Is it possible to clean the PCV system on a 1990 Alltrac/GT4 without 
removing the cam cover/intercooler/throttlebody/EGR etc?

I'm gettting a lot of oil loss, and it has gotten worse since I replaced 
the cam cover gasket, which makes me think it might be over 
pressurisation of the crankcase/rockers.

It's a hell of a lot of work to remove everything (couple of hours to do 
it properly), so I wondered if it might be possible to use solvent such 
as spray brake cleaner or something similar in an aerosol to blow the 
crud clear of the PCV system. I'm planning to change the oil at the same 
time anyway, and run a good engine flush through, so the engine wouldn't 
be run loaded with the oil contaminated by solvents or PCV crud for long 
period.

On a gen2 3S-GTE there is no oneway PCV valve, it works on the breather 
using intake vacuum to suck the crud out. I think mine is blocked even 
though I gave it a fairly good clean out when I changed the rocker 
gasket.

-- 
Carl Robson
Car PC Build starts again. http://smallr.com/rz
Homepage: http://www.bouncing-czechs.com

"Sleeker GT Phwoar"  wrote in message
news:MPG.1d3f067f15de9ea298b158@news.individual.net...

> Is it possible to clean the PCV system on a 1990 Alltrac/GT4 without
> removing the cam cover/intercooler/throttlebody/EGR etc?
>
> I'm gettting a lot of oil loss, and it has gotten worse since I replaced
> the cam cover gasket, which makes me think it might be over
> pressurisation of the crankcase/rockers.
>
> It's a hell of a lot of work to remove everything (couple of hours to do
> it properly), so I wondered if it might be possible to use solvent such
> as spray brake cleaner or something similar in an aerosol to blow the
> crud clear of the PCV system. I'm planning to change the oil at the same
> time anyway, and run a good engine flush through, so the engine wouldn't
> be run loaded with the oil contaminated by solvents or PCV crud for long
> period.
>
> On a gen2 3S-GTE there is no oneway PCV valve, it works on the breather
> using intake vacuum to suck the crud out. I think mine is blocked even
> though I gave it a fairly good clean out when I changed the rocker
> gasket.


Am not familiar with the 3S-GTE but as far as general PCV systems go, its
far better (and really the only way to do it) to dismantle it completely
into its component parts and clean each hose / trap / gauze / cam cover etc
etc with carb cleaner / dishwasher before reassembly.

Running with a blocked PVC / pressurised block (especially when under boost)
is not good and you'll end up blowing out an oil seal, possibly one of the
crank ones, which is  a nightmare.

2-3 hrs is nothing afterwhich you'll know the PCV system is functioning
properly again. You can reverse flush the intercooler (both matrix and air
passage) and disable the pesky EGR with a solid tin gasket whilst your at
it!

Tim..

In article <db2u5k$g5o$1@nwrdmz02.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com>, 
the.farm.hates.spam@btinternet.com says...

> 
> "Sleeker GT Phwoar"  wrote in message
> news:MPG.1d3f067f15de9ea298b158@news.individual.net...
> > Is it possible to clean the PCV system on a 1990 Alltrac/GT4 without
> > removing the cam cover/intercooler/throttlebody/EGR etc?
> >
> > I'm gettting a lot of oil loss, and it has gotten worse since I replaced
> > the cam cover gasket, which makes me think it might be over
> > pressurisation of the crankcase/rockers.
> >
> > It's a hell of a lot of work to remove everything (couple of hours to do
> > it properly), so I wondered if it might be possible to use solvent such
> > as spray brake cleaner or something similar in an aerosol to blow the
> > crud clear of the PCV system. I'm planning to change the oil at the same
> > time anyway, and run a good engine flush through, so the engine wouldn't
> > be run loaded with the oil contaminated by solvents or PCV crud for long
> > period.
> >
> > On a gen2 3S-GTE there is no oneway PCV valve, it works on the breather
> > using intake vacuum to suck the crud out. I think mine is blocked even
> > though I gave it a fairly good clean out when I changed the rocker
> > gasket.
> 
> Am not familiar with the 3S-GTE but as far as general PCV systems go, its
> far better (and really the only way to do it) to dismantle it completely
> into its component parts and clean each hose / trap / gauze / cam cover etc
> etc with carb cleaner / dishwasher before reassembly.


