Airbox Breather Pipe?

[pgilliam1]

I took off my airbox thinking I would clean my throttle body. I found the throttle body inside covered with a layer of oil sludge (gray/graphite in color). I traced the source of the sludge to what the manual (page 65) says is a breather pipe (it is a metal pipe that feeds into the tunnel between the airbox and throttle body - the hose below it is a coolant hose that goes into the throttle body). I took the breather pipe off and let it hang loose (I filtered both the pipe and the hole into the airway). I see no difference in performance and am glad to not have that crud going into the trottle body. My question is: Should I reconnect the breather pipe and if so, why? Also, how much of a PITA is removing the throttle body to clean it (after I removed the coolant hose, and got antifreeze everywhere, I stopped and just sprayed carb cleaner into it as best I could)?
Input Appreciated!

 

[Briank]

There really should be no gunk comming out the breather pipe. The PCV valve should suck up all the blow by and the breather is to supply fresh air to the crankcase so you don't build up a vacuum. Either your PCV has a problem or you have a lot of blow by which it uncommon.

 

[pgilliam1]

Thanks Brian. From your post it sounds like the breather pipe delivers air to the crankcase and not into the throttle body. That has me confused as to where the crud in my throttle body is coming from. Does the blow by enter the throttle body from another source?

 

[Briank]

Are you using a K+N or uni filter? The PCV Valve gets its vacuum from the manifold side of the throttle body.

 

[pgilliam1]

Are you using a K+N or uni filter? The PCV Valve gets its vacuum from the manifold side of the throttle body.

I have a K&N cone filter that is connected to the throttle body via a carbon fiber tube with the breather pipe and vacuum hose attached to it (R M Racing did the install before I bought the car). I will check my PCV valve for blow by to see if that is where the contaminants originate.
Thanks Again!

 

[Briank]

I would go back to the stock filter and air box. The K+N make a mess of the throttle body.

 

[pgilliam1]

I would go back to the stock filter and air box. The K+N make a mess of the throttle body.

I'll have to buy an OEM air box, the PO no longer had it. I have to say though, that the tube from the K&N was clean until after the breather pipe inlet. The K&N with the headers I have is pretty loud (man this engine sounds good at speed) and most of what I have read here suggests that the OEM air box is better at keeping the air cool (which is better for combustion) and just better overall. I think an OEM makes sense.
Thanks Again!