pcv info required

[jdavis]

What are symptoms of a blocked pcv system? Also how do i diagnose it. Thanks

[t5 pete]

Normally smoking from the dip sitck

[jdavis]

not got that but got a whistling noise which I've heard can be down to a blocked pcv system.

[M-R-P]

Take it for a run til it's warmed right up, pull over and with the engine running, pull the dipstick. If it chuffs white smoke, then the pcv is blocked.
I've not heard of a pcv causing a whistling noise, perforated vac hose, cheap MBC or a hole in the intake hose from the airbox to the turbo can cause whistling. As can a leak in the big boost hoses.

[mikey32shaw]

How much white smoke are we talking about? And is it an expensive fix?

[M-R-P]

Basically, any smoke is a bad sign. The more smoke there is, the worse the blockage is.

Luckily, on P2 cars, there's a banjo bolt that blocks before anything else (usually).

I would check that first, it's a pig to get at but could save you the 100 odd quid on new pcv pipework.

[mikey32shaw]

^^^^^^ why dont you move to a house near mine :-)

[jdavis]

Martin can you give me more details on this banjo bolt please. Gonna take it for a run tomorrow and check dipstick.

[Harvey]

Have a look near the alternator on the underside of the inlet manifold,its a banjo bolt bit of a pig to get out also if you do remove it don't move the pipe around as it will have gone brittle with age and can snap off.

[M-R-P]

I'll try linking a thread of mine when I get on the pc. It's called "pcv help needed" one of my earlier threads. There's a few handy pictures.

[LeeT5]

Have a look near the alternator on the underside of the inlet manifold,its a banjo bolt bit of a pig to get out also if you do remove it don't move the pipe around as it will have gone brittle with age and can snap off.

Is it the same on an R Harvey?

[M-R-P]

Yes mate.

Below is the union disconnected and wedged so I could get some carb cleaner in it.

This is the bolt that blocks.

[silverhorse]

How does it get blocked Martin? Surely if the bolt is tightened, the hole is closed. I must be missing something. I will have a look at this in the near future as a matter of course. Might 'get it' when I see it.

[M-R-P]

There's a hole down the length of the bolt that meets the holes you can see. It's only about 2.5mm and gets blocked with hardened oily gunk. This bolt collects pressure from the manifold to aid ventilation. When my dipstick was smoking this was the only blockage in the system.

[jdavis]

Thanks Martin. Pulled dipstick other day. No smoke or anything.

[LeeT5]

How accessible it the union? What needs to be removed?

[M-R-P]

Not sure if the R is different, as it has 2 intercoolers doesn't it? I had to take the rad fan and housing off and it's a real pig to get at. IIRC, it's a 19mm bolt and I could only get enough of a turn on it with a spanner to "crack" it, then I undid it by hand.
I have sausage fingers and forearms like popeye so most people would probably find it less awkward. I would definitely recommend it to anybody with ME7 and a blocked PCV as mine was completely clear apart from this bolt. It may not be the bolt on some occasions but look at the agro it'll save if it is

[LeeT5]

Not sure if the R is different, as it has 2 intercoolers doesn't it? I had to take the rad fan and housing off and it's a real pig to get at. IIRC, it's a 19mm bolt and I could only get enough of a turn on it with a spanner to "crack" it, then I undid it by hand.
I have sausage fingers and forearms like popeye so most people would probably find it less awkward. I would definitely recommend it to anybody with ME7 and a blocked PCV as mine was completely clear apart from this bolt. It may not be the bolt on some occasions but look at the agro it'll save if it is

They do have two intercoolers but i think its in a forwards direction not backwards, so clearance will be the same. The banjo bolt looks familiar from when i did the PCV on my Laser, but i cannot remember where it is on the car, on a P2 anyway.
Any guidance in its location?

[Harvey]

Is it the same on an R Harvey?

Yes it is,I think I still have the old pipe in the Garage, will have a look if I do I will take some photos of it the it costs about £160 from volvo I could have got the pipe from any Pneumatics Dealer for a couple of pounds.
It's just the little bit on the end that snaps off.

[M-R-P]

As you look at the engine from the front, on the underside of the main body of the inlet manifold, far left. It has a solid coolant pipe round it.