There is one hose that goes into the intake. This links to a short metal 
pipe that goes into the cam cover. Inside the cam cover it is just a 
series of channels with a baffle plate covering them. No trap, no 
gauze/filter, no one way/flkame trap valves etc.
 

> Running with a blocked PVC / pressurised block (especially when under boost)
> is not good and you'll end up blowing out an oil seal, possibly one of the
> crank ones, which is  a nightmare.


I think it may have been like that for a while (at least 6 months) and 
ben blowing oil from the dipstick among other places (haven't located 
the other places yet). I don't think it is fully blocked as there still 
some oily residue gets through into the intake pipes before the turbo, 
but I think it is definatley restricted, and casuign pressurisation 
problems.
 

> 2-3 hrs is nothing afterwhich you'll know the PCV system is functioning
> properly again. You can reverse flush the intercooler (both matrix and air
> passage) and disable the pesky EGR with a solid tin gasket whilst your at
> it!
> 


Intercooler isn't too bad. Had that off and cleaned it with petrol a 
while ago.

-- 
Carl Robson
Car PC Build starts again. http://smallr.com/rz
Homepage: http://www.bouncing-czechs.com

"Sleeker GT Phwoar"  wrote in message
news:MPG.1d3f067f15de9ea298b158@news.individual.net...

> Is it possible to clean the PCV system on a 1990 Alltrac/GT4 without
> removing the cam cover/intercooler/throttlebody/EGR etc?
>
> I'm gettting a lot of oil loss, and it has gotten worse since I replaced
> the cam cover gasket, which makes me think it might be over
> pressurisation of the crankcase/rockers.
>
> It's a hell of a lot of work to remove everything (couple of hours to do
> it properly), so I wondered if it might be possible to use solvent such
> as spray brake cleaner or something similar in an aerosol to blow the
> crud clear of the PCV system. I'm planning to change the oil at the same
> time anyway, and run a good engine flush through, so the engine wouldn't
> be run loaded with the oil contaminated by solvents or PCV crud for long
> period.
>
> On a gen2 3S-GTE there is no oneway PCV valve, it works on the breather
> using intake vacuum to suck the crud out. I think mine is blocked even
> though I gave it a fairly good clean out when I changed the rocker
> gasket.


I'd suggest you bite the bullet and take the cover off. Remove the baffle
plates and clean it properly. I can't see any type of spray cleaner clearing
it, if it is blocked.
Having said that, I wonder if that actually is the problem. What was the
inside of the cover like?
I removed the baffle plates on the last GT4 head I reconned. Apart from
being slightly discoloured inside, it was perfectly clear, inc the exit
pipe.
It would take a helluva lot of crud to block the entrance to the pipe. IMO
the most likely place for a blockage is the pipe itself, particularly at the
elbow, which you might be able to clear without stripping.
Mike.

In article <42d5593d$0$6304$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader03.plus.net>, 
metier@lycos.co.uk says...

> It would take a helluva lot of crud to block the entrance to the pipe. IMO
> the most likely place for a blockage is the pipe itself, particularly at the
> elbow, which you might be able to clear without stripping.
> Mike.
> 

There was some soft crud reducing the opening on the cover exit pipe to 
about 1/3rd the diameter it is supposed to be.

After scraping that out, it seemed to pulse at idle better.
The soft pipe with the elbow appears pretty clear.

I sprayed a lot of brake cleaner down that to. Car seemed to fly 
afterwards, apart from the beltching white smoke for about 1/2 an hours 
hard driving. Not smoked since, and appears to drive better now. Could 
just be the new thinner oil (10w40 semi instead of 10w60 full), could 
just be imagining it. Will find out in about 1 1/2 weeks. Will check at 
the weekend, but can't see it losing much in two days.
-- 
Carl Robson
Car PC Build starts again. http://smallr.com/rz
Homepage: http://www.bouncing-czechs.com