Bad PCV?

[brute]

When I got my car, the previous owner was running like 17psi. This was bad because there was no AFPR to go with the 290lph pump that was in it. So I took it for a spin, and when boost hits, I hear weird noises and notice my engine bay is smoking a lot. So I pull it over, and see that there's oil all over the engine. I traced the problem back to dipstick-popup. The dipstick would pop up and spray oil.

So I thought the $5 Fram filter catch can might've been causing the problem because it wasn't the stock PCV routing. I returned it to stock configuration and took the boost controller out, running 9psi off the wastegate actuator. This fixed it. I could hit 9 psi and oil wouldn't spray. Just today I put the boost controller back on. I did a quick pull to check the psi I was running: ~15. But no oil spray. I returned home.

A couple hours later, I took it out, tried another pull, and got the symptoms of the top paragraph. Weird noises and oil spray. Could this be a bad PCV? I checked it before and it seemed ok, but then again, my "check" was the dreaded "shake to hear a ball clicking," which in no way tells you if there's a problem with the PCV. I just learned that. Please help.

 

[Quasimondo]

It won't hurt to replace it, PCV's aren't an expensive item and if it is leaking, then that will put excessive pressure in the crankcase and contribute to a dipstick blowout.

 

[kenamond]

When I got my car, the previous owner was running like 17psi. This was bad because there was no AFPR to go with the 290lph pump that was in it. So I took it for a spin, and when boost hits, I hear weird noises and notice my engine bay is smoking a lot. So I pull it over, and see that there's oil all over the engine. I traced the problem back to dipstick-popup. The dipstick would pop up and spray oil.

So I thought the $5 Fram filter catch can might've been causing the problem because it wasn't the stock PCV routing. I returned it to stock configuration and took the boost controller out, running 9psi off the wastegate actuator. This fixed it. I could hit 9 psi and oil wouldn't spray. Just today I put the boost controller back on. I did a quick pull to check the psi I was running: ~15. But no oil spray. I returned home.

A couple hours later, I took it out, tried another pull, and got the symptoms of the top paragraph. Weird noises and oil spray. Could this be a bad PCV? I checked it before and it seemed ok, but then again, my "check" was the dreaded "shake to hear a ball clicking," which in no way tells you if there's a problem with the PCV. I just learned that. Please help.

Pull the PCV out and see if you can blow through it from the hose end. If you can, it's bad. If it's bad, replace ONLY with an OEM PCV and check it before you pay them.

Also, make sure the VC breather is routed correctly. If it's capped or clogged, you can build crankcase pressure as well.

 

[brute]

It seems to only happen in first gear when I'm really romping on it, or launching, or something like that. A 2nd or 3rd gear pull when I'm easin it, the dipstick doesn't pop.

These are all three times it's happened:
1) turning left, staying in first gear, WOT to redline
2) u-turn, staying in first, WOT
3) launching from a light, WOT

Like I said, it doesn't happen in 2nd or 3rd gears...

 

[kenamond]

It seems to only happen in first gear when I'm really romping on it, or launching, or something like that. A 2nd or 3rd gear pull when I'm easin it, the dipstick doesn't pop.

These are all three times it's happened:
1) turning left, staying in first gear, WOT to redline
2) u-turn, staying in first, WOT
3) launching from a light, WOT

Like I said, it doesn't happen in 2nd or 3rd gears...

It takes like 5 minutes to check the PCV valve if that. It's on the back-left edge of valve cover when looking from the front of the car (you probably know this, but just in case ). It's a one-way valve that should only let air OUT of the VC and into the IM under vaccuum (deceleration, cruising, idle). If it's leaking into the VC, then under boost, you're cramming air through the PCV into the crankcase faster than it can get out the VC breather (see below about the breather). Pull the PCV valve and check it like I already posted.

Make sure the vaccuum line from the PCV valve to the IM is routed properly.

Check that the VC breather (left edge of valve cover) isn't blocked. It should route back to the intake pipe, but if it's going to a catch can, just make sure that air can get in through the line and into the VC and that fumes can get out through that line from the VC. Under load (if everything is functioning properly), the PCV valve closes (IM is under boost which closes the one-way valve), but blowby around the rings will end up in the crankcase, and if there's no where for it to get out, you blow seals or pop the dipstick tube. The VC breather is its way out, so if it's clogged, the crankcase gets overpressurized.

Perhaps there are other ways to pop the dipstick tube, but the most common is having too high crankcase pressure, and an important part of the PCV system's job is to keep this from happening. I'd bet that if you did a seach on dipstick tubes blowing out, just about every one will be related to a PCV system problem.

Take pliers and a wrench and check those hoses and valve out.

 

[brute]

Yea I knew it was the PCV, just some things were weird about it. Like how it doesn't do it in slow pulls. I'll go ahead and try blowing air and sucking the PCV once I take it out. But I was planning to head to the dealer and get a new dipstick and PCV if I need to. Thanks for the help.

 

[kenamond]

Yea I knew it was the PCV, just some things were weird about it. Like how it doesn't do it in slow pulls. I'll go ahead and try blowing air and sucking the PCV once I take it out. But I was planning to head to the dealer and get a new dipstick and PCV if I need to. Thanks for the help.

My guess is that in first gear, you're going to high revs much faster, so the VC breather won't have enough time to vent all that blowby than if you're doing a higher gear.

Check the PCV valve at the store. They can leak out of the box.

 

[steve]

Keep in mind that you need to use compressed air to test. Your looking to see if the PCV will seal against max boost pressure and your not going to generate 20psi by blowing on the valve even if your a Las Vegas Keno girl.

Steve

 

[brute]

Keno... Good point, I didn't even think about the psi involved. Thanks!