I've since reinstalled the separator but with the filter element removed. This turns it into a simple gravity trap with drain such as is sometimes installed in dry exhaust and steam lines.
Removing the filter (Mainesail's suggestion) eliminates the possibility of excess oil plugging it and increasing crankcase pressure which was a principle contributing cause of my oil loss.
The interesting thing, after several hours of operation, is this. When I had the filter in the unit and the breather line ending in the air, black oil steadily collected in the separator bowl. Now that I have the breather line properly connected to the suction nipple on the manifold (not all engines have this feature) and the filter element removed the separator cum liquid trap now has shown not a drop of pure oil. All that collects in it is free water condensed from the fumes and a grey emulsion of a little oil.
I think that the raising of the crankcase pressure due to the restriction caused by my previous configuration caused oil to be pushed up to where it could enter the breather tube. Now that I have removed the restriction and put a slight negative pressure on the hose, free oil doesn't seem to be getting into the breather hose at all.
Looking at the amount of condensation water that is collecting, I'm glad to know that it isn't being sucked into the engine intake. It can't be good for the engine.
Removing the filter (Mainesail's suggestion) eliminates the possibility of excess oil plugging it and increasing crankcase pressure which was a principle contributing cause of my oil loss.
The interesting thing, after several hours of operation, is this. When I had the filter in the unit and the breather line ending in the air, black oil steadily collected in the separator bowl. Now that I have the breather line properly connected to the suction nipple on the manifold (not all engines have this feature) and the filter element removed the separator cum liquid trap now has shown not a drop of pure oil. All that collects in it is free water condensed from the fumes and a grey emulsion of a little oil.
I think that the raising of the crankcase pressure due to the restriction caused by my previous configuration caused oil to be pushed up to where it could enter the breather tube. Now that I have removed the restriction and put a slight negative pressure on the hose, free oil doesn't seem to be getting into the breather hose at all.
Looking at the amount of condensation water that is collecting, I'm glad to know that it isn't being sucked into the engine intake. It can't be good for the engine.
