How PCV System Failure Can Cause Oil Leaks in An Engine

One of the possible causes of oil leaks is a faulty PCV system. PCV stands for positive crankcase ventilation, and it’s a crucial component that prevents harmful gases from building up in your engine.

If you operate a machinery engine in a factory, you might have encountered oil leaks that affect your productivity and efficiency. In this article, we’ll explain how the PCV system works, how it can fail, and how it can cause oil leaks in your machinery engine.

What is the PCV system and how does it work?

The PCV system is a simple but effective way of reducing emissions and improving engine performance. It consists of a PCV valve, a filtered vent, and some hoses that connect them to the intake manifold and the valve cover.

The PCV system works by venting the combustion gases (also known as blowby) that escape around the pistons into the crankcase. These gases contain water vapor, unburned fuel, carbon monoxide, and oil vapor. If left in the crankcase, they can cause corrosion, sludge formation, and increased oil consumption.

The PCV valve is a spring-loaded device that regulates the amount of air that the intake vacuum pulls through it. It is normally installed on one valve cover, with a filtered vent on the opposite valve cover. The filtered vent allows fresh air to enter the crankcase, while the PCV valve sucks out the blowby gases and sends them to the intake manifold, where they are either burned or recycled. This reduces pressure in the crankcase, prevents oil leaks, improves fuel efficiency, and lowers emissions.

What are the signs of a faulty PCV system?

The PCV system can fail due to various reasons, such as clogging, cracking, or disconnecting of the hoses or the valve. A faulty PCV system can cause several problems for your machinery engine, such as:

• Oil leaks: If the PCV valve is clogged or not connected to vacuum, the blowby gases will build up pressure in the crankcase and force gaskets that are not normally subject to pressure to fail. These gaskets are normally the oil pan, timing cover, and valve cover gaskets. Oil leaks can also occur if the oil deposits in the tubing and valve cause them to malfunction.
• Increased oil consumption: If the PCV valve is stuck open or has a leak, it will allow too much air to enter the crankcase, creating a vacuum that will suck oil into the intake manifold and then into the combustion chambers. This will result in increased oil consumption and smoke from the exhaust.
• Rough idle: If the PCV valve is stuck closed or has a leak, it will prevent the blowby gases from being vented out of the crankcase, causing them to accumulate and interfere with the air-fuel ratio. This will result in rough idle, poor acceleration, and reduced power.
• Check engine light: If the PCV system is not working properly, it can trigger the check engine light due to an incorrect air-fuel ratio or a vacuum leak.

How to fix a faulty PCV system?

The best way to fix a faulty PCV system is to replace the PCV valve and hoses with new ones. The PCV valve is usually located on top of one of the valve covers, and it can be easily removed by twisting or pulling it off. The hoses are usually attached to the valve cover and the intake manifold with clamps or clips, and they can be easily disconnected by loosening or unclipping them.

Before replacing the PCV valve and hoses, you should inspect them for any signs of damage or clogging. You can also test the PCV valve by shaking it and listening for a rattling sound. If you don’t hear any sound, or if you hear a hissing sound when you blow into it, it means that the valve is faulty and needs to be replaced.

After replacing the PCV valve and hoses, you should also check for any oil leaks around the gaskets and seals that may have been damaged by excessive pressure. If you find any leaks, you should replace them as well.

Conclusion

The PCV system is an important part of your machinery engine that helps prevent harmful gases from accumulating in your crankcase. A faulty PCV system can cause oil leaks, increased oil consumption, rough idle, and check engine light. To avoid these problems, you should regularly inspect and replace your PCV valve and hoses as needed.

Don’t forget to share it