How does the oil breather tube in a car work?

How does the oil breather tube in a car work?

That’s done through the oil breather tube, a section of plastic or metal tubing that comes out of the engine and vents through to the outside. Although this benign little hose doesn’t require much maintenance, it does have one major drawback—a blocked breather tube can pressurize the engine and cause seals to fail.

What happens if the breather tube is blocked?

Although this benign little hose doesn’t require much maintenance, it does have one major drawback—a blocked breather tube can pressurize the engine and cause seals to fail. Those seals hold in oil, and without them, the engine will throw the black stuff everywhere, which may be quickly followed by it shutting down altogether.

What to do if you have ice in your breather tube?

If there’s ice present, make sure to get rid of it before starting up. Many breather tubes have a smart and simple way to counteract a blockage. Called a “whistle slot,” the manufacturer will cut a small slice in the tube. When the tube becomes pressurized, the slice allows air to escape. Ian J. Twombly is senior content producer for AOPA Media.

How does the whistle slot in the breather tube work?

Called a “whistle slot,” the manufacturer will cut a small slice in the tube. When the tube becomes pressurized, the slice allows air to escape. Ian J. Twombly is senior content producer for AOPA Media.

That’s done through the oil breather tube, a section of plastic or metal tubing that comes out of the engine and vents through to the outside. Although this benign little hose doesn’t require much maintenance, it does have one major drawback—a blocked breather tube can pressurize the engine and cause seals to fail.

Although this benign little hose doesn’t require much maintenance, it does have one major drawback—a blocked breather tube can pressurize the engine and cause seals to fail. Those seals hold in oil, and without them, the engine will throw the black stuff everywhere, which may be quickly followed by it shutting down altogether.

If there’s ice present, make sure to get rid of it before starting up. Many breather tubes have a smart and simple way to counteract a blockage. Called a “whistle slot,” the manufacturer will cut a small slice in the tube. When the tube becomes pressurized, the slice allows air to escape. Ian J. Twombly is senior content producer for AOPA Media.

Called a “whistle slot,” the manufacturer will cut a small slice in the tube. When the tube becomes pressurized, the slice allows air to escape. Ian J. Twombly is senior content producer for AOPA Media.