Odd PCV Routing..Was this hooked up right??

[ChiGGz]

When I bought the car, i noticed that the top PCV hose was routed into a catchcan and filter. But the other side is then attached back onto the passenger side of the valve cover. Isn't the other side of the PCV supposed to go into the manifold?

This could explain why my dipstick gets messy readings when the oil isn't given time to settle after a run.

I'll try to post a picture once I get home

 

[ChiGGz]

Here's the art...

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[kenamond]

Here's the art...

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Just to get the image to show...didn't work. I think the .th.jpg extension is fuxing up my browser. Hah...now it's working.

That setup will defeat much of the purpose of the PCV system. At idle, the vaccuum in the IM usually draws air out of the VC which is replaced by metered air entering the VC via the VC breather hose (on the side). This ventilates the crankcase which clears out gas fumes from blowby so that they don't settle in the oil and degrade the performance. Under boost, the PCV closes, and blowby is permitted to vent out the VC breather so that you don't pressurize the crankcase with blowby.

Your setup should at least handle the boost situation so that you don't pressurize the crankcase, but only if the "Excess Dump" permits air to escape. If it doesn't, you could pop your dipstick tube or blow seals. I'd at least make sure that if you blow in one of the hoses while capping the other that air can escape the catchcan.

There are cheap solutions that keep the VC breather oil from crudding up your intake tract but still preserve the PCV system completely. This just involves a $4 fuel filter in-line on the VC breather. The PCV valve and hose to the IM are stock. You still have to cope with the PCV valve wearing out, though, and FORMONTOYA is testing a different setup that uses an aftermarket check valve to "back up" the PCV valve so that it doesn't leak into the VC under boost, but he wanted to see how long it lasted before making any claims/recommendations on that setup.

 

[ChiGGz]

So what can I do with my current setup though?

Edit
Isn't this guide here exactly how mine is setup?
http://www.roadraceengineering.com/instructions/catchcaninstructions.htm

 

[kenamond]

Return it to stock except with a $4 fuel filter on the VC breather line. Use an OEM PCV ($6 or so - don't recall exactly). We're talking $10 including the hose. Sell the catch can.

 

[Auto RS T]

I run the same set up as (kenamond). But...

Here is some food for thought. It seems the right way to use a catchcan (non ventalated) is answered on posts #32 and #33

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=240911

 

[kenamond]

I run the same set up as (kenamond). But...

Here is some food for thought. It seems the right way to use a catchcan (non ventalated) is answered on posts #32 and #33

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=240911

One problem with the setup proposed in that thread is that the stock PCV has a snorkel (that tube on the PCV valve that extends into the VC) which keeps oil which is running down or splashing onto the walls of the VC from being sucked into the IM when it's under vaccuum.

I'm not sure how much oil gets sucked into the IM in the stock situation, but you could avoid this by adding a setup like PCV-->CatchCan-->CheckValve-->IM. You need the check valve or you boost your catch can (bad: POP!).