Thread - Part Deux
 

OK, since I started the first thread, & it's getting all tangled up, here's another thread to begin ... uhhh... oh, who cares - talk amongst ya-selves!
Ron again.

Tangled thread
 

Ron,

You should roll your thread into a nice round ball which you can then play with in your pocket along with the others!

Regards, Trevor.

Greetings from Armidale (a town about an hours flight north of Sydney!)

I have been up here for the past two weeks on work and as such, have had very limited access to the Net.

But since we are heading back today, I will then be back at my home PC (which I miss!!!) and can then join in in this twine-twisting thread!

:D

James

PS: should be going to check out a 1996 SVX on the weekend - $32,000 and only 40,000km!!

smoke inhalation
 

Since Ron's started the ball rolling[thanks Ron] I will regale you with my latest problem. My car is due a trip back to the tranny shop soon to replace the two forward gears I am missing. Meantime I have a problem with oil leaking from the tranny case.

An oil leak is one problem, but this oil makes its way onto the exhaust, and smokes up a bit. Common enough with SVXs. Today I decided to change the air filter, as the car is running erratic at times, particularly when cold. I had done the injector cleaning bit, and that did not rectify.

When I took out the old element, it was filthy, and partially blocked on the outer side with oily dust. I figure the smoke the car makes when burning oil is making its way to the wheel well intake, and the car is sucking it in through the filter.

Took the car for a run with the clean element, driving like a new baby. Moral is: if you car is smoky, check the air filter for ingestion. Oh, and don't forget to fix the leak.

Joe:D

Sounds like you need to check/change your PCV valve Joe. For a few bucks and about fifteen minutes of cursing you might fix your problem.

Beav

Just fifteen minutes? Heck, try it without a crowsfoot, you'll be able to curse for MUCH, MUCH longer. :D

I don't know about everyone else but I don't start cursing at the onset - I usually wait at least a few minutes into the job...


Beav

If I "perceive" it's going to be a tough job, I start cursing beforehand. I go by the Ben Franklin adage, "Always prepare yourself for the worst, that way, if the worst doesn't happen, you won't be disappointed.":D

What in tarnation
 

is a PCV valve? Did I get that right? What does it do?

Why would I want to be changing it? Where is it? On a scale of one to ten, how many gynaecologists do I need to help with the job?

Beav, you are not winding me up because it's Easter?

Joe:)

There's a how-to in the *How-To* folder/locker. RichEich wrote up his experience. I happen to have two pairs of long pliers that are perfect for the job, now that I've done it once future changes will take but a minute or two. Without the pliers I'd plan on fifteen minutes of fumbling. Have a slender magnet handy to retrieve dropped items.

PCV = Positive Crankcase Ventilation, a U.S. federal requirement on cars here since 1963. Prior to its appearance cars used 'draft tubes' to allow crankcase venting. The tube was simply filled with very coarse steel mesh/wool and plugged into a hole in the block. It was quite messy. PCV valves use manifold vacuum to pull the oil vapor into the intake tract and send it to the cylinders for burning. The engine also needs a fresh air supply in order to keep the system from creating negative case pressure. This is supplied by hoses from the fresh air tube, on the SVX near the throttle body, and lead into the cam covers.

When the PCV valve clogs, its hose collapses, etc. the system starts backing up and sending oily fumes into the fresh air tube where they usually condense and send oil into the air box and to the throttle plates. It can also build a film on the MAF sensor and cause lean conditions and/or build up gunk between the throttle blades and their bore, wreaking havoc with the TPS setting and idle air controller. Another result from a clogged PCV system is case pressure build up which can help push oil past older seals. Have you experienced the dipstick crawling out of its tube yet? If so, there you go. Since I replaced mine the dipstick stays in place and the cam covers no longer leak. Not bad for just a few coconuts. :)

Beav

Thanks Beav
 

Now you mention it, the dipstick rises, but, you know, this is a high testosterone car, I thought it was pleased to see me and passed no remarks.

Is the valve expensive? I noticed this week the hose to the rhs head was loose and leaking, so gungy oil is all over that side of the engine. Had thought the oil came frok a gasket leak and I would need to replace gaskets until I saw the loose hose from the manifold area.

So I will need to get good at small part manipulation!! Here goes!!

Joe:D

The valve is about $3-$6 here and should be available at any parts retailer. They're a common item and used to be a normal replacement item during a tune-up.

Beav

Crowsfoot
 

Beav or whoever. P.S. & Ronald,

Stone the crows, what the hell is a "crowsfoot " ! ? I am aware that monkeys have wrenches but what do crows do with their feet in the engine bay of an SVX. Do you have trained ones to pick up the bits dropped into those awkward places ?

I have all the right tools, ( careful Ron ) one vast selection in fact and may have one but call it something else. You know-- spanners/wrenches etc., strange lot we are down here.

Trevor, *<)

In the world of spanners I'm not sure what to call a crow's foot. Basically it's a short wrench, either open or boxed, with a drive square at the opposite end. This allows one to attach it to an extension and reach into tight areas.

See: http://buy.snapon.com/catalog/pro_de...re&dir=catalog

Beav

Spanners etc.
 

Thanks once again Beav,

I am no stranger to the animal you describe and have referred to it as an open ended socket which is not really an accurate title as it does not in fact comprise a socket but is used in place of one." Crows foot " describes its shape rather well and I see is used by Snap On so that my vocabulary is extended thanks to you.

Regards, Trevor.