[Freemorfeem]

Just curious if anyone here running the VTT oil cap breather could comment on any PROS and CONS to it?

I am already running an Oil Catch Can and an RB PCV valve upgrade. Just wondering if I can keep my 124K mile N54 happier by releasing crankcase pressure this way. Thx!

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...RoCTUgQAvD_BwE

[lookalikehuuh]

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[Sgop335]

Do they mention a cracking pressure? 0.5psi or less so would be good.
Made a crank case pressure cap by modifying an oil cap w a long hose and pr gage and driving around. Pressure was < 0.5 psi at wot if that. Thats when things are working properly.

[Freemorfeem]

Originally Posted by Sgop335

Do they mention a cracking pressure? 0.5psi or less so would be good.
Made a crank case pressure cap by modifying an oil cap w a long hose and pr gage and driving around. Pressure was < 0.5 psi at wot if that. Thats when things are working properly.

That sounds about right. I am searching and cannot find a definitive answer from VTT.

However on the Spool St. foruum, one user wrote the following and the comment was "liked" by the product's staff (or creator) Chris@VargasTurboTech. That's the best I can find!

"the ball is designed to vent at .5 or 1 psi (I just forget which) which is not much at all," ---Panzerfaust

So, if .5 or less is healthy pressure, anything above that should cause the ball inside the breather to rise and release the extra pressure, and therefore do some good... in theory.

Anyone here using one of these???




from forum
https://*********************/thread...-company.5300/

[Freemorfeem]

The main reason I'm skeptical is because as a Noob I see that Oil Catch Cans are widespread and well known upgrades. And everyone knows the n54 valve cover gasket can leak. Therefore, if the Oil Cap Crankcase Breather helps prevent valve cover leaks and crankcase leaks, why is this NOT a "MUST HAVE" littered on the forums and youtube?

Seems like it's either...
1. New--ish for the n54 & unknown & a great solution or,
2. A lot of people who know more than me see this and know it's a gimmick. or,
3. There is a lot of wide spread use but I'm just missing it.

[blown07]

I have this on both my cars and I am a firm believer in them especially for eliminating RMS/valve cover leaks due to crank case pressure. Not to mention the reduced crank case pressure under boost has to worth some HP. There is one trick you have to do though to keep the ball from sticking...I took my automatic center punch and put a small divot in the aluminum angled seat where the ball sits. It's enough to keep the ball from sticking and doesn't allow any air to get sucked in. I also had to add RVT silicone below the rubber seal and the aluminum base to make it tighter when you screw it in....not a perfect design...

[Sgop335]

Its a crankcase breather. The car already has a crankcase breather. That large vent tube that breathes into the rear turbo inlet.
So lets say that gets clogged or something but its big and/or the pcv valve starts leaking boost into cc, this could be an insurance
Good to keep that vent tube in good shape.

[Freemorfeem]

Originally Posted by blown07

I have this on both my cars and I am a firm believer in them especially for eliminating RMS/valve cover leaks due to crank case pressure. Not to mention the reduced crank case pressure under boost has to worth some HP. There is one trick you have to do though to keep the ball from sticking...I took my automatic center punch and put a small divot in the aluminum angled seat where the ball sits. It's enough to keep the ball from sticking and doesn't allow any air to get sucked in. I also had to add RVT silicone below the rubber seal and the aluminum base to make it tighter when you screw it in....not a perfect design...

Just bought mine from ECS. I can try the center punch solution, too. For the rubber seal not being tight enough, I can play with that. I wonder if I can use the rubber seal from the stock cap and add it to this so as to "double up" on them. Thoughts?

[Freemorfeem]

Originally Posted by Sgop335

Its a crankcase breather. The car already has a crankcase breather. That large vent tube that breathes into the rear turbo inlet.
So lets say that gets clogged or something but its big and/or the pcv valve starts leaking boost into cc, this could be an insurance
Good to keep that vent tube in good shape.

Great to hear! Though I am a noob' I was thinking the same thing---at a minimum it's "insurance" for the system

[NoGuru]

I have had this on my car for about 2 or 3 years now and I am around 600whp, and have not had to replace the valve cover yet. Every little bit helps.

[Dave92N54]

I will be installing one with my new set of turbos. Agreed that it technically should not be needed, we have a crankcase ventilation system, but as i'm sure we all know, it's not perfect and does fail or act up. The breather cap is just some extra assurance.

[Freemorfeem]

So…

(extra) crankcase breathers are for the over achievers.

I’m in

[Freemorfeem]

Originally Posted by NoGuru

I have had this on my car for about 2 or 3 years now and I am around 600whp, and have not had to replace the valve cover yet. Every little bit helps.

