Questions about Oil Filler & Oil Breather (photos)

[Shaka]

After spending the last 30+ minutes searching, reading up and such .. I am still a little bit confused about the routing of the oil breather and filler.

Having noticed that my oil pipe has a leak at the base, but not being easily able to tell if it was the pipe itself or the gasket, I went ahead and order THIS PART from ISP last night. Also ordered a new gasket, as well as the washers/nuts that go along with it. The upper boot/clamp were all VERY good/dry so those will be re-used.

I noticed that there was a LOT of oil on the CONNECTION HOSE that comes off that pipe. But also see that ISP is out of stock on that hose.

QUESTION #1 - where else may I be able to source the right size/type of hose for this replacement?

QUESTION #2 - where exactly does that hose go to, or should it be routed to?

(tried to figure out answer to #2 myself last night, too dark out)

I had found THIS PHOTO that shows item #10 is the hose I'm going to need when I get that pipe. But it doesn't clearly show where to route it to, or what it actually is connecting to....

Thanks to Raf's old thread, I have TWO photos of the engine handy (neither are current, but they are still accurate enough)
Link to Photo #1
Link to Photo #2

QUESTION #3 - should I just leave the oil breather as-is, or is that perhaps where the filler neck is supposed to route to? or other?

Since I can clearly see the oil breather is open to atmosphere I'm trying to figure out basically if I should put something (filter) on there, or if that should be routed to the filler neck -- etc -- please help clarify for me, thanks!!
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~ Shaka! ~ FB! ~ (1971 VW Squareback) ~

[Bobnotch]

[Shaka]

Okay so ... let me "verbalize" how I think this system works and then you can clarify for me. As it appears...

The oil "breather" (the black little "mini-fuel-tank" looking thing) sits on top of the motor. That big round part inside of it has some sort of spring loaded filter in it, I presume it allows a certain amount of pressure before it opens for blow-by. Yes?

Then off the breather it appears there are TWO outlets, one which goes down along the side of the motor (right side, towards oil filler neck). In that case it connectors to the oil filler neck, so that any excess oil uses gravity to go BACK into the car. Yes?

Lastly, there is a "higher up" outlet on the breather, the one that points towards the rear-left of the car (in my car shown HERE it is open to atmoshpere). That "should" recycle back to the intake stream, the theory being this was better for emissions. Yes?

Assuming that is all 100% correct, I'd rather keep the system how it was/is now -- that "weep" valve you suggested seems like the kind of thing that would drop oil when it is full, and I'm trying to get the car to leak LESS is sort of my goal here. I see what you mean about the pipe not being the short-coming but as it looks like the gasket may also be leaking (although could just be from the pipe) figured I'd not take any chances and just remove the pipe altogether during an oil change.

Sidenote: safe to assume that the BEST time to remove that hard-pipe is during an oil change, yes?

I'm sure I can find some proper diameter, oil-resistant hose somewhere local or otherwise. Between Summit Racing (local) and McMaster-Carr (also local) here in Ohio, I've got plenty of good sources. I'd like to do it right, do it once. And do it "OEM" if possible....

Last question then (assuming all my questions were "YES" to above) --- based on my photo of my engine, which doesn't have an air "bath" system but just filters atop each baby-del carb ... do I even have any options of where to reroute the outer vent? Perhaps that is why it doesn't go anywhere right now, because there aren't any good options with my carb setup?
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~ Shaka! ~ FB! ~ (1971 VW Squareback) ~

[DaBlackSamba]

as for venting the oil tank on top of the motor, i got a mini filter from the local autozone


its what i did
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1968 VW variant

[Bobnotch]

[Shaka]

Lots of good replies and a photo to boot, thanks to you both.

Bob, I'm not regretting the purchase of that pipe because I want to be extra safe and remove it, get new gaskets and make sure there is no chance of any issues there. Figure while I have it off I'll source some local fuel line and just replace the hose up to the breather. From there I'll probably just do a small filter element like others have done, like the reply/photo above. It'll work because as you said no other options with my carbs per se....

Thanks again.... this is the info needed. I'm guessing when I get home in a bit I'll be better able to now find/see that "other" down-spout off the breather that I didn't see last night but now totally understand...
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~ Shaka! ~ FB! ~ (1971 VW Squareback) ~

[SamSmith]

I used a bit of garden hose for the connection between the breather and the dipstick tube pipe thing. Seems kinda ghetto but it works, and I know others who have done the same. None of the braided hose I could find was big enough or it was to big.

[Shaka]

Thanks, Sam.

Based on the replies above, I ended up deciding to go with the "early" setup now. And replace my breather too just for sake of making sure it had a filter inside too. So I have a new breather (early style) from ISP with the "nipple" that will sit at the bottom of it too. And I have a new early style filler pipe en-route, too. Plus the gaskets/washers/nuts to boot. Hopefully that fixes my problem.

QUESTION -- is it safe to assume that the filler neck sits low enough that I'm going to have to / want to drain my oil entirely to change the filler neck pipe? Because I assume all the oil or most of it will drain out the neck hole once I open that anyhow otherwise?
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~ Shaka! ~ FB! ~ (1971 VW Squareback) ~

[SamSmith]

Yes drain the oil,