Replacing crankcase breather filter

[becks]

Has anyone replaced this filter on there ISL. I would like to replace mine, as I know they are often overlooked. Is it hard to replace, and where is it located. Thanks for any tips.

[rezman]

Its bolted to the top of the valve cover..

Difficulty depends on engine access.

[becks]

Thanks rezman, I will be able to get to it through the bedroom hatch.

[MCJones]

You are doing the right thing taking care of that filter. My engine came up with a check engine light thanks to a clogged filter. It creates high crankcase pressure when it gets bad. I was near Cummins Spartanburg and they took care of it. You can do it with engine access from the coach but take some rags, it will be an oil soaked filter (not full of oil like a can). Cummins replaced mine without going thru the coach but they had removed the air cleaner and had some young guys working on it!

[countrypair]

Does anyone have any pictures?

[Doc Hugh]

I recently had the Crankcase Breather Element replaced on my ISL400 at the local Cummins Service Centre (Cummins Western Canada). It can be done through the coach hatch or from beneath from either the engine air cleaner side or more easily from the fuel filters side. I observed the technician remove the CBE housing cover (from the fuel filter side of the engine), remove the old filter element and replace with a fresh new one with relative ease and a little agile maneuvering.
The pictures show the CBE housing mounted on top near the rear of the engine for reference.

[Robt531]

Crankcase filters aren't normally changed till 50k to 75k miles. If your warning light comes on for overpressure, stop as soon as safe and wait about 10 min for the pressure to go down. Normally your filter is clogged. IT SHOULD NOT BE. If it is covered in oil and a mess, make sure you get "blow by" test. Whatever you do make sure you get one before your engine is out of warranty. A filthy filter can mean your engine has been dusted--requiring a rebuild or at minimum partial. Somehow dirt got in your engine and scored or blazed your cylinder walls or bad rings etc. I learned the hard way. I had to replace mine three times plus the new one that came with the engine. My blowby pressure is now out of tolerance and so is my warranty (probably was before). Unfortunately, techs rarely if ever check this. It's super easy to check a filter. I'd do it at every oil change. Could save you a new engine because once it starts, it only gets worse.