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Oil Vapor Separator Horror Show Pt 1

116K views 205 replies 60 participants last post by  Ragnomaniac 
#1 ·
I spent the last five weeks refurbing my motor's top end. I absolutely could not get the OVS cleaned out. I decided to peel off the lid to do a proper cleaning job--check out what I found--no wonder the oil drain line was always clogged up!:eek:
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Holey cow! They must've used some of that Russian steel in this thing. I first soaked it in carb cleaner, then naval jelly, and finally blasted it with 70 grit aluminum oxide. The non rusty metal left behind was paper thin, obviously unusable. Needless to say the corrugated brass filter(?) was shot. See part 2 for my solution.
 
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#189 ·
I just started working on my 87 Spider,I've been going through all the components under the hood. I got to the oil separator. Clogged and not designed to be opened, as all you Alfa people know. Your solution made my day thank you so much, now back to work.
 
#190 ·
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That's what the Forum is all about!

Now fill in your signature line and you will become an official member, in good standing. :)

Best wishes!
 
#191 ·
Question for Alfanuts.

You soaked the OSV in paint thinner and cleaned a while back. Have you checked it lately? Was cleaning as you described effective?

Just bought a '77 spieder with 23k original miles. Have not delved into this beyond the bottom hose which had some black crud in it. Figured I would do as you did and clean all of this system.
 
#192 · (Edited)
you can bet your bottom dollar, it hasn't been cleaned in 23k miles;)

yes. I do it every year (max every two)
Pretty clean now.
Alfa recommended cleaning it every few thousand miles (read this somewhere, but can't find it again, might even be in my WSM or a TSB maybe)

edit: oops sorry, question was for alfanuts.......
 
#197 ·
Separator Options

Has anyone tried Fritz Wenger's separators @Alfa-onlineshop?

Found the link from "the other" OVS thread titled, "oil vapor seperator". I'm not at 10 posts so I can't do links.

I hear shipping is expensive, so it may even out to what Centerline is charging for their versions.

I ended up going a catch can route on eBay for $23 shipped. Plugged the vacuum and oil pan nozzles. I'll have to live with draining the oil (environmentally of course) and not having the centrifugal swirl of the original.
 

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#198 ·
Glad I found this thread!!

Dang if the OB didn't remove the oil separator and run the PCV hose right into the air cleaner box on my 1976... Result, air cleaner saturated with oil within a very short time!!

I got some work to do...
 
#199 ·
Normally the oil separator doesn't need to scavenge a lot of oil. If, and I only say if, large quantities of oil are being blown by and out the crankcase vent it usually indicates worn rings. If you are seeing light blue smoke out the tailpipe under hard acceleration chances are the oil ring is worn or never seated in the first place. While annoying compression can still be good so it doesn't mean the motor has to be rebuilt right away.
 
#201 ·
I spent the last five weeks refurbing my motor's top end. I absolutely could not get the OVS cleaned out. I decided to peel off the lid to do a proper cleaning job--check out what I found--no wonder the oil drain line was always clogged up!:eek:
View attachment 102725
View attachment 102728
View attachment 102730
Holey cow! They must've used some of that Russian steel in this thing. I first soaked it in carb cleaner, then naval jelly, and finally blasted it with 70 grit aluminum oxide. The non rusty metal left behind was paper thin, obviously unusable. Needless to say the corrugated brass filter(?) was shot. See part 2 for my solution.
If they've used Russian steel , whole part would be of much better quality!
 
#202 ·
I spent the last five weeks refurbing my motor's top end. I absolutely could not get the OVS cleaned out. I decided to peel off the lid to do a proper cleaning job--check out what I found--no wonder the oil drain line was always clogged up!:eek:
View attachment 102725
View attachment 102728
View attachment 102730
Holey cow! They must've used some of that Russian steel in this thing. I first soaked it in carb cleaner, then naval jelly, and finally blasted it with 70 grit aluminum oxide. The non rusty metal left behind was paper thin, obviously unusable. Needless to say the corrugated brass filter(?) was shot. See part 2 for my solution.


you can in fact just run a breather with a filter. i have a 84 and run the car this way with no change in idle or running of the car. everything is good to go.

 
#206 ·
Hi Tifosi, any ideas on how to incorporate the OVS on a carb setup w/o an airbox to return to? The PO has the cam cover going to a T-connector, with an inline air filter, then to the OVS. Out of the OVS, the vacuum return goes to the dipstick and the oil and air returns are plugged. The car runs well but I do get some spray in the engine bay - not much, but still.

Besides having the oil return connected to the dipstick, do you see any other issues?

Here's a pic:
1637635
 
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