Replacing the breather hoses with vacuum hoses.

[Boudreaux]

My '94 SL 500's breather hoses are very hard and unflexible. I wanted to know if I could replace them with automobile grade vacuum hoses (NAPA, AutoZone, etc.) instead of OEM hoses. Are there any check valves between connections that need to be considered, etc?

Thanks.

[Duke2.6]

"Breather hoses" usually refers to the hoses that make up the PCV system, many of which are custom molded, and they should be replaced with OE quality parts. Fastlane probably has them for a lower price than you might think. The 2 mm ID nylon tubing is available from Merc dealers and the list price last year when I bought some was $2.20/meter. Generic 1/8" vacuum hose is okay for the 3 mm ID OE vacuum hose.

Duke

[psfred]

There may be restrictions in the molded hoses.

They aren't as expensive as you think, get the proper ones.

Peter

[Boudreaux]

Thanks for the advice, everyone. You have persuaded me to do what I wanted to do in the first place: use the OEM breather hoses.