Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob T
Something about "dirty air" and "fumes"?  |
Short answer? All engines experience some degree of blowby which results in some nasty gases in the crankcase, forced induction causes an increase in these gases. In a typical setting, these are run through a PCV system (one-way to prevent higher intake pressures from going back into the crankcase) into the intake stream. Some oil is invariably carried through the system and gets on/in everything as it's typically routed back to the intake source just downstream of air filtration. In a car running an intercooler, the intercooler commonly collects this oil.
The idea of this device is to condense the oil out of the blowby gases before allowing those gases to be recirculated into the intake. In Dave's set-up, it's preventing that oil from being dumped into the supercharger.
Ever see a dirty PCV valve that's sludged up? That's basically what's getting dumped back into the intake - the stuff that becomes that gooey sludge. Ever note that oily film in an airbox when you change an air filter?
There are other ways to address the issue but a closed system like this is fairly safe and clean (environmentally speaking).