Breather? Vent? Catch Can? What are these holes?

[HelpMyLotus]

When standing behind the car, (with a twincam) there are two holes on the close right corner of the head behind the cam pulley that drives the alternator.  There is one that points out to the side, and one goes down.  The down one has no threads but does have a recess for a washer or something.  The side one is threaded.   I have NOTHING in both of them.  When I got the car it had a hose pushed into the bottom one with sealant on it that failed.  Oil leak like a mother.  The side one is WIDE OPEN.  My guess is I'd like to cap the bottom one and seal it forever.  The side one I think I can thread a hose fitting in and attach a catch container for it.  Is this correct?  Should I be considering the oil pressure or vapor it needs to breathe?

[FranV8]

The one that goes to the side should have a hard pipe to the air filter assembly.  Banks list a grommet for going in here, but I think it has a threaded fitting to take a hose.

Not sure where the downward one goes though, I'll have to take a look next time I'm in the garage.

[Pfreen]

The one going down out of the head into the block requires a rubber part available from the usual europa suppliers.  It is an oil drain out of the head.

[HelpMyLotus]

wait, WHAT?  out of the head and into the block?  Wouldn't the oil just run down the journals inside the engine?

[BDA]

Yep. The oil needs to get back to the sump so it can get pumped to the bearings and cam again.

[TCS4605R]

Man, without the rubber tube from the underside of the head to the hole in the block, I imagine the oil consumption is like a quart per 10 miles!

Tom

[HelpMyLotus]

where is the opening on the sump for the line to go to? 

[Certified Lotus]

Here are two photo's of a twin cam engine (this is from an Elan, but you will get the idea). The hole in the bottom of the head connects to the block via a short rubber fitting. It is possible to install with the engine in place, but it's a bear to do.

The hole on the side of the head either connects to the airbox via a fitting coming off the head and length of rubber hose to the airbox, or on early cars this hole is for a drain tube that runs to the street.

[jbcollier]

This is the block to head breather tube:

http://www.kelsport.net/parts/product_details.asp?PartID=2795&categoryID=47&PartsectionID=66

http://rdent.com/images/26e0034.jpg

The hole going sideways to the airbox has this set up:

http://www.lotus-europa.com/manuals/tcparts/e/ej.htm

Or, you can fit an elbow with a hose to catch can:

http://rdent.com/images/26e0322s.jpg

[HelpMyLotus]

I looked at my engine.  I have the small tube that runs from the head to the block.  There is a hole behind that tube on the bottom of the head.  can I just cap this one off then?  Can I cap off the side one as well or should I put a breather on it?

[jbcollier]

You need to have a beather so don't cap off all the holes.

[Certified Lotus]

There is a core plug that fits into the hole on the bottom corner of the head. You can't install it with the engine in the car. You will need to remove the engine and then install the plug. Here is a photo of the location of the plug.

The hole on the side of the head needs to vent. Either to the airbox, a catch can or the road. Warning, if you haven't installed a small shield in the block above the fuel pump cam (my engine builder does this from many years of experience) you might get a fair amount of oil coming out of the vent.

[HelpMyLotus]

THAT'S the hole!!!  Why can't I plug it while it's in the car?  I have to remove the entire engine?  The worst case I see is I'd have to remove the valve cover.  I'll put a breather on the side hole.

[Certified Lotus]

Forgot this is a Europa and not an Elan......so that means the access to the core hole is fairly accessible. You could probably install the plug with the engine in position.