Perkins Breather Pipe

[Roatavator]

Kevmag52 started this conversation with me but being the idiot I am I couldn't figure out how to reply, so I'll put it here.

Hi, I came across your pickup via a reto rides thread and one of the photos shows an engine shot. I've got the same diesel variant in my pb and just wondered where the breather pipe goes to from the rocker cover, on yours it appears to have a pipe on it and wondered if it went to a catch tank or just down to the side. Mine is just the metal pipe coming out from the cover and tends to drip a bit of oil. Also have you got the starting issue sorted? Again mine just likes to start when it's warm or mild at best...us diesel boys have to stick together I think we're a bit of a minority round these parts.

My son Phil (escape fom reality) has spent more time peering in the engine compartement than me so I asked him. This is his reply:-

"Yours just goes down the side of the engine and doesn't go anywhere or into a catch tank either - it drips a bit too. It's expected that after 40 years they'd drop a bit as they will breathe a bit now. Even truck engines until a couple of years ago breathed to atmosphere and dripped a bit after a few years use. If he wanted he could fit a catch can to catch the drips as long as it had an outlet on it so it could still breath which could be fitted with a small filter if he wanted. There's plenty of washable breather filters available cheaply on eBay."

I've found mine will start reliably but you just need to thrash the starter a bit more than feels comfortable! Perkins seem to have a reputation for being reluctant starters from cold. When cash and time permit I might get a top end overhaul done and some other work as she leaks a bit of oil here and there as well as not liking the cold, but at the moment just want to have fun with her!

 

[colinthefox]

In the spirit of sticking together..................

A couple of pics of that breather pipe. Here's the join between the rocker cover and the pipe down the side of the engine.



and here's the highly technical environmentally friendly bottom end of the pipe


Unfortunately the drips from the breather will plaster the side of the engine and gearbox, then drip off and hit the front of the exhaust silencer, then go on to cover the back axle and fueltank. At least it stops them rusting! I usually have a small plastic drinks bottle over the end of the pipe, zip tied around the bracket you can just see behind the speedo cable. I'm hoping that my nice clean engine will stay that way with the newly refurbished engine.

My experience of starting Perkins engines has been very good at any temperature, but only if the Thermostart is working correctly, and there are no leaks in the fuel system.

 

[Panky]

You could pipe it into the chassis legs to coat them on the inside

 

[jimberlake]

That engine needs paint Colin

 

[Roatavator]

Yes, the underside of mine is oil covered. Part I assume from the breather and part from some dodgy seals. But I quite like the idea of an automatic self rust prevention feature at the moment! Surprisingly, despite the drips/leaks, the oil level doesn't drop much at all, just goes to show a little oil must go a long way!