There's oil in my intake dear Martha, dear Martha....

[chasealley]

What a title huh? Basically I was doing some work vacuum troubleshooting this week and decided to remove the upper intake to see if there were any leaks in the plastic. Sure enough there was....but that's not what I was wondering about.

There is some oil in the upper intake that is coming through the PCV valve. Now I have no codes set, the only driveability problem is a 30-50 rpm idle alteration, and it doesn't seem to use oil in general. This is a 2001 3.8L, the intake doesn't have the hole in it usually associated with one TSB - and so I thought I was safe. The inserts in the intake are black and not green though.

My question is then why does the oil come through the PCV? It was also coming around the grommet between the rubber and the cover now too. It makes way up that PCV, into the TB and the intake. Some of the lower intake ports were dark and mildly wet while the others just had the characteristic yellow hue.

Anyone know why this is the case? Could it be a bad PCV, maybe oil pressure issue?

[lewisnc100]

The newer valve might reduce some of the oil in the intake, but it won't eliminate it. You'll eventually have to do the P0171/P0174 isolator bolt fix.

I replaced my valve cover for the redesigned valve cover a full 2 years ago. No codes until a recent cold spell when the P0171/P0174 codes popped up. Still had fresh oil being pulled across when I took it apart and did the fix this past weekend.

You might search for past posts on installing a filter on the PCV line. This link shows it on a mustang: http://www.miracerros.com/mustang/pcv_filter.htm

[12Ounce]

Actually, if you're lucky you may already have the upgraded bolts and will not require the repair.

Oil in the intake is normal for this engine ... which usually has a very clean lower block because of the aggressive PCV system ... so don't fight or modify and you will be OK.

If you stay on top of your air filter maintenance, the "problem" will be minimized.

[chasealley]

12Ounce, you are saying that if the air filter is restricted then it will draw more from the other vacuum sources like PCV, correct?

I suppose I should probably change the PCV and get a new grommet too if it was leaking between the grommet and valve cover (another vac leak source I guess).

I did a vac test the other day and it was pulling in 19" @ about 1500 feet altitude. This was my first vac test. but the needle was shimmying like the wings on a hummingbird - really fast and only about 1/2 to 1 pound either way. It was so fast I had to look away to see if the needle was really moving.

But either way, I should prob change the air filter I guess.

Also, is there any way to tell if isolator bolts are needed? The material is black, not green on the ones in there. On the plus side, they were all tight....very nice and tight. There was only one that I could really move.

Finally, there was very minimal EGR port buildup. Only about 2 ports showed anything. Nothing like the Leckemby site...

[12Ounce]

"Yes" on air filter impact.

Black is bad ... on the isolator bolt seals. I was hopeful that your model was late enough to have the newer green ones. No need to rush the repair, I don't think ... except unfiltered air being admitted to engine.

[wiswind]

I will echo the fact that some oil in the intake is normal, and you do not want to reduce the air flow (although a Motorcraft PCV valve will help to be sure that you have the correct flow).

I think that I read that by 2001, the 3.8L engine had the baffel in the front valve cover corrected.

I did install a catch can on my '96 3.8L.
I posted pictures of it.
It is installed inline, in the PCV line....between the PCV valve and the upper intake manifold connection.

I had to get some additional hose to make the connections.
In my setup, the hose goes from the PCV valve, to the catch can, then another hose goes from the catch can and connects where the original short hose from the PCV conneted.

I got almost nothing in the catch can in the summer.
However, in the cold Wisconsin winter, I get lots.....

The catch can requires draining, which I dump into my used oil that I am taking to the oil recycling drop off.
This is stuff that you want the PCV system to remove from the crankcase......and it still is.....but this is the stuff that ends up gumming up things in the intake......so removing it.....hopefully will help keep the intake clean.

[lewisnc100]

Originally Posted by wiswind

I think that I read that by 2001, the 3.8L engine had the baffel in the front valve cover corrected.

According to the P0171/P0174 TSB that's correct.