CXEB PCV blocked / broken

[Cog Head]

Evening all

I was doing an engine oil and fluid check today, and remember some on here suggesting that a blocked / dead PCV would likely be causing a proportion of the engine oil consumption.
So i googled it, googles AI thing suggested I remove the engine oil cap with the engine at idle, stand that there should be a slight vacuum, unfortunately there was no vacuum whatsoever, there was pressure pushing the filler can out of the hole.

So my question… how much of an arse is it to replace the valve cover?

I know it’s already weeping at the rear and that the PVC is an integral part of the valve cover, so I don’t see any point in doing the job twice, especially with all stuff on top of the engine.

 

[DXX]

From what I’ve read there seems to be ongoing issues with bleeding the HP fuel system after removing the rail / injector pipes, I’m not a great believer in the VW method of using the LP fuel pump to prime and bleed back through the injector leak lines, IMO nothings changed, the injection pipes need cracking at the injector.
Having a water cooled charge cooler sat on top really isn’t helping matters.

You can put a cheap (draper) endoscope down the induction hose to the point the PCV hose T’s into it. Be careful I managed to get all the way to the turbocharger and you don’t want to do that with it spinning. On the CFCA I used the manifold pressure sensor port.
At this point you can see how wet / dry it is, how much oil is passing the PCV.
I think if your PCV was restricted you may have issues with crankshaft oil seal leakage.
As yours is a CXEB there’s obviously the concern that it’s just another CXEB engine failure. Do the blow-by gases smell of exhaust gases or just oil?
I did find a pressure value range some time ago for the crankcase pressure, can’t remember where. If the filler cap is getting blown off the neck when loose I’d say that excessive crankcase pressure.

 

[Cog Head]

Thanks for the reply.

Yeah, I believe both crank oil seals are leaking and I’m not particularly looking forward to sorting them out, I’ll be removing the sump to do it properly.

I’ve been looking for an excuse to buy an endoscope for a while now, too.

I’ve got a price for the cam cover from LLLparts.co.uk
£260 delivered is that good price?

 

[DXX]

Thanks for the reply.

Yeah, I believe both crank oil seals are leaking and I’m not particularly looking forward to sorting them out, I’ll be removing the sump to do it properly.

I’ve been looking for an excuse to buy an endoscope for a while now, too.

I’ve got a price for the cam cover from LLLparts.co.uk
£260 delivered is that good price?

No idea if £260 is a good price, Google comparison would tell.
I’ve fixed PCV that have been leaking (not T6) but the only way I can see one causing over pressure is through being sooted up and that must be down to excessive blow-by gases. Excessive blow-by would be down to worn cylinders / rings.
I’d suggest a Miller oil analysis first, about £45, this will indicate if there is excessive soot in the oil plus any significant engine wear.
Being a CXEB you may end up with an engine replacement and spending out on new cover and both crankshaft seals is going to be avoidable additional expense.

Have you removed the hose between the PCV and induction hose? You could also try blowing back through this hose into the crankcase.
The diaphragm PCVs that I’ve seen fail have been over 15 years old, rubber deteriorated and no longer sealing.

 

[Cog Head]

If the engine is bad it’ll be reconditioned, for me that’s waaaaay cheaper!

I’ll get the PCV breather pipe off later on today and see how it looks.
Not a bad shout on the oil analysis, it’s about due one anyways.

 

[Cog Head]

STAND DOWN

I’ve just been under the bonnet, I did the vacuum test with the filler cap again, this time I put my hand over the filler hole, there is a slight vacuum, about the same as I have on my crafter too, so I think it’s ok.

It’s still leaking oil from both crank seals, and possibly from the DSG cooler, so I still have a bit of work to do.

 

[temporarysecretary]

STAND DOWN

I’ve just been under the bonnet, I did the vacuum test with the filler cap again, this time I put my hand over the filler hole, there is a slight vacuum, about the same as I have on my crafter too, so I think it’s ok.

It’s still leaking oil from both crank seals, and possibly from the DSG cooler, so I still have a bit of work to do.

I think the oil cap off test is a bit of a red herring on these engines as they all expel a lot of air once opened.

 

[Cog Head]

When I opened it I immediately had Vapor blowing out, but when I place my palm over the hole, I found feel a slight vacuum, to my knowledge that shows the PCV is working, and that my oil “consumption” will most likely be via the front and rear crank seals.

 

[DXX]

Ticking over there is no boost pressure, the bi turbos run very high boost pressure by auto standards, what’s happening at full load, you won’t know unless there’s a gauge fitted to the crankcase.
Oil analysis will reveal all.

 

[Cog Head]

Yeah, I’ll give it its annual service after the bank holiday, I’ll be sure to keep a sample to one side for the oil analysis, think it’s done a lofty 3000miles this year

 

[ryan944]

How many miles on your cxeb engine?

 

[Cog Head]

123,300mi exactly
Had it from new, first service was at 500mi, then 5,000mi, then no longer than 10,000mi / 12 months til it hit 100,000mi, then it was every 8,000mi, and now it’s only used to tow our caravan, it gets serviced every year, as we only cover about 3,000 per year.
It spent most of its life on motorways til 90,000mi, when it was remapped.
Still pulls strong and now it has a front mounted oil cooler, it no longer cooks its oil after a long haul up a hill.

 

[DXX]

when it was remapped.

You never mentioned that in post #1

 

[ryan944]

123k on a cxeb engine it must be knackered - if your remap included egr and dpf delete then this might of helped. Surprised your drivers drive shaft hasn't gone with the towing! In my opinion either get shot of it or replace engine I believe a cxec fits. I got shot of mine oil drinker and coil light. Thicker viscosity oil was the only option. These cxeb engines after 90k are a ticking time bomb.

 

[Cog Head]

It drives beautifully, 250 ish and a bucked or torque, DSG and engine remap.
EGR, AdBlue & DPF may or may not have been lost somewhere along the way.
If / when it gives up the ghost, it will be reconditioned for the fraction of the cost of a replacement, with the addition of a reconditioned hybrid turbo pack.
It uses a little bit of oil but it’s mainly due to my poor crank seals.
When I eventually get around to doing it, I’ll get a camera down unit the bores to see how the land lies.