Why is there oil in the breather tube of a motorcycle?
by Chris Gilliland. A stream of oil, flowing from the engine’s breather tube and into your motorcycle’s air box, is the result of a condition called blow-by. Caused by an increase of pressure within a motorcycle’s engine, this phenomenon forces oil up into the breather tube attached to the crankcase.
What happens when the breather tube is blocked in a car?
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 a breather tube is blocked, ice is usually the culprit.
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 breather tube in an airplane work?
If you’ve cleaned the belly of an airplane or a hangar floor you know that a bit does drip out. But most is held back because in many applications the tube goes “uphill” for a bit before routing through the cowling and coming out the bottom. Look low. Really low.
by Chris Gilliland. A stream of oil, flowing from the engine’s breather tube and into your motorcycle’s air box, is the result of a condition called blow-by. Caused by an increase of pressure within a motorcycle’s engine, this phenomenon forces oil up into the breather tube attached to the crankcase.
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 a breather tube is blocked, ice is usually the culprit.
What to do if your breather tube is blocked?
If a breather tube is blocked, ice is usually the culprit. On cold days, bend down and check the tube to ensure it’s completely clear of ice. If there’s ice present, make sure to get rid of it before starting up.
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.