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The pcv setup is setup normal, though the rear cover inlet line is plugged (had to, to clear 96 intake) and only have the inlet line on the front cover. I run an oil catch can in line between the valve cover and non-vacuum side port on the TB.
The catch can fills pretty quickly though it is 2/3 moisture and just some oil. This tells me that the engine is pulling vacuum through the breather inlet line but that is probably only under WOT, which I've been doing a lot of while tuning the ecm so I find this acceptable. My gripe is that I cannot get the front valve cover to seal. The gasket and o-rings are new and it bolts down tight and secure. It has a small puddle that accumulates on top, usually near the oil cap, and occassionally will drip just a bit of oil onto the hot exhaust manifold below.
Any idea what is wrong with my setup? I've considered running a 2nd pcv on the breather line so that fresh air can go into the valve cover but then when the engine is under load and it tries to pull air from the valve cover that pcv will close and the real pcv line will retain some vacuum pull. Bad idea? It would eliminate my need for the catch can on the breather line I think and then I can switch it to the pcv line. But I'm mainly concerned by the oil getting past the valve cover gasket, like I said the gasket and o-rings are brand new and it is torqued down properly. To me it feels like there is too much pressure in the crankcase and it is forcing oil out the valve cover gasket.
Other question: some high performance engines use vacuum pumps which help with ring sealing. Do these setups have the fresh air lines still? I imagine they don't otherwise it would be difficult to create a vacuum in the crankcase. If that is true does all the blow by stay in the crankcase and contaminate the oil?
The catch can fills pretty quickly though it is 2/3 moisture and just some oil. This tells me that the engine is pulling vacuum through the breather inlet line but that is probably only under WOT, which I've been doing a lot of while tuning the ecm so I find this acceptable. My gripe is that I cannot get the front valve cover to seal. The gasket and o-rings are new and it bolts down tight and secure. It has a small puddle that accumulates on top, usually near the oil cap, and occassionally will drip just a bit of oil onto the hot exhaust manifold below.
Any idea what is wrong with my setup? I've considered running a 2nd pcv on the breather line so that fresh air can go into the valve cover but then when the engine is under load and it tries to pull air from the valve cover that pcv will close and the real pcv line will retain some vacuum pull. Bad idea? It would eliminate my need for the catch can on the breather line I think and then I can switch it to the pcv line. But I'm mainly concerned by the oil getting past the valve cover gasket, like I said the gasket and o-rings are brand new and it is torqued down properly. To me it feels like there is too much pressure in the crankcase and it is forcing oil out the valve cover gasket.
Other question: some high performance engines use vacuum pumps which help with ring sealing. Do these setups have the fresh air lines still? I imagine they don't otherwise it would be difficult to create a vacuum in the crankcase. If that is true does all the blow by stay in the crankcase and contaminate the oil?
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