An engine crankcase breather includes a housing having a lower end including an inlet opening and an upper end including an outlet opening. The inlet opening lies in a horizontal plane and the outlet opening lies in a vertical plane. A mesh filter is positioned within the housing and includes opposing inlet and outlet faces defining a mesh filter thickness. The inlet and outlet faces are parallel to the inlet opening and are positioned below a central axis through the outlet opening. A bottom wall of the housing defines a portion of the lower end and includes a downward slope toward a lip defining the inlet opening. The mesh filter is spaced above the bottom wall. The engine crankcase breather also includes a plurality of oil return openings through the lip.