1998 2.4 Camshafts in 1999 T5

Post by **abscate** » 20 Mar 2020, 04:54

It’s easiest to attach and bolt the banjo in before you bolt in the intake manifold. You just need a inch or two of clearance. Not too much or you break the plastic pcv hose

xApprchsNfnty · Post by **xApprchsNfnty** » 20 Mar 2020, 06:53

abscate wrote: 20 Mar 2020, 04:54 It’s easiest to attach and bolt the banjo in before you bolt in the intake manifold. You just need a inch or two of clearance. Not too much or you break the plastic pcv hose

I'm struggling to remove the bolt, I haven't even pulled the manifold yet!

xApprchsNfnty · Post by **xApprchsNfnty** » 20 Mar 2020, 16:22

PCV system removed but the only thing that was clogged was the hose from the banjo to the oil trap, everything else blew through very easily.

*Edit*
PTC was clear too but I cleaned it anyway. I was hoping there would be a big clog somewhere in the PCV system so that I would have an obvious reason why my cam seal blew, now I'm not so sure. It was driving just fine before I tore it apart so I can't imagine it would be from a blown HG. Hmmm... curiouser and curiouser. Any thought or suggestions for other places to look while I've got it apart would be appreciated

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 20 Mar 2020, 20:04

xApprchsNfnty wrote: 20 Mar 2020, 16:22 I was hoping there would be a big clog somewhere in the PCV system so that I would have an obvious reason why my cam seal blew, now I'm not so sure.

You found one. The banjo supplies the vacuum to the PCV most of the time. Under boost the vacuum right before the turbo charger is used.

No vacuum to PCV = No Crankcase Ventilation = Pressure build up in the crankcase.

xApprchsNfnty · Post by **xApprchsNfnty** » 20 Mar 2020, 20:39

Oh, interesting. Such a small clog could cause such a big problem. Seems like a design flaw...

Well I'm satisfied, back together it goes. And I'm just going to leave the original cam in there with the broken bolt, I'll deal with it next time

Thanks everyone for all the help!

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 20 Mar 2020, 21:06

xApprchsNfnty wrote: 20 Mar 2020, 20:39 Seems like a design flaw...

It is precision fluid engineering. Everything is the size it is for a reason.

xApprchsNfnty · Post by **xApprchsNfnty** » 20 Mar 2020, 21:56

It just seems like a lot riding on a little vacuum line if it can blow seals like that when it gets clogged. It was really no bigger than a pinhole, the line itself was clear, it was just the small hole in the part around the bolt that was clogged.

All of this assuming that's why my cam seal blew in the first place.

Post by **bmdubya1198** » 21 Mar 2020, 08:56

Just as a note, the 1998 and 1999 camshafts are NOT compatible. The outer journals on the head are completely different, so I don't think they will even fit.
All US market 6 cylinder white blocks were 2.9, only Europe and Canada (VERY rare there) got the 2.5. Not too relevant to this thread, but I just wanted to clarify

That vacuum line going to the banjo bolt gets clogged pretty easily, just flush it out with brake cleaner and a pick while you have it off. I guess it could be a weak point, but really the whole PCV system on this engine is a weak point. From what I've seen on the several that I've replaced, if you maintain the engine (frequent oil changes and get the revs up at least occasionally) and replace the PCV parts when it's time, there's not much worry of it clogging up too much. No more than the port in the block, at least... which isn't really something that can be changed or "upgraded".

Post by **erikv11** » 21 Mar 2020, 10:06

xApprchsNfnty wrote: 20 Mar 2020, 16:22 PCV system removed but the only thing that was clogged was the hose from the banjo to the oil trap, everything else blew through very easily.

*Edit*
PTC was clear too but I cleaned it anyway. I was hoping there would be a big clog somewhere in the PCV system so that I would have an obvious reason why my cam seal blew, now I'm not so sure. It was driving just fine before I tore it apart so I can't imagine it would be from a blown HG. Hmmm... curiouser and curiouser. Any thought or suggestions for other places to look while I've got it apart would be appreciated

I'm a day late but just a reminder: I really hope you checked the ports from the oil trap into the block.

xApprchsNfnty · Post by **xApprchsNfnty** » 21 Mar 2020, 10:33

bmdubya1198 wrote: 21 Mar 2020, 08:56 Just as a note, the 1998 and 1999 camshafts are NOT compatible.

Even between 98 t5 and 99 t5?

erikv11 wrote: 21 Mar 2020, 10:06 I'm a day late but just a reminder: I really hope you checked the ports from the oil trap into the block.

I did. I could breath straight through the bottom one and the top one was completely clear. Thanks