PCV.... Do I really need to do this repair?

phunkdeefied · Post by **phunkdeefied** » 08 May 2008, 09:02

My Volvo 1996 850T 136K is running fine and has been wonderfully maintained over the years. I have all the records and there is not any indication that the PCV has been replaced. Also there is not reason for me to believe that the oil wasn't changed regularly.

With the car hot and running, I pull the dipstick and there is a faint amount of smoke coming out, but not much. I talked to a mechanic and he said a little smoke is ok. Also he said that with it hot and running to open the oil cap on top of the engine... If i feel suction then that is another indication it may be clogged.

Neither of these are true. Are there other signs I need to be looking for?

Do I really need to replace this?

Post by **lewismug** » 08 May 2008, 10:10

My experience tells me that you may want to get ready to clean/replace the pcv system. With the dipstick out and the engine running, I believe that there should be a slight suction at the dipstick tube. If you allow this to go it's course without taking action, you can end up with oil leaks all over the engine. The rear main seal is prone to springing a leak if the pcv system is left unchecked. Not trying to alarm you or anything. Just letting you know that it could happen. It is easier to do the maintainance on the system in the early stages then to wait for a leak to spring. I was bull-headed and didn't service the pcv system on my '99 S70 until I had a leak and now I have oil leaking all over the place. Even after changing the pcv system (oil separator and all hoses) I still have a problem. I failed to clean out the passage where the oil separator connects to the engine and will have to do this repair again along with a rear main seal and probably other gaskets that have begun leaking.

phunkdeefied · Post by **phunkdeefied** » 08 May 2008, 10:19

Thanks for your reply. I have the kit sitting in my garage waiting to be installed... I just keeping moving other chores in front of it because it looks like a lot of work.
This was another attempt to just put it off

Post by **lewismug** » 08 May 2008, 11:57

It is a lot of work, but it's very fulfilling if you like that kind of thing! When I did the repair on my car, it took me an entire day, but then again, I didn't have all of the correct tools or a manual to help. Good luck on the repair!

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 08 May 2008, 13:33

I have the kit sitting in my garage waiting to be installed... I just keeping moving other chores in front of it because it looks like a lot of work.

It really isn't that bad. The crimp style clamps are a bitch to work with and I messed up about half of them because I couldn't get the correct angle on the tool. A supply of similarly sized hose clamps will likely help you out. Get some smaller hose clamps as well, they don't come with the kit and you wind up tearing the old ones up as you remove Evap lines and such.

The bottom bolts on the intake manifold do not need to be removed to get the manifold off. They can just be be loosened as the bottom mounting flange has slots. A long 1/4" extension and a 1/4" swivel socket is a must.

I've found the the real tough bolt to get to is the bottom left by the power steering pump. That one seems to be easier if you don't use the swivel at all.

...Lee

Post by **JRL** » 08 May 2008, 15:30

I'll sum it up, do it now or pay someone $900-$1000 later for a RMS AND the brather box so you may as well do it now.
Your car will run better, cleaner and love you

for it!

Post by **th-edi ll** » 09 May 2008, 20:26

(please note the title)

I just did the hole PCV system last weekend, removed all the intake (large diameter) hoses and cleaned them, cleaned out the PTC too. The job is a PITA - but satisfying and reassuring.....but

here it comes....

HOWEVER, from my direct experience - you can read my blog about it... one COULD pop the "formed" hose off the head ( I mistakenly cut it ruining it and necessitating the PCV replacement) and dump about a third of a can of SEAFOAM down the tube. This is what I did before I drove the car 1200 miles home. So when I replaced the PCV system I examined the oil trap and found that is WAS COMPLETELY free of any clogs as were all the ports into the block.

(Backstory --in the blog -- a spirited driving burst blew my dipstick top/handle off - this lead me directly to the action of dumping in the Seafoam as the disappearing dipstick handle was indicative of excessive crankcase pressure - the RMS never developed a leak)

Also I must say all the existing ancillary (small diameter) hoses (that are part of the kit) were quite brittle and their replacement seemed prudent (on that note- ALL the little vacuum hoses - the whole rats nest - coulda used replacement - but that's a job NOT for the faint of heart)

So you have to make the call, but I can say: one could dump in Seafoam and be fairly secure; the shit is amazing and I spent 20 years of my tinkering life thinking all that "miracle in a can shit" was just that... but I use the seafoam now

Full disclosure - I just sold the car -