2013 Equinox 2.4 PCV Frozen

[1444buicking]

I've seen a few different catch can configurations for the 2.4L engines and don't understand some of them.

"sydnesb" posted a detailed PDF on the PCV at the terrain forum "Detailed Document on ECOTEC 2.4L PCV SYSTEM". He was banned for some reason but might be on some facebook forum.

The Lacrosse, Malibus and Terrains all might have slightly different intake baffling schemes. I can't recall anyone on the Buick forums with a blown rear main seal but not many 2.4L cars were sold. For certain, at 45k miles, our PCV orifice was clogged with carbon and cleaning that up made a big improvement.

I've seen a few people at the terrain forum complain about frozen fc219 caps and resulting blown rear main seals. I don't know how one could reliably clean the cap so maybe replacing it periodically could help. Or just not driving when it is below say 20*F lol.

Hopefully frequent cleaning of the PCV orifice & oil changes will help.

This is the LaCrosse 2.4 baffling from a dealer photo (you can see the big hybrid generator too):

 

[LeakySeals]

The majority have the catch can connected to the fresh air PCV tube which is the only place to put it because the dirty side is inside the intake manifold ( unless you create a external dirty side like I did) They do that to catch the moisture caused by hot blow by going out the fresh air tube and mixing with cool air coming in. I think you mentioned you drilled a hole from the top so you can maintain the factory orifice? That’s a good thing to have because in addition to keeping the orifice open, you can spray the intake ports and valves to help keep them clean. The orifice has channels that terminate in each port. So for example, you could use seafoam spray and stick the wand in the hole and spray with the engine running. That will really help keep it running good.

 

[1444buicking]

There are a few youtube videos with removed plastic intake manifolds, where the tech sprays cleaner into the PCV orifice to show spray exiting each of the 4 runners. Several techs commented that the passages to the 4 runners get clogged frequently (so either the passages need to be cleaned or the plastic intake replaced).

Before each oil change we clean the PCV orifice & spray some throttle body cleaner in the drilled PCV hole with the engine at about 2000 rpms. We taped a rubber plumbing washer about 1.5 inches up the straw so that keeps the system somewhat sealed. The engine stumbles with each spray blast and we don't want to dilute the oil so just a quick spray and wait a minute before another. We don't spray too many times.

There is a GM service note about a normal "whistle" when blocking the fresh air intake for testing. We got that whistle so assume the PCV system is not completely blocked.

I don't know how one would clean the passages in the valve cover (other than replacing the cover) but I don't recall seeing many complaints there.

Pre DI, these 2.4L engines had good reputations. I wondered if that PCV orifice was the root of all the problems, destroying sales, destroying reputations, and causing hundreds of millions in repairs.

 

[Dan_IN_MN]

FC219 oil cap has a pressure relief valve in it to help prevent rear seal blowout when PCV system freezes in real cold conditions.

I registered for this thread. I have a 2013 Equinox 2.4. Knew about the chance of pressure building in the crankcase and pushing the rear seal out and loosing all of the oil because of the hole in the intake getting plugged.
Well, the cap, FC219 pressure relief is greater than the strength of the rear seal! With this cap installed, my rear seal still blew out! Please don't use this Cap as a safeguard for not blowing out the rear seal! I'm in the process of getting my engine back in after replacing the timing components, water pump and rear seal. Lucky, my oil only got low enough so there wasn't enough pressure to keep the timing components tight and they rattled, and engine stalled a few times.
I've attached some pictures. One has the crankcase ventilation system hole completely plugged!

 

[1444buicking]

I registered for this thread. I have a 2013 Equinox 2.4. Knew about the chance of pressure building in the crankcase and pushing the rear seal out and loosing all of the oil because of the hole in the intake getting plugged.
Well, the cap, FC219 pressure relief is greater than the strength of the rear seal! With this cap installed, my rear seal still blew out! Please don't use this Cap as a safeguard for not blowing out the rear seal!

Sorry about your engine.

But thank you for posting about the FC219 oil cap. I have seen a few of those complaints posted online (terrainforum and youtube comments) so it does not seem to be a "perfect solution".

I wonder if the FC219 pressure release function could be foiled by the combination of:
1. Ultra cold temperatures
2. Clogged PCV orifice, which both cause
3. Excess moisture and crud in the engine, freezing the FC219 valving

I've attached some pictures. One has the crankcase ventilation system hole completely plugged!

