Should I install PCV valve?

[2quick]

New build 66 Satellite designed to run on Moroso Vacuum pump but couldn't keep it from sucking oil so I abandend it and ran the vent hose from the valley plate directly to the breather oil catch tank. It stoped the oil issue and now I can drive the car but I just thought about it and realized I have no PCV system and the valve covers are sealed. Do you guys think this will hurt the motor overtime?



The Vacuum Pump before I disconnected it and the point in the valley plate I was pulling from.

 

[Belle66]

The PVC will burn the blow by gases by going into the intake manifold. The engine is fine as you have it set up now, because you are venting the gases into the catch can. Which prevents pressure build up in the sump.

 

[67belvedere/225]

im not running a pcv
I change my oil twice a summer, when it gets black I drain it and fill
the vc is vented at both ends and I run a exta hose to the carb to pick up some blow by
so far so good

 

[Cranky]

If you're sucking oil with the pump, you might need to adjust the baffles in the vent.....

 

[2quick]

If you're sucking oil with the pump, you might need to adjust the baffles in the vent.....

I tried everything. At first just installed pickup with out any baffles, Then made a huge baffle 4" wide x 6" long mount on pedestals under the pickup and I thought no way in hell oil would be able to get anywhere near the pickup, but it did. The next step would probably be to run the pick up from the valve cover but I'm scared it will still suck oil no matter what I do. And let me tell you it make an absolute mess in the engine bay like that.

 

[Cranky]

You don't have a separator on it? Not seeing one in the pic....

 

[toolmanmike]

Shouldn't you have vent caps on the valve covers? Air has to get in.

 

[wyrmrider]

x2 you need cross flow ventilation
filtered breather or hose from the inside of the filter in the air cleaner to a valve cover
then vent from the valley plate or the other valve cover- both should have some kind of filter unless u can show that they only flow out
if you are venting from the valley cover you can filter/vent both valve covers
you do not want any condensation anywhere

 

[Ranger16]

x2 you need cross flow ventilation

I agree. If you suck air (blowby) out, you must have fresh air replacement. I am sold on the benefits of PCV and would not run without it.

 

[KENTON]

The whole idea of running the Vac pump, is to pull a vacuum on the engine. It creates horse power and keeps oil from remaining in suspension. Gets it back to the pan faster. Also keeps oil leaks to zip. No PVC with vac pump and no breathers. It is very common in racing, and widely quoted to give at least 15 H.P.

 

[biomedtechguy]

I read about the M/E Wagner PCV valve on this forum, looked it up, read about it and then got on the phone with the owner (small family business). I got one for my 440+6 and it changed the world for my motor. Mainly resolved oil coming out of the baffled aluminum valve cover. When I switched my stock valve covers for the aluminum ones, I had to change the PCV and breather. So I got a PCV valve "that fit". Had problems ever since.
Got the M/E Wagner and not only did it fix that, but my motor runs better.
I have one coming for the 421 Tripower in the GTO. It's fantastic.
Great knowledge here.
http://mewagner.com/

 

[andyf]

Nice looking engine, looks like you've bought a few of the parts I make. It is very, very difficult to pull from the valley area and not get a lot of oil. I've tried that trick a few times and none of them worked. It is much easier to pull a vacuum from the valve cover. Almost everyone pulls from the valve cover and most people are able to make it work. The Indy covers that you are using are tall enough to put a good baffle in there but it takes some fab work to get it correct. You'll want to put the baffle about 1/2 inch from the top of the cover so the vacuum port has room to breathe. The baffle needs to be sealed tight on the sides so oil can't get past. Just leave it open on each end. Make the baffle about five or six inches long.

I assume this is a race only deal? A vacuum pump on a street car usually doesn't work very well. For a street car a PCV is probably the way to go. Or skip the PCV and just use a small hole in the vacuum line from the valve cover to the carb. You might need to play with the hole size to get it to work correctly, but something small like 0.060 is where I'd start.

 

[2quick]

Nice looking engine, looks like you've bought a few of the parts I make. It is very, very difficult to pull from the valley area and not get a lot of oil. I've tried that trick a few times and none of them worked. It is much easier to pull a vacuum from the valve cover. Almost everyone pulls from the valve cover and most people are able to make it work. The Indy covers that you are using are tall enough to put a good baffle in there but it takes some fab work to get it correct. You'll want to put the baffle about 1/2 inch from the top of the cover so the vacuum port has room to breathe. The baffle needs to be sealed tight on the sides so oil can't get past. Just leave it open on each end. Make the baffle about five or six inches long.

I assume this is a race only deal? A vacuum pump on a street car usually doesn't work very well. For a street car a PCV is probably the way to go. Or skip the PCV and just use a small hole in the vacuum line from the valve cover to the carb. You might need to play with the hole size to get it to work correctly, but something small like 0.060 is where I'd start.

Definitely a street car and drive it when weather permits. I may go the valve cover route at some point but would love to see some baffle ideas that worked on an INDY Valve cover before I start. What parts are you making (Just Curious)

 

[2quick]

Some Better pics from last night.

 

[2quick]

I read about the M/E Wagner PCV valve on this forum, looked it up, read about it and then got on the phone with the owner (small family business). I got one for my 440+6 and it changed the world for my motor. Mainly resolved oil coming out of the baffled aluminum valve cover. When I switched my stock valve covers for the aluminum ones, I had to change the PCV and breather. So I got a PCV valve "that fit". Had problems ever since.
Got the M/E Wagner and not only did it fix that, but my motor runs better.
I have one coming for the 421 Tripower in the GTO. It's fantastic.
Great knowledge here.
http://mewagner.com/

I looked into this and it's on the table as an option.

 

[biomedtechguy]

I looked into this and it's on the table as an option.

I can't make a more enthusiastic recommendation than I already did.
If you haven't yet, read all of the info on the M/E Wagner site I linked, call them and let them know what you have, what you want. With their tunable PCV valve and their expertise, and the detailed information they give for using a PCV valve, it's hard not to go that route.

 

[2quick]

So the question is, do I try and get the Vac Pump to work again or try the Wagner tunable PCV?????? I spent a lot of time and money on the vac pump setup including the pump, Mandel drive, and custom brackets, so to just let it go kinda sucks...on the other hand I really done with the sucking of the oil..

But in the mean time it sounds like it's OK to use the way it is? (Single breather off the valley)

 

[andyf]

You need to solve the baffle problem either with the vacuum pump or with a PCV. In both cases you'll be pulling a vacuum on the fitting and if there is oil there then you'll be sucking oil into the engine or into the vacuum pump. I don't think you'll be successful with the valley pan approach unless you copy the old Ford FE method. The Ford FE pulled vacuum from the valley but it took a fairly complex breather setup to work. The valve cover is an easier way to go but you'll still need to modify your valve covers. I use billet valve covers on my engine with a PCV valve. It took some work to get a baffle system that didn't allow oil to be sucked into the engine. The best way to approach it is to copy the factory design.

 

[wyrmrider]

reread what andy f said again
I agree about valley cover location, never tried it myself but some customers did that had rare valve covers they did not want to modify
Also about the vac pump on the street, when you shut off you can get condensation especially if you are in a high humidity area

 

[moper]

Yeah - can't pull from the valley like Andy said. There's little reason on a street car to run a vacuum pump. I'd think unless the camshaft is really radical the factory PCV system and breather would be sufficient.