Need help with my RB20DET... (Lots of pics)

[MKIV]

Hey everyone..
Sorry a bit of a long thread but any help is appreciated.

So as I mentioned in my thread a few days ago, I recently had a oil spill that occurred anytime I would drive my car hard for a period of time. The dipstick would pop out of place and oil would spew all over.

I'll start with a picture of my engine bay this morning and areas to note:

1) Manifold
2 & 3) PCV Valves?
4) Greddy Catch Can



A member on the forum suggested I may have too much pressure in my crankcase, and to inspect for any clogs in the PCV valves, the lines, or the catch can itself.

The catch can was clogged. and the lines for the catch can were extremely smaller then the factory hoses. (The valves themselves were fine)



Note the catch can hose compared to the OEM PCV hose. (Not sure if this could cause too much pressure in the crankcase?)



So I removed the catch can...



And here's how it sits now (CV being vented to atmosphere)



Here's the end where the manifold connected to the PCV valve (Now plugged with a temporary rubber vacuum cap)



I guess now my question is, can I keep the manifold sealed with a rubber stopper, and put an air breather (or mini filter) on the end of each PCV valve and continue to drive my car? I assume this would be the best form of breathing for the crankcase...so I shouldn't have any more pressure after this, right? I understand this is illegal and I could face a $300+ emission failure ticket for venting oil vapor to the atmosphere, but I really don't want to blow a seal (If I haven't already).

Any other suggestions?

Thanks!

[Skym]

If crankcase overpressurises, usually get a oil seal failure on turbo and intake pipes after turbo have oil inside them.

PCV valve on intake plenum is only open under vacuum and closes under boost. The blowby + oil should then go in the other direction and into intakepipe infront of turbo (why that catchcan is plumbed inbetween exhaust camcover, hard pipe that goes to rubber intakepipe infront of turbo).

Catchcan should be at least half sump capacity, which I think is around 2 litres+ for racetrack use. But 1-1.5 litre is usually ok for street use.

The ID of catchcan hoses should be the same as stock. You can buy custom press in fittings for camcovers and run AN fittings, braided hose.

This is what some use (DIY catchcan) -

http://autospeed.com/cms/title_Pots-and-Cans/A_111060/article.html

It vents to atmosphere via breather on top of catchcan. On racecars it's vented via hose, just behind engine after going through 2x catchcans and with first catchcan, oil is drained to sump.

[MKIV]

Thanks a lot for the reply!

I'm no longer having any oil leaks now that the crankcase vents freely, and the car still drives as it did before the issue, so I'm guessing its safe to assume no seals are blown :/

Thanks again for the run down