PCV System Sludge

I went to check my oil today, it was a quart down (looked fine, good brown color, no moisture on dipstick) but there was orange sludge stuff ALL OVER the inside of the oil cap...along with lots of moisture that dripped all over.

So I start to get pissed...I pull the PCV system apart, and I find more yellow gunk and moisture. I removed the PCV valve, and a small amount of water ran out of it when I removed it. I have a breather filter on the end of the line instead of having it attached to the TB, but the filter didn't really have anything in it. This leads me to believe that the PCV system is not venting properly.

I'm worried that its a head gasket...because thats a lot of moisture and yellow sludge crap to be in the oil cap and PCV system, never seen anything like it before. However, apparently having the PCV system plugged up can have the same effect, so I'm hoping thats all it is.

Anyway, what should I do?? I'm thinking pull the whole PCV system out, clean it up, run seafoam in the oil, change the oil, and then either attach a breather to the oil cap or to the valve cover. Or would a catchcan be better, since it would have vacuum from the engine on it??

Any help is appreciated...

Your PVC system needs the original line attatched for suction IMO

Wouldn't it be picking up vacuum from the TB? Or am I confused?

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Originally Posted by 02z28ls1

Wouldn't it be picking up vacuum from the TB? Or am I confused?

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Nahh...I disconnected it from the TB and stuck a breather filter on the end of the hose because it was sucking up too much oil into the intake.

However, I think because there is no longer vacuum on the system, all the vapors/condensation/ect aren't getting through the maze of PVC hoses, and the system is getting stopped up.

Thats why I was thinking just take the whole system out, and run breather filters on each valve cover, along with one on the oil cap. Should be enough to keep the crankcase ventilated right??

No, it needs suction, otherwise, there is no positive crankcase ventilation. Suction is what makes it positive.

If you were having oil sucked into the intake, which I've never had, but others have, you should install a catch can to the PCV system. Search the forum, there is plenty of information about it.

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Originally Posted by GatorSS

No, it needs suction, otherwise, there is no positive crankcase ventilation. Suction is what makes it positive.

If you were having oil sucked into the intake, which I've never had, but others have, you should install a catch can to the PCV system. Search the forum, there is plenty of information about it.

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I've read about having a catch can, and its not the solution many times. What happens it the catch can fill up with oil pretty fast, and once again you have the same problem with oil consumption that you had before.

Hence the reason I just want to convert the whole system to breather filters, instead of positive crankcase ventilation. All the older Gen I motors have this setup, and it seems to work just fine for them.

i would like opinions on how to install a catch can. thanks