What Does a Breather Filter Do on a Honda?

Breather filters help prevent problems in engines related to excess carbon buildup. They do this by helping release some of the exhaust fumes recycled back into an engine through EGR systems.

EGR Systems

An exhaust gas recirculation -- EGR -- system helps make exhaust cleaner and an engine more efficient. It does this by cycling the exhaust gas created by the previous firing of cylinders back into the cylinders to ignite in another round of firings.

Breather Filters

Breather filters are vents that can divert the fumes that stray from the cylinders into the air instead of your engine. This helps prevent the carbon in the exhaust from damaging other parts of your engine.

Carbon Buildups

The carbon in the recycled fumes can aggregate on different parts of your engine and create deposits on various moving parts called carbon buildups. These will degrade your engine's performance and potentially cause serious damage over time.

References

• "Auto Inc."; Understanding Exhaust Gas Recirculation Systems; Henry Guzman; November 1997
• Weapon R: Dragon Breather Filter - Purple