Hi, I have a 1979 RS2000 that developed a bad oil leak. Once I got the car on the hoist I could see that the breather hose coming from the block just below the inlet manifold had come out and this was where the oil was coming from. When I had a look in a Haynes manual that I have I could see a small tank sitting over the hole in the block and the breather tube coming from this. My car does not have the small tank, it just has a tapered plastic fitting on the end of the tube and this is only pushed into the hole in the block. This doesn’t seem right to me.
Do I need the little tank or is the breather tube OKrunning straight into the block. The other end of the tube runs to a fitting at the back of the rocker cover. What is the purpose of the tank. Any helpful information would be much appreciated.
Paul

You will need the tank, its full of gauze and lets the fumes out but keeps the oil in. You may also need the pcv valve, its a little one way unit so things don't flow back into the crank case. Shouldn't be too hard to find either, try 2ltr Cortina aswell, same thing.
Cheers Drew

Thanks Drew,
The breather tube on my car runs from the hole in the block below the inlet manifold directly to a fitting on the top of the rocker cover at the back.
I can’t see this fitting at the back of the rocker cover on any pictures of Pinto engines I can find on line so it looks like some one may have welded it on. Would this be OK or would I still need the tank with the gauze. Where does this tube normally run to ?
regards,
Paul

The small tank is an oil separator, which removes the oil from the crankcase vapours & allows the oil to drain back into the sump. The factory system has the PCV valve on top of the separator, & a hose from the separator to the inlet manifold.
Sounds like your crankcase oily vapour is being put back into the rocker cover.
My RS2000 has the separator, no PCV valve, & a hose that goes from the separator to a catch can.
Cheers

Thanks Noono and Drew,
Sounds like I definitely need the oil separator. Michael, another member on this site has kindly offered to sell me what I need.
Thanks again guys.

Regards,
Paul