Need some advice about an issue I'm having with the PCV

[Procharged87]

I posted a thread a while back about some issues I was having with my 95 GT after we did a bunch of work to it (balance problem, smoking out the exhaust, etc). Turns out that we discovered the cause of all the issues was that, for some reason, it's pulling oil from the PCV line on the intake into the manifold right behind my throttle body. Apparently it was causing the plugs to foul from oil content, which was causing the other issues to manifest. When we pulled the Kenne Bell last time, the runners in the lower intake had quite a bit of oil coating in them so we realized that's where the problem was. I tried putting a nice catch can inline from the PCV to the intake and also using a Turbo T-bird style PCV valve but apparently it must be sucking (or blowing) enough oil through the line that it is filling up the can and still letting it get into the intake.

The question now is how to fix it. I know there's a whole PCV vs. venting to atmosphere debate that goes on on the internet and, I can see why each has it merits and drawbacks. Even my family can't give me a clear direction on what to do. My Dad is old school and says that we should use a remote catch can with a breather and vent it there and I'll never have to worry about oil in the intake again. My brother thinks we should try to figure out how to fix the PCV (either by reversing the flow direction or changing it such as to eliminate the oil sucking/blowing condition somehow). I guess I'm looking for opinions from anyone that may have had a similar condition and how you eliminated it? It's been over a year since I've had the car out other than around my neighborhood and I'm really ready to drive it again. Any ideas or assistance you guys can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Some very, very basic specs on the motor/mods to help: Factory 95 5.0L bottom end, Kenne Bell 2.1L (about 7-7.5 lbs), Holley SysteMax 1 lower intake, Comp Cams 264HR-NX cam, AFR 165 heads.

[BIGDATOWN]

Are the rings still factory 95? If so, you need to freshen up the bottome end. The extra crank case pressure from the boost and causing bad blow-by due to weak rings. thats my only opinion on this matter. Because any other way than that and your only bandaiding the situation.

[Procharged87]

They are the factory rings but it's a relatively low milage car for its age and the car never smoked at all when I ran the Kenne Bell on it for two years prior to doing the H/C/I. It's had full synthetic in it since about 15k miles and was basically driven totally mild until the KB install in 08. It was only after we swapped the cam, lower intake and heads that problem manifested. We thought that maybe the heads were the issue originally until we pulled the Kenne Bell off and noticed the oil in the runners on the lower intake. Also, when the heads were off, the motor was very clean inside and still had most of the crosshatch on the cylinder walls so we never suspected it being the rings. It wasn't ever intended to be an extreme build because the car is a convertible and I was purposefully trying to keep the power/boost at a sensible level that it performed well but wasn't overkill for the street. I haven't changed the boost or anything from the way it was run before but I guess it's possible the H/C/I could have changed that. We just figured if we could get the oil out of the intake track that it would be OK.

[BIGDATOWN]

Something still doesn't sound quite right to me. I have always been told to be leary of installing new heads on a older bottom end as it can cause blow by on the older rings because of better valve seat etc.. Try running a compression test and leakdown test before ruling out the bottom end.

[EHardy1971]

Put an oil separator on it between the PCV valve and and the intake. The Lightnings are bad about pulling oil into the intake and intercooler from the PCV. The oil separator cures that problem.

[qkjuicedpony]

Put an oil separator on it between the PCV valve and and the intake. The Lightnings are bad about pulling oil into the intake and intercooler from the PCV. The oil separator cures that problem.

This. Or do a catch can setup. Every kb fox I've messed with pulled oil like that.

[Procharged87]

I actually have a catch can with a built in seperator on it now that we put inline after we found the oil in the intake runners, and I also run an oil seperator on the line from the powerpipe to the valve cover. The catch can is not a large one and it seems to be filling up relatively quickly which is why we considered the idea of just removing the PCV system so that it couldn't pull oil into the intake system anymore. My brother seemed to think that either the new lower intake repositioned the PCV valve enough that it's caused the issue or that perhaps the line we have from the powerpipe to the valve cover is too small and it's not getting enough air in. Just trying to figure out how to properly tackle it. I really thought the catch can would fix it but apparently it was not enough.

[waypastcrazy]

Just a little info.Qoute)Not all engines have PCV valves. Some (like Ford Escort, GM FWD cars with the Quad Four engine, etc.) ventilate the crankcase with a small breather hose and calibrated orifice. There is no spring-loaded PCV valve. On these applications, no maintenance is usually necessary.

