PCV job - surprise

[PierreC]

I have just completed the first PCV replacement on my '02 XC70 with 140,000 miles, using the IPD kit.

The surprise was that although there was some visible sludge, the lines were not completely clogged at all and the sludge trap box hardly had any goo in it. Maybe the fact that I have exclusively used Total Quartz 9000 5W40 full synthetic oil since the first oil change at 5.000 miles has something to do with it?

Bottom line is that it may mean that not ALL cars need a new PCV breather system at around 100.000 miles as is the general recommendation in this forum?

Nevertheless, strictly necessary or not, it was on my list of things to do in order to keep the car for another 70 - 80.000 miles ... or more!

[JRL]

Because you used a good synthetic and changed the oil frequently it sounds about right.
Our V70R with 4-5K oil changes with Mobil1 was fine at 110K.
It's going with 7500 mile oil changes using dino oil will clog it for sure.

Also driving habits mean a lot.
If you do a lot of city stop and go driving, short drives in the winter where the oil doesn't even get to full temp, etc, THAT really helps to sludge it up!

Most people here bought these used and have no idea how it was serviced previously.
My new to me 06 with only 58K miles was totally blocked because the woman that owned it decided that she would forgo the last two oil changes and it was 18K miles between the last one and when I bought it!!

40K miles to 58K miles no oil change: Ergo... SLUDGE

[billr99]

I have just completed the first PCV replacement on my '02 XC70 with 140,000 miles, using the IPD kit.

The surprise was that although there was some visible sludge, the lines were not completely clogged at all and the sludge trap box hardly had any goo in it. Maybe the fact that I have exclusively used Total Quartz 9000 5W40 full synthetic oil since the first oil change at 5.000 miles has something to do with it?

Bottom line is that it may mean that not ALL cars need a new PCV breather system at around 100.000 miles as is the general recommendation in this forum?

Nevertheless, strictly necessary or not, it was on my list of things to do in order to keep the car for another 70 - 80.000 miles ... or more!

So did you do the "vacuum test" at the oil filler before you replaced your PCV system? Just curious at that mileage what kind of vacuum you were seeing.

I've always used synoil at 10K km intervals and the internals look clean in the sense of what you see at the filler area and under the cap. Was thinking of changing out the system this summer but now after reading your post, I'm wondering since I still have a reasonable vacuum at the filler. If I don't need to I can always put the $100+ somewhere else to keep the old girl going.

Thanks,

Bill

[howardc64]

I had all clean pipes/oil trap at 110k miles on my 01 V70 XC with M1 5W-30 5k mile change intervals. However, the banjo bolt nipple was completely clogged blocking the idle PCV circuit. On my 01 V70 T5, all channels were clear at 100k miles with same oil+change interval.

Checked PCV fairly consistently and the XC seems to go from unclogged to clogged within 10k miles. Perhaps a more accurate pressure gauge would yield better PCV health analysis... don't know.

Probably good to do the rubber glove over the oil filler hole test at every oil change interval.

[PierreC]

So did you do the "vacuum test" at the oil filler before you replaced your PCV system? Just curious at that mileage what kind of vacuum you were seeing.

Bill

I did a rubber glove test at idle a few weeks ago and it seemed OK ... then blew the camshaft seals !

As there was no other reasonable explanation for blowing the camshaft seals, I figured the most likely cause was enough crankcase pressure at high engine speed to break through at a "weak spot", so I just bit the bullet and replaced the breather system.

I guess it's one less thing to worry about, as this should now be good for the rest of the life of the car.

[skibo]

How much vacuum should I see at the filler hole at idle?

[Scopeman]

There are two circuits in the breather system. One for idle, and one for cruise. It is possible for either one or both to be partially or completely plugged. My 2005 had vacuum at idle, and some at cruise, but under boost the crankcase pressure would rise.http://<iframe width="560" height="3...reen></iframe> This video explains it well.