Is that the hole with the red circle that is clogged on the intake manifold? That is a popular issue causing the rear main seal failure.

You need to check the passages from that orifice to the 4 intake runners are clear. You can use some gentle cleaner to check. Apparently this is not too uncommon. One could clean the passages or just buy another manifold.

GM has a service note about increasing the diameter of the PCV orifice; some complained online about a whistling sound afterwards. I suppose the metering can't be that much different if GM is recommending the procedure.

Good luck!

 

[Dan_IN_MN]

Sorry about your engine.

But thank you for posting about the FC219 oil cap. I have seen a few of those complaints posted online (terrainforum and youtube comments) so it does not seem to be a "perfect solution".

I wonder if the FC219 pressure release function could be foiled by the combination of:
1. Ultra cold temperatures
2. Clogged PCV orifice, which both cause
3. Excess moisture and crud in the engine, freezing the FC219 valving


Is that the hole with the red circle that is clogged on the intake manifold? That is a popular issue causing the rear main seal failure.

You need to check the passages from that orifice to the 4 intake runners are clear. You can use some gentle cleaner to check. Apparently this is not too uncommon. One could clean the passages or just buy another manifold.

GM has a service note about increasing the diameter of the PCV orifice; some complained online about a whistling sound afterwards. I suppose the metering can't be that much different if GM is recommending the procedure.

Good luck!

Thank you for the reply!
My engine is fine. It would have been trash if I hadn't had it towed!
I think I have a lot of oil in my intake. Maybe I should just replace it.
Yes, that hole was plugged solid! I wasn't concerned because I had a vented oil cap!
The front and rear seals for these engines are pathetic! Wimpie! No spring. Very thin rubber! Not impressed!
I feel sorry for people who can't do their own work and have to pay! Especially when they have a loan on the vehicle and then have to add $4,000+ to replace an engine!

 

[1444buicking]

Did you reset the timing chain tensioner properly?

Also, the high pressure fuel pumps on these tended to leak gasoline into the oil. If you have the original, you might replace it now as it is so easy. I think GM redesigned the HPFP. That requires a new metal hose. Plus the cam-follower should be replaced as they have a limited life. The cam follower has to be all the way in to properly install the HPFP; there is a tool and procedure (we just used our finger and turned the crank to find the low point.

The exhaust manifolds on Terrains crack between the 2nd and 3rd cylinder; check yours before putting the engine in. That is an easy fix now. Oddly, I think the Malibu/LaCrosse exhaust manifolds don't have that defect.

 

[super20dan]

what a wonderfull engine the 2.4 ecoturd is

 

[1444buicking]

Hehehe.

You have a great garage for this work.

 

[Dan_IN_MN]

Did you reset the timing chain tensioner properly?

Also, the high pressure fuel pumps on these tended to leak gasoline into the oil. If you have the original, you might replace it now as it is so easy. I think GM redesigned the HPFP. That requires a new metal hose. Plus the cam-follower should be replaced as they have a limited life. The cam follower has to be all the way in to properly install the HPFP; there is a tool and procedure (we just used our finger and turned the crank to find the low point.

The exhaust manifolds on Terrains crack between the 2nd and 3rd cylinder; check yours before putting the engine in. That is an easy fix now. Oddly, I think the Malibu/LaCrosse exhaust manifolds don't have that defects

I'm putting in all new timing components so the tensioner is new. Is there something I need to do to it? This is the one that screws in from the outside of the head.

New high pressure fuel pump is installed.

I did a visual inspection of the exhaust manifold and didn't see any cracks. I'll double check between 2 and 3 cylinders.

Thank you for your insight!!

Dan

 

[1444buicking]

GM has a very specific procedure to install the tensioner then deploy it with a hit on the chain from the top of the engine. There are service instructions and lots of youtube videos for that.

 

[Dan_IN_MN]

GM has a very specific procedure to install the tensioner then deploy it with a hit on the chain from the top of the engine. There are service instructions and lots of youtube videos for that.

Thank you! Watched this video and now understand how to activate the tensioner.

 

[Dan_IN_MN]

 

[1444buicking]

Double check the timing TDC setting. I thought it was on the exhaust stroke but don't remember. The timing also changed over the years (so did the parts).

 

[Dan_IN_MN]

Hehehe.

You have a great garage for this work.

It's a friend's shop!!