Ok, so Ive run the VTT crankcase breather for a couple days now… I’ve lost boost in 1st gear, sometimes get it in second and have a weak amount in 3rd and 4th. No empirical data for this but I’m getting to know how this engine feels pretty well. Something ain’t right.

Is this a total coincidence and unrelated issue, or is the Breather breathing too much and throwing off my air fuel mixture and therefore boost? Forgive any ignorance baked into my questions. I’m still very much a learner here.

Note: I am running an oil catch can and an upgraded PCV valve. Before the breather install I had a boost leak I found with a smoke test that revealed leaks on the OCC’s tubes, which I fixed with hose clamps and noticed great results.

On the one hand I understand all air in the engine is related / connected from intake to exhaust, on the other hand I thought that boost enters the piston stroke as intake, combustion, then power, therefore boost is “used up” as its air enters the exhaust stroke… and all of that creates the crankcase gases/pressure. So…. a crankcase breathing out of a breather is far enough down the line that it’s not related to or effecting boost pressure on the intake side of things. But the correlation of me installing the breather and feeling major power loss is undeniable. Am I onto something or showing off my huge knowledge gaps & misunderstandings, hahah!

Help Huge thanks!

[NoGuru]

Did you pull the gasket off the stock oil cap and put it on the VTT breather?

If you did, I am not sure what would cause low boost in 1st but post a log and we can see what is going on. Try and get one through a few gears.

[Freemorfeem]

Originally Posted by NoGuru

Did you pull the gasket off the stock oil cap and put it on the VTT breather?

If you did, I am not sure what would cause low boost in 1st but post a log and we can see what is going on. Try and get one through a few gears.

Thanks! This VTT breather came with a gasket, so I did not add, or replace it with, the stock one.

I thought I had read somewhere that the v1 had no gasket so everyone just used the stock one from the oil cap. But that on v2 it came with a gasket.

Today I put the oil cap back on and did some pulls. Power is back. So, I guess I have two options to try with the breather and I'm curious which you suggest.

1. remove the VTT provided gasket and replace with the stock one from the oil cap.
2. Add the stock gasket on top of the VTT one so there's two (if that wouldn't be too thick)

I don't have a Tune yet, so I don't have an app monitoring and running logs. If there's another way, I'd be interested. An MHD tune is coming soon. I just wanted the engine to be ready for it.

[NoGuru]

Originally Posted by Freemorfeem

Thanks! This VTT breather came with a gasket, so I did not add, or replace it with, the stock one.

I thought I had read somewhere that the v1 had no gasket so everyone just used the stock one from the oil cap. But that on v2 it came with a gasket.

Today I put the oil cap back on and did some pulls. Power is back. So, I guess I have two options to try with the breather and I'm curious which you suggest.

1. remove the VTT provided gasket and replace with the stock one from the oil cap.
2. Add the stock gasket on top of the VTT one so there's two (if that wouldn't be too thick)

I don't have a Tune yet, so I don't have an app monitoring and running logs. If there's another way, I'd be interested. An MHD tune is coming soon. I just wanted the engine to be ready for it.

I didn't know they made other versions but if the gasket is there it should be fine. You would be able to tell because the cap would be loose if the gasket was not tight enough.

MHD has logging of the DME and I would do that regardless if you have a tune or not so you can tell the health of the engine. It's been a long time for me but I think you can buy a separate license for just monitoring.

[Torgus]

Do you need it? Not if everything is working correctly. Can it help band aid another problem? Yes. Just fix the real issue.

It, like many VTT products, often has issues. The ball likes to get stuck and it does not fit all that great. VS makes a similar product IIRC.

It's cheap and people like cheap mods. Kind of like the ripped off Moroso vacuum relief product.

[NoGuru]

Torgus has a good point. Maybe just not use it.

[Torgus]

Originally Posted by NoGuru

Torgus has a good point. Maybe just not use it.

I mean it should not 'hurt' anything. I just don't think it is really needed.

[Freemorfeem]

I am leaning toward not using it and returning it. I already have the upgraded PCV valve, oil catch can, and no oil leaks anywhere.

[en_bloc45]

Did my research last year when I was looking at getting one. Good rule of thumb is if it really made a difference you would already have found a definitive answer, or BMW would have already included some version of it which ours already does. Looks cool though but is def rice

[Freemorfeem]

Originally Posted by en_bloc45

Did my research last year when I was looking at getting one. Good rule of thumb is if it really made a difference you would already have found a definitive answer, or BMW would have already included some version of it which ours already does. Looks cool though but is def rice

Started my Return already