Major Softie wrote:There is no "condensing." The brass wool is catching oil particles in an oil mist, just like the old breather oil caps in the 40's and 50's, not condensing any vapors. Thus, temperature is irrelevant.
My thoughts:
The condensing chamber provides a significant distance, surface area, and volume
between the breather valve at the rear (where the oil vapor is blown from the case)
and the hose leading to the carb at the front (where it is expelled from the case)
such that the vapor
will have an opportunity to condense and drain back into the case
rather than simply being blown into the carbs.
The brass-wool would theoretically improve this function by acting as a filter
that would "collect" oil from the vapor onto it's surface
where it can then condense, "fall" into the chamber, and drain back into the case.
(However, the addition of a "filter" might alter effective crankcase pressure)
In either case, it does seem to me that condensation, to a greater or lesser degree,
should be initiated by the temperature difference (crankcase vs chamber).
Operating temperature of the engine should not be a significant factor –
but displacement and RPM, given their direct relationship to producing crankcase pressure,
will be most significant.
Consequently, I will also contend that the factory's inclusion of an oil-condensing chamber
was a direct response to the increase of displacement to 988 cc –
and the resulting increase in crankcase pressure #s, esp at high RPM –
