Crankcase breather question

[Robby]

On the 6 cylinder petrol engine used from the mid 80s to the mid 90s - Certainly the lump in E300 W124s and 2.6 190Es, does the crankcase breather have its own filter before the air cleaner housing, or is it just that little tube going from the rocker cover to the air cleaner housing?

Trying to track down my top end oil weep, and a blocked crankcase breather wouldn't help things. I read car mechanics again today, you see.

 

[Dieselman]

It doesn't really matter if it has an oil trap or not to work, that just stops oil entering the air filter housing.

Pull the pipe off the filter housing and it should gently puff. If there is no puff then it's blocked, if it breathes heavily then the rings are worn. Before condemning the rings run some flushing oil throught the engine.

You are correct to suspect breathers as most people don't clean them out and they do block eventually.