I was looking at some activated carbon mat (for air purifiers) and was wondering if anyone has tried using it as a filter for breather boxes?

Currently I have the typical breather air filters and they seem to get dirty pretty quickly and on occasion you get that "oil" smell from under the hood. I figured the activated carbon would provide clean air into the system and also purify the fumes coming out. The activated carbon works well with air and water, but oil fumes I don't know.

 

with activated carbon you would be filtering out the gasoline fumes from the air flowing through it. you don't want to do that. you want to draw them into the intake and burn that gas.

what you want the breather box to do is allow the gas fumes and air into the intake but separate out the oil mist and drain it back to the crank case. baffling or stainless steel wool (pot scrubbers; stainless are easiest to find) are the two best options for the DIY'er.

 

Im assuming he has an atmosphere vented catch can so the above statement doesnt make much sence.

Im curious where you would buy the stuff??

I personally run copper SOS pads but wouldnt mind something that would catch a little more before venting it to mother nature

 

Yes, I have a breather box (straight hose from block and valve cover) which vents to the atmosphere. A catch can is more of a circulation system.

Although that does give me an idea. If I use a check valve from the box to the intake manifold, then at high vacuum times any fumes will be drawn into the intake. It is baffled very well so it shouldn't cause much build up in the intake system. Then at WOT the check valve will close and the breather filters allow it to vent to the atmosphere. Similar to the stock PCV valve system, but a lot more breathing potential.

You can buy activated carbon mat on ebay, it's fairly common now.