DIY: 1998 Volvo S70 GLT PCV Mods

[cn90]

The hose from the oil trap to the valve cover is not that expensive.

PN 1271654...Hose to top of engine... qty = 1; $21.24

[osman]

I dont know the name of it, but there is something that looks like a spring that is fitted over the hose at turns to keep it from collapsing. I am sure your local auto parts will have it if you describe it correctly.

[kickin_it]

The hose from the oil trap to the valve cover is not that expensive.

I am in too far to give up now! Although I do live a mile from Darrell Waltrip Volvo...
I cleaned up the oil trap, snapped some pics, and pieced it back together with some JB Weld. It appears that it will work. I will post a few pics when I am at the garage.

I dont know the name of it, but there is something that looks like a spring that is fitted over the hose at turns to keep it from collapsing. I am sure your local auto parts will have it if you describe it correctly.

That is a great idea. I went ahead and opted for the Gates fuel line which I feel is much sturdier, but could be worthwhile in any of these applications and future endeavors as well. I also heated the hose in the oven to a warm 170, formed a curve that I felt would work and set it outside in the 35 degree cold to harden up and voila, a nice 90 degree curve with minimal collapsing.

[difflock54]

I have made this comment a few times in other threads thus far.
Why cant the plastic PCV oil trap be separately mounted elsewhere in the engine bay, readily and fully accessible for regular cleaning at each or alternating oil changes.
Renew all the plumbing hoses as already determined using 5/8'' heater hose or a suitable pipework alternative routed practically to prevent damage, heat exposure, clipped and supported as necessary.
Obviously longer engine block flow and return oil hoses or pipes are the main significant difference but could be cleared of clogging obstructions by blowing thru lighter pressure compressed air whenever the oil trap is checked over also.
The main advantage is a system not hidden away under the inlet manifold, less right angled hoses that can fail and more importantly, able to be checked and cleaned at will.
Could this arrangement work?
(No criticism of any of the above and previous modifications made thus far by others is intended or implied.)

[erikv11]

I think it would work. If you do some searching, especially over on Volvospeed, you will find many, many threads about installing additional and/or relocated catch cans. The oil trap is inconveniently located but once it is all set up properly, you can go a pretty long time with only checking periodically for crankcase pressure (and not needing to repair it).

[difflock54]

I think the most important aspect is that the oil trap mounted height is somewhere below the level of the cam cover outlet elbow and also no lower than the engine block oil inlet and outlet openings to avoid oil becoming trapped in a loop in the hosing and restricting the breathing system.
Each Volvo model may need a slightly different location to mount the trap as each has individual under hood configurations to take into account.
When mine needs doing i'll give it some serious consideration otherwise i'll upgrade the hoses to 5/8'' as current modifiers are doing at the very least.

[kickin_it]

I think the biggest issue of moving the oil trap would be the oil return line. Currently the trap, from what I understand, basically works with vacuum and gravity. The trap is separating oil and gas. It uses gravity to "drain" the oil back into the sump and uses vacuum from intake to pull the gas out. The new location of the trap would need to located where the oil can drain back without obstruction.

[difflock54]

Exactly. Thats why I stated that the lowest height must not be below the engine block ports to enable a gravity feed back from the trap into the sump.

Your own mod's are looking good anyway and well documented with good pics. Well done.

[kickin_it]

Would this only concern the lowest engine block port? The higher of the ports on the block, that is a pressure release port for the block correct?

[cn90]

This is the design of the PCV system, photo taken from my other DIY: