Would you?

So the bus in question is not a daily runner, or going to be used in the winter (there's another one waiting to be that thing) ...
It's a type 1 1600tp which, having been imported from a life in California, has no cold start gubbins.
A year or so back an oil bath filter was fitted, but it appears to have done nothing but empty itself slowly ... and unless the guy in the unit next door is missing something (he's an engineer and has a bug that he works on) this oil bath filter has not been opening the larger inlet anyway, forcing the engine to drag what air it can through other much smaller openings.
(It certainly idled better once it was off)
He suggests I dispense with this big oil bath filter and just have a K&N type cone filter on top, and a breather filter on the side.
Can't help feeling this is one of those horses-for-courses issues, so wonder what folks on here have done, or would do .......... ?
He's also suggesting Flexi push rod tubes as a less time/cost intensive way to replace the leaking ones. (He said a particular make but I forget)
Anyone used them or heard about them?

 

Unless the oil bath is rotten it cannot leak.
Fix its issues like clean it up and fit the proper hoses.
Fit standard push rod tubes that have been prestretched to the correct length (see Bentley for the length) then they will not leak . It also means you can clean up properly while the heads are off and get rid of silicone and decomposed o rings that also cause leaks.

Mostly that engine sounds like a good clean up is due and then you will find where it is really leaking from. Bodge it with shortcuts and pointless bling ...and it will stay ropey.

 

I wasn't thinking of it as OG ... If I remember right the guy who fitted it said it wasn't, but better than the set up I inherited.
(Can't find a photo of that just now)
This guy in the unit next door seemed to think it wouldn't do its job of opening as it should unless it was hooked up on the exhaust side (?)
As I'm still relatively clueless I'll have to post a photo:

He also suggested getting an OG oil filler ... this one has the wrong bend on it so getting the dipstick in/out is tricky ... Whether there's something else inherently sh1te about them I don't know .......

 

By bling do you mean the two filters?
Does doing the push rods properly involve taking the engine out?

 

By the way, this is the engine that's been returning 35mpg

 

Hard to think how the oil bath is emptying itself. Unless there's a hole in it, can't see how that can happen. It'll breath air through either of the inlets (one of which on your engine isn't connected). Don't put a cone filter on. A breather on the side will make your heating stink, as it'll vent fumes straight into the engine compartment. The oil filler looks fine. Spring-loaded tubes generally leak after a while, unless you get the pricey ones (can't remember the make). Engine out, heads off to do seals properly.

I don't think your bloke knows what he's talking about, TBH.

PS It's unlikely you're getting 35mpg

 

White sleeve? Don't know!
He does know plenty, but not into keeping things stock that's for sure, so maybe missing the point on this ...
The braided tube connecting the oil bath filter is steeped in oil, so maybe it has just been quietly tracking down that?
I must admit I'd rather go the longer better route with most things so "heads off" etc it is for the push rod tubes, possibly c/o @squirrel ??
Re the oil bath filter:
The vent flap is linked to a bar with what I assume is a little cylindrical counterweight (?)
How would this flap open unless connected up to the exhaust side?
Can it be/should it be "locked" open ever?

 

I am full of beer at Dubfreeze but that oil filler is stock. The breather/drain tube heading down is a feature of older T1 engines. Its all stock.