PCV valve soaked full of oil

[Merkava_4]

I checked the PCV valve yesterday. It was covered in oil and the well that it sits down in was full of oil too. If you guys recall, the PCV valve on a 3800 V6 lives down in the upper intake manifold underneath the MAP sensor; no hose connected to it. I took the valve out and shook it up in a jar of carb cleaner. The plastic well it lives in I rinsed down with electrical contact cleaner in an effort to avoid damaging the plastic. Carb cleaner as you know is not plastic friendly. Anyway, I thought I'd mention it to see what you guys make of it.

2000 Buick LeSabre

 

[bullwinkle]

Lots of blowby?

 

[volk06]

The oil you're using is too thick and causing a lot of blow by. You need to switch to a light oil like a 0/5w-20, especially in the hot environments, and you won't have an oil soaked PCV anymore.

 

[Robenstein]

Originally Posted By: volk06
The oil you're using is too thick and causing a lot of blow by. You need to switch to a light oil like a 0/5w-20, especially in the hot environments, and you won't have an oil soaked PCV anymore.


So you want him to use thinner oil than speced by GM?

No

Replace the PCV valve (which was probably stuck,and depending on open or closed, can cause a variety of symptoms) and use 5w30 oil like GM says. The 3800 is an older design that goes way way back in its lineage.

 

[volk06]

Originally Posted By: Robenstein
Originally Posted By: volk06
The oil you're using is too thick and causing a lot of blow by. You need to switch to a light oil like a 0/5w-20, especially in the hot environments, and you won't have an oil soaked PCV anymore.


So you want him to use thinner oil than speced by GM?

No

Replace the PCV valve (which was probably stuck,and depending on open or closed, can cause a variety of symptoms) and use 5w30 oil like GM says. The 3800 is an older design that goes way way back in its lineage.


This is a Merk tread. It was a joke because we all know how much he loves thin oil.

 

[tig1]

Originally Posted By: bullwinkle
Lots of blowby?


+1. Perhaps ring coking from the 40WT dino Merc uses.

 

[Robenstein]

Originally Posted By: volk06
Originally Posted By: Robenstein
Originally Posted By: volk06
The oil you're using is too thick and causing a lot of blow by. You need to switch to a light oil like a 0/5w-20, especially in the hot environments, and you won't have an oil soaked PCV anymore.


So you want him to use thinner oil than speced by GM?

No

Replace the PCV valve (which was probably stuck,and depending on open or closed, can cause a variety of symptoms) and use 5w30 oil like GM says. The 3800 is an older design that goes way way back in its lineage.


This is a Merk tread. It was a joke because we all know how much he loves thin oil.



Ahhh...humor is hard to catch in textual form.

 

[Lubener]

I would replace that o-ring which seals around the valve (valve should fit snugly), make sure the coil spring is in there as many forget to put it back in. Put in a new OEM valve and make sure the breather system and the vacuum line for it is in good shape. Otherwise if it continues, check for excessive blowby.

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: Lubener
I would replace that o-ring which seals around the valve (valve should fit snugly), make sure the coil spring is in there as many forget to put it back in. Put in a new OEM valve and make sure the breather system and the vacuum line for it is in good shape. Otherwise if it continues, check for excessive blowby.


In this case the PCV valve fits down into the intake manifold and the spring goes over top of it. The spring just adds tension to the black plastic cap thing that goes over the PCV valve and locks into the upper intake manifold. Then you have the MAP sensor that sits down into the black plastic cap thing.

Autozone

 

[Lubener]

Sounds like the same arrangement I have on my 97, same parts as shown in your autozone link. The valve has to seal into something either a grommet or those o-rings as shown.It just doesn't go into the plastic upper intake manifold without something to provide a seal around it.. That black o-ring is the one I am refering to.The larger red one seals the vacuum.The spring keeps the valve seated downward into the UIM.

 

[ron350]

Yep the 3800II PCV system is a poor design and sucks a good bit of oil.

You would think someone would make an aftermarket conversion that uses a oil catch can.

PS: The AC Delco PCV kit is part # 89017274.

 

[CKN]

How many miles on that motor?

 

[CKN]

The most important equation is how many miles the motor has on it. That's the question that should be asked/answered first.

The car is 26 years old.....

 

[Nick1994]

Originally Posted By: CKN
The most important equation is how many miles the motor has on it. That's the question that should be asked/answered first.

The car is 26 years old.....
Since when does 2016-2000=26?

Previous posts by Merk indicates it has 126k miles

It's still a spring chicken

 

[CKN]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Originally Posted By: CKN
The most important equation is how many miles the motor has on it. That's the question that should be asked/answered first.

The car is 26 years old.....
Since when does 2016-2000=26?

Previous posts by Merk indicates it has 126k miles

It's still a spring chicken



It may/may not be. The PCV being clogged with oil could be the result of major blowby-indicating possible internal motor issues.