Breather on 230?

[Improbcat]

Is the breather needed on the valve cover of a 230 that also has a PCV valve? I'm asking because the filter in my breather is shot and I geta bunch of oil spattering on the valve cover.
Can I replace this with an oil cap?

[Lugnutz65]

I'm sure you can just cap it because my 230 had a sealed cap. The cap gasket was shot so I bought a breather cap. Why not just replace the breather?

[TJ's Chevy]

Yes you can replace it with a sealed cap, but its always the "better" idea to have a breather...just so everything can breath. lol New breathers come with an element inside to keep oil from coming out.

[Improbcat]

Originally Posted by Lugnutz65

Why not just replace the breather?

Because I'm an idiot and didn't think of that. Last vehicle I tired to replace the breather on they no longer made them, so never even thought to look for one for this truck.

[old cool]

I'm sorta going off subject here, but I replaced the grommet for the pvc yesterday on my 250. I found a generic that measured out the same as mine at O'rlys. The job was not as simple as it looks. lol
The old grommet was almost melted into the valve cover. It began coming apart as I carefully pried with screw driver... SO, I applied a little penetrating oil and had someone hold a wet dry vac as I worked. Ended up removing the upper part of rubber first; then made vertical cut with razor knife; then carefully used screw driver and began prying the inside (melted and crystallized) part out. The whole time I had visions of rubber pieces laying on top of the head. But, it was all good in the end.
The generic grommet looks original and fits very snug. It took a little elbow grease and some help going in. PVC was snug as a bug. At least at this point, vacuum system is improved and the hose stands vertically.

[chevy_mike]

With a PCV connected, you need some source of fresh, filtered air to come into the engine, otherwise you create a vacuum inside, which can pull seals in and then create a leak. Stock setups typically had a port that connected to the underside of the air cleaner. That is ideal as you typically won't get any oil to splash up into that area. With a breather right on the valve cover, if there is no splash shield inside the valve cover, oil will be flung into the breather, which will eventually cause oil on the outside of the valve cover.

[Sharps40]

Run a breather. The non vented cap is only for the 6 cyl valve covers with three holes in them.