[RESOLVED] Valve Cover Hose loose...where to plug in?

[FutureGSXOwner]

This is extremely newbish, but I was just detailing my engine bay, and the tube that comes out of the left of the valve cover (oil tube I guess) is just hanging there. Where does it plug in? Thanks.

 

[CaviSpeedRacer]

This is a bit embarassing... but I'm bringing this thread back a third time. I actually used the search function (thanks kenamond for everything so far), but this is the most related topic I've seen that I want to post in. (btw, im a complete newb)

I currently have no hose going from my aftermarket intake to my VC breather (unmetered air). So apparently I need to drill a hole in my intake pipe, tap a hose into that, and then connect it into my VC breather.

Where should I drill the hole? What do you recommend me using to put the hose on the intake? And is it absolutely necessary to use a catch can? (what are the consequences for not)

I currently have the following problems:
-Bad Idle (dies out after awhile)
-Fuel Cut off @ 4000 rpms
-Dipstick pops off if I fuel cut
-Oil constantly smells like fuel

I really want to fix this, but I'm a complete newb. Thanks!

 

[kenamond]

This is a bit embarassing... but I'm bringing this thread back a third time. I actually used the search function (thanks kenamond for everything so far), but this is the most related topic I've seen that I want to post in. (btw, im a complete newb)

I currently have no hose going from my aftermarket intake to my VC breather (unmetered air). So apparently I need to drill a hole in my intake pipe, tap a hose into that, and then connect it into my VC breather.

Where should I drill the hole? What do you recommend me using to put the hose on the intake? And is it absolutely necessary to use a catch can? (what are the consequences for not)

I currently have the following problems:
-Bad Idle (dies out after awhile)
-Fuel Cut off @ 4000 rpms
-Dipstick pops off if I fuel cut
-Oil constantly smells like fuel

I really want to fix this, but I'm a complete newb. Thanks!

You'll have to search around to find out specific techniques for adding a nipple to the intake pipe, but the stock location and my Dejon intake pipe location are roughly the same; about 1/4 of the way between the BOV recirc tube and the compressor inlet coming out the back of the pipe (firewall side).

Is your PCV valve still installed correctly and not leaking? The fuel in the oil sounds like you're not ventilating the crankcase which would normally happen when the IM is under vaccuum: vaccuum in IM draws air through the PCV valve, that air is replaced by air drawn in through the VC breather, that air comes from the intake pipe, which is both fresh and metered.

If you have low compression, the blowby may be enough that no fresh air is pulled through the VC breather at idle and the excess blowby gasses actually push out the VC breather even at idle. In that case, you aren't adequately ventilating the fumes from the crankcase. Blowby during the compression stroke will be fuel/air mix. Blowby during the power stroke will be fuel/air/exhaust mix. If you haven't checked your compression, that'd be a good thing to know.

The bad idle may be due to the fact that your VC breather isn't connected to the intake pipe and is therefore pulling unmetered air (from the engine bay) into the engine. The ECU doesn't know about this extra air, so it doesn't know that it should add a bit more fuel to get the target air:fuel ratio. If the breather runs to the intake pipe, then that air is being pulled from the intake piping downwind of the MAS and will therefore be metered, and in this case, the ECU will know about it, adds the correct amount of fuel, and gets the correct AFR.

Hitting fuel cut at modest boost levels suggests that you may have significant boost leaks. That just means that there is a leak somewhere in the intake. If it is between the compressor and engine, air leaks out under boost or in under vaccuum. Under boost, that leaked air has been metered (gone through the MAS), and the ECU sees that the airflow is way too high to be safe, so it cuts fuel and spark (fuel cut). It's a safeguard, because the stock motor and turbo can't pump that much air without leaning out and/or overboosting the turbo. If your PCV valve is shot and your wastegate actuator isn't functioning properly causing you to overboost, or for whatever other reason you're overboosting (incorrect MBC setup), you'll overboost *and* that boost will be leaking past the bad PCV valve into the crankcase. That might cause your dipstick to pop. Popping a dipstick just means your crankcase pressure is too high. I'm just guessing at why you'd get fuel cut and dipstick popping at the same time.

Having a catch can with a filter on the VC breather will keep oil out of the intake pipe, compressor, charge pipes, intercooler, TB, and IM. That's the only reason folks put one on. Many use a Husky in-line fuel filter between the VC and intake pipe to filter the oil out of the vented fumes. The in-line filters can get clogged or filled with oil, so the upgrade is to have a catch can to hold more oil before cleaning is required. But the fuel filters are much cheaper.

So I'd check your PCV setup, get the VC breather setup correctly (without a catch can is better than not getting it properly "plumbed" back into the intake pipe), check your compression, do a boost leak test, and test your WGA (should open at around 10psi). All of this is covered in detail on the forum. You just have to do some searching.

Hope this helps!

 

[Captain D]

I would also suggest that it's a good idea to add a check valve between the PVC valve and intake manifold to protect against a boost leak from a leaking PVC valve.

 

[CaviSpeedRacer]

I am going to do a boost leak test this weekend and probably also put in a fuel filter between the hoses.

What size hose should I get for the valve cover breather? Also what kind - like any specifics I need to know?

Thanks

 

[kenamond]

I am going to do a boost leak test this weekend and probably also put in a fuel filter between the hoses.

What size hose should I get for the valve cover breather? Also what kind - like any specifics I need to know?

Thanks

I used fuel line which is WAAAAY overkill. I'm kinda guessing, but I think it was 7/16 fuel line. If you have any of the old line, take it into the parts store and say, "3 feet of this, please" and hand it to them. That'd do, too.

 

[CaviSpeedRacer]

Thanks kenamond - the hose is back up and running! it was 7/32" hose.