil cap there is a hose that, if you follow, will lead to your intake, pre TB (if you're an 04/05 at least, it may have been slightly redesigned in 06 I believe...). What OD is talking about is removing this line and plugging up the intake half with a small cap while throwing a breather on the nipple coming off of the top of crank case/oil inlet. The breather filters are somewhere around $10-15 at your local auto parts store and come in various colors

The primary reason for the recirculation is so that the oil returns back to the motor and is burned, rather than oily fumes exiting to the atmosphere. (AKA: Emissions)

There's a lengthy thread but this really sums it up in a nutshell. Try searching "crankcase breather" or perhaps "oil breather" and I'm sure some more relevant info should come up.

 

olddragger,

I'd be concerned that a vent on the oilcap will still 'puke' oil under certain conditions. Unlikely, but this could cause a fire.

I think a catch-can is a much better solution. You can still vent to atmosphere, but the spillage is contained. Kane has posted about using an anodized airtool receiver/dryer from Home Depot. Under $40....

 

Thanks for the info, I didn't realize there was a hose attached to the filler tube. I think I will search for Kane's thread. Thanks guys.

 

Yeah, the catch can would be the most sure fire way to prevent any possible spillage, at all.

Personally, however, it doesn't seem our car has much a problem with oil excretion as some other cars do. The oil must have some gas behind it causing it to "puke," correct? With the atmospheric mod there is a positive pressure in the crankcase relative to the negative/equalized pressure outside (the atmosphere). I'd gander to say the reason some may have the blowback is that the fumes are not being allowed to escape given the intake pipe pressure Vs crankcase shaft pressure + a clogged vent, perhaps. This is kind of my own speculation/logic I suppose but after owning an atmospheric vented catch can, and simply just the breather, I don't see a large reason for a catch can, bling asside. If anyone with a greater tech knowledge into the subject would like to chime in it would be greatly appreciated!

You can buy a used catch can for less than $40 if that is the direction you wish to take, actually.

 

Do you have a link for Kane's thread, I couldn't find it.

 

Different thread, but valuable nonetheless.

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...t=breather+mod

 

Here is my favourite catch can thread... https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=16370 It's mostly pictures, but this is such a simple mod.

You have two choices downstream from the catch can: Just put in a small filter and vent to atmosphere (make sure to plug the hose going to the intake); or, connect the exit of the catch can into the stock PCV hose location in the intake.

Here's Kane's description of his ~$40 Mod....

 

my catch can was my air intake!
OD

 

it didnt do a very good job! meatball flag and all.

beers

 

very true and that is my point---since the oil didnt come through the normal way--a catch can would not have done any good.
olddragger

 

I've had the same issue with oil coming up that breather tube and being sucked into the intake. The problem also occurs when you overfill your oil system! Ask me how I know!!

I installed a greddy catch can and put in line with that vaccum line on the intake and haven't had a problem since. The catch can grabs the nasty oil/water mixture and also any other oil that creeps up that line.

I'd suggest it for any 2004/2005 model since I too recall hearing it was re-designed for 2006.

 

no more vacuum tube for me --just the breather and to repeat ---my oil puke did not come through the oil breather tube---came directly from the engine since the crankcase vent somehow had a plug in it. So i d/ced the vent tube/vacuum thing and now it vents through the breather inserted through the oil filler cap.
that vacuum thing/setup is for emissions anyway.
olddragger

 

Wait, you put a breather in place of your oil filler cap? I would imagine replacing the vac line as most do, perhaps I'm reading this wrong?!

 

I also believe you can request the dealer retrofit the newer part; info available via TSB.

 

no you did not read wrong. i drilled out the oil cap and placed a valve cover breather type cone filter on it.
i will try to get a pic posted tonight.
olddragger

 

Im going to the track this weekend and i made my own Oil Catchcan for the total price of 21$ bucks after going to Lowes and Autozone. I will go take a picture of my setup in a second.