[EHardy1971]

Just a little info.Qoute)Not all engines have PCV valves. Some (like Ford Escort, GM FWD cars with the Quad Four engine, etc.) ventilate the crankcase with a small breather hose and calibrated orifice. There is no spring-loaded PCV valve. On these applications, no maintenance is usually necessary.
The '95 GT's have a PCV valve though like the Foxes.

To the OP, you said you had the old style Systemax intake, do you remember if it has the long PCV baffle under the lower intake, or the long baffle?

[Procharged87]

The '95 GT's have a PCV valve though like the Foxes.

To the OP, you said you had the old style Systemax intake, do you remember if it has the long PCV baffle under the lower intake, or the long baffle?

Good question. It's been so long since I put it on that I'm having trouble remembering. I'm looking through pictures of the build right now to see. I had quite a few pictures of the top of the manifold but haven't found one for the bottom yet. Hoping I'll find a picture so I can post it.

[EHardy1971]

OK, and while you're at it, check and see if you have that little screen deal in the PCV hole in the intake.

[QWKSNKE]

Imo it is never a good idea to have a return style PCV system on a boosted vehicle. Whether you are receiving oil buildup or not, the oil fumes themselves in the intake tract can lead to detonation and blown head gaskets. Vent it to atmosphere

[waypastcrazy]

[QUOTE=EHardy1971;221204]The '95 GT's have a PCV valve though like the foxes
That was not the point.

[Procharged87]

OK, and while you're at it, check and see if you have that little screen deal in the PCV hole in the intake.

Yes, the PCV screen is definitely in place. I replaced it with a new one when we did the work so that I knew it was clean. I also use only the oem Ford PCV valves. I currently have the one from a Turbo T-bird installed in the PCV grommet, and the round screen is beneath that. I'm missing some photos from my build and I'm trying to locate them to see if there is a picture of the underside of the intake. Here is pic I found of the itake mounted so you can see what the PCV section looks like in the back though:

http://devenyns.net/images/intake2.jpg

[Procharged87]

Imo it is never a good idea to have a return style PCV system on a boosted vehicle. Whether you are receiving oil buildup or not, the oil fumes themselves in the intake tract can lead to detonation and blown head gaskets. Vent it to atmosphere

I'm also considering this route because of the issues with the oil. If I vent to atmosphere, I was thinking about using a remote catch can that has a breather mounted on it and running AN lines to it. I have some 90 degree PCV elbows that I picked up that have about a 5/8" ID outlet so I could run two seperate -10 AN or -12 AN lines to the remote vented catch can. If I do go this route, I can just remove the TFS oil fill tube on the passenger valve cover and put one elbow there since the grommet has a 3/4" opening (the elbows fit into a grommet exactly like a PCV valve does and are also 3/4" where they seat into the grommet). The only other issue was could I just replace the PCV valve at the back of the intake with a 90 degree elbow and run it to the other connection on the can, or do I definately need to remove the driver side valve cover and drill it and install another grommet for an elbow there and block off the old PCV location? I wasn't certain if venting it at the passenger valve cover and at the back of the intake like the PCV setup would be sufficient since the PCV system does work like a vacuum system and venting works more like a pressure release. My only hesitation in drilling the driver's valve cover is that the Kenne Bell pretty much hangs over the entire valve cover closely except for a little area at the front of it. Using the PCV opening on the back of the intake I can do without removing the Kenne Bell or having to pull the valve cover but, there's no way to get to the driver's valve cover without pulling the KB unit. I'd be willing to do whatever I have to do to stop the problem though.

[waypastcrazy]

Imo it is never a good idea to have a return style PCV system on a boosted vehicle. Whether you are receiving oil buildup or not, the oil fumes themselves in the intake tract can lead to detonation and blown head gaskets. Vent it to atmospherex2 even N/A that was my point in my post about smaller factory engines that vent elsewhere.they are usually higher compression deal and or higher rpms.And its not going to hurt venting to atmosphere

[SlowJoe]

Does valve covers have baffles?

[Procharged87]

Does valve covers have baffles?

Unfortunately, no. They are the TFS short covers. They were the only covers I could find that would clear roller rockers and fit under the Kenne Bell but, after installing them, the KB was still hitting them a little. Instead of grinding the covers, my brother machined a 1/4" aluminum spacer to fit between the lower intake and the KB manifold. We figured with the lower being pressurized from boost that a phenolic spacer would probably have eventually cracked.