Mopar Stock Valve Cover Breather

[Moparfiend]

Trying to not go stir crazy so little bit of hobby time is good medicine for me. Cleaned off my old valve covers such that I can replace the chrome ones which I hate.

I would like to reuse my 1970 valve cover breather as I like that stock look AND new one are like $50 min.

Question: Can I clean it out somehow and if so whats a good method?

 

[khryslerkid]

If the filter material inside isn't dry rotted and coming apart you can wash it out with solvent like gasoline. If it's the type that doesn't have material inside you can do the same.

 

[Moparfiend]

If the filter material inside isn't dry rotted and coming apart you can wash it out with solvent like gasoline. If it's the type that doesn't have material inside you can do the same.

I see dead people.....I mean I see some old nasty filter material. All this thing needs to do is breath lol I wonder if I can breakdown the material with a solvent and have it empty.......

 

[Jerry Hall]

I put them in my parts washer, which contains mineral spirts and run through it in both directions until clean.

 

[Moparfiend]

I put them in my parts washer, which contains mineral spirts and run through it in both directions until clean.

So I am not crazy.....

Does the filter material breakdown, come out or stay intact when you wash it? What solvent ya use?

 

[Jerry Hall]

So I am not crazy.....

Does the filter material breakdown, come out or stay intact when you wash it? What solvent ya use?

The ones I have done look like some kind of course steel wool.

 

[khryslerkid]

The ones I have done look like some kind of course steel wool.

Always reminded me of something similar to scotch pad. I'd doubt theres any household/garage chemical that would break it down.

Wash it out. If you see lots of pieces of material, you know it's coming apart. Breathers without material in them use a baffle to keep the oil from coming up into the hose. Some use material and a baffle.

 

[Moparfiend]

I envision using my forceps to pull the nasty from its dark hiding spot and to deliver the innards to the tallest mound in the area ..... .. .

 

[khryslerkid]

I envision using my forceps to pull the nasty from its dark hiding spot and to deliver the innards to the tallest mound in the area ..... .. .

I hope you're talking about your breather!

 

[Islandkent]

If you can blow through it and no lose material it should be alright. Right??

 

[moparedtn]

Brakleen. Copious amounts. Let 'er sit a while, then hose it out good one last time
with the stuff. Whatever doesn't come out ain't gonna - and therefore, isn't going
to hurt a thing.

 

[moparmarks]

I soak them with Easyoff over cleaner. Makes them clean as a whistle. They have steel wool inside.

 

[PRND21]

Brakleen, choke cleaner, acetone. Let it soak a day or two, then a lot of compressed air to blow out the residue. Should be coarse steel wool inside, if not repack it with steel wool. Should only be clean air from your air cleaner being drawn into the breather.

 

[khryslerkid]

I'm not doubting anyone, but I can't imagine they would have used a "steel" wool inside. A piece of steel wool will rust and disintegrate in no time at all just in the open air. ???

 

[Jerry Hall]

I'm not doubting anyone, but I can't imagine they would have used a "steel" wool inside. A piece of steel wool will rust and disintegrate in no time at all just in the open air. ???

Do you remember the old scouring pads that were used to scrub pots and pans in the kitchen? That is the type material I'm talking about. I never saw one of those rust. I think they were some kind of stainless steel. Today they make those from plastic and they don't do as good of a job.

 

[c.moo]

SOS soap pads rust , some do some don't , how about copper wool ?

Do you remember the old scouring pads that were used to scrub pots and pans in the kitchen? That is the type material I'm talking about. I never saw one of those rust. I think they were some kind of stainless steel. Today they make those from plastic and they don't do as good of a job.

 

[Moparfiend]

I have mine soaking in paint thinner right now. The material inside is thick and strong not like steel wool. As I clean it maybe I can better identify what the f@:?! it is. But it doesn’t look like it will break up. I blew into it before I added the paint thinner and it flows just fine.

 

[MW 413]

Spray it liberally inside with carb cleaner and let it soak upside down 15 minutes. Then flush it with brake clean and dry with compressed air. I've done several old ones that way and never had the fiber come out. Wire wheel the outside and paint the outside gloss black and your done.

 

[Moparfiend]

Well it cleaned up well. It does not appear to have any steel wool type of filtration but more of a baffle set up as can be seen. I used everything on the shelf to clean it.

 

[Moparfiend]

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