This application claims the priority of German Patent Application No. 101 54 669.6, filed Nov. 7, 2001, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine having at least two cylinder banks and more particularly, to an internal combustion engine whose cylinder heads are sealed by cylinder head covers, wherein to ventilate the crankcase from the so-called blow-by gases, ventilation lines are connected to the cylinder head covers and communicate with a negative pressure source, e.g., an intake pipe, and on the inside of the cylinder head cover means are provided for pre-separating the oil from the blow-by gases.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,908,617 discloses a device for crankcase ventilation of an internal combustion engine with two cylinder banks in which ventilation lines mounted above the cylinder head housing or the cylinder head cover remove the blow-by gases located in the crankcase volume and return them to the intake system of the internal combustion engine in a closed circuit. In addition, sheet metal guide elements are mounted on the inside of the cylinder head cover. The blow-by gases flow past these guide elements and a portion of the oil carried along by the blow-by gases is deposited thereon.