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a PCV layout for a boosted engine

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Old 01-22-2008, 03:46 PM
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Default a PCV layout for a boosted engine

After blowing the dipstick out of my engine yesterday, I decided to come up with something fairly bulletproof and functional. I've seen a couple of threads floating around, but it seems like most of those had a lot of description and covered some aspects of the overall system but not others.

I like the idea of using the turbo inlet as an alternate vacuum source. But I didn't want blowby to get out around an unrestricted breather on the valve cover. A fresh air source is still needed to support a pcv system that works at idle to keep fuel and water vapor out of the oil.

Sketched out the idea on a yellow sticky today, then made a quick diagram to post up, since a picture shows it so much easier than a long description. Should provide an escape path for crankcase pressure at all times, control oil from getting out around the breather, and keep the turbo inlet and the manifold isolated from each other at all times.

The one-way valves in the diagram are going to be brake booster check valves. I ended up with a handful of them somehow, and this setup needs three of them.
Attached Thumbnails a PCV layout for a boosted engine-pcv-diagram.jpg  
Old 02-07-2008, 08:10 PM
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so did you just connect your PCV vac line to the intake piping for the air filter on the turbo? does it matter where, as long as it is getting suction? thanks for the draw-up btw. i've been going at this for weeks....
Old 02-07-2008, 08:29 PM
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I need a solution for my Vortech SC as well
Old 02-07-2008, 09:36 PM
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Looks like it would work....I would just put the PCV valve on the other side of the can so the vapors pulled through the can have more time to condense to liquid.
Old 02-08-2008, 11:02 AM
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Originally Posted by RooRnZ28
so did you just connect your PCV vac line to the intake piping for the air filter on the turbo? does it matter where, as long as it is getting suction? thanks for the draw-up btw. i've been going at this for weeks....
I haven't implemented it yet, just thought it out and drew it up.

I don't have a line going to the turbo yet, and I don't have a check valve in the breather line since I still need that open to relieve the crankcase pressure until I do run that other line.

Some folks go with just a line from the PCV to the turbo intake.

I didn't think the turbo intake would pull enough vacuum at idle to do the job. (the job of really cleaning the water vapor out of the crankcase) That's why there's a T to still run to the original vacuum source on the side of the intake throat, and to also run to the turbo intake.

With check valves to make sure everything is flowing the right way. (so I don't have a vacuum leak at idle, and so boost isn't blowing back around to the turbo intake)
Old 02-08-2008, 12:52 PM
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Originally Posted by John_D.
I haven't implemented it yet, just thought it out and drew it up.

I don't have a line going to the turbo yet, and I don't have a check valve in the breather line since I still need that open to relieve the crankcase pressure until I do run that other line.

Some folks go with just a line from the PCV to the turbo intake.

I didn't think the turbo intake would pull enough vacuum at idle to do the job. (the job of really cleaning the water vapor out of the crankcase) That's why there's a T to still run to the original vacuum source on the side of the intake throat, and to also run to the turbo intake.

With check valves to make sure everything is flowing the right way. (so I don't have a vacuum leak at idle, and so boost isn't blowing back around to the turbo intake)

You are correct on the turbo line not pulling enough at idle.
Old 02-08-2008, 01:03 PM
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Aesome thread, I really like your idea and I have to get something in plan b/c I'll be doing my project soon. Say what exactly will you be using on your breather to make it more or less a relief valve and curious where to get a nice one way valve from? Thank for the great info!
Old 02-08-2008, 02:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Websy21
Awesome thread, I really like your idea and I have to get something in plan b/c I'll be doing my project soon.

Say what exactly will you be using on your breather to make it more or less a relief valve and curious where to get a nice one way valve from?
Thanks!

At this point I plan on using check valves out of a brake booster.

They're secure (the booster holds vacuum under different conditions, for days at a time), last a long time (how many times have you heard of someone needing to replace their braker booster check valve?), and are made to hold up to the correct level of boost/vacuum. (people running boost are not blowing out their brake boosters)

The downside is that the inlet is big and the outlet is even bigger, and they're L-shaped...

I may look into something else later, but I have 3 spare booster valves sitting here on a bench, so they're it for now.
Old 02-08-2008, 02:20 PM
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Originally Posted by TLewis4095
Looks like it would work....I would just put the PCV valve on the other side of the can so the vapors pulled through the can have more time to condense to liquid.
Originally Posted by TLewis4095
You are correct on the turbo line not pulling enough at idle.
Thanks for the information/feedback!
Old 02-08-2008, 03:21 PM
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what i have run for my vortech blower is a air/water seperator. i kept the pvc breather hose (LT1 car) attached to the valve cover,connected the hose to the seperator,then tapped into my intake tubing with a npt thread and connected the other end of the hose to that. works perfect.
Old 02-08-2008, 03:24 PM
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Originally Posted by 94blownz281
what i have run for my vortech blower is a air/water seperator. i kept the pvc breather hose (LT1 car) attached to the valve cover,connected the hose to the seperator,then tapped into my intake tubing with a npt thread and connected the other end of the hose to that. works perfect.
What do you mean by the intake tubing? The cold piping on the s/c kit? So virtually the same thing as the intake side of a turbo system as well.
Old 02-08-2008, 03:40 PM
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Go to Reher Morrison's site....they have the best vacum relief valve I have seen & you would just need to bond a filter on the intake of it for street use.
Old 02-08-2008, 08:10 PM
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Originally Posted by John_D.
I haven't implemented it yet, just thought it out and drew it up.

I don't have a line going to the turbo yet, and I don't have a check valve in the breather line since I still need that open to relieve the crankcase pressure until I do run that other line.

Some folks go with just a line from the PCV to the turbo intake.

I didn't think the turbo intake would pull enough vacuum at idle to do the job. (the job of really cleaning the water vapor out of the crankcase) That's why there's a T to still run to the original vacuum source on the side of the intake throat, and to also run to the turbo intake.

With check valves to make sure everything is flowing the right way. (so I don't have a vacuum leak at idle, and so boost isn't blowing back around to the turbo intake)

thanks for the reply! now i just need to find a good check valve... i had one from McMastercarr, but the car wont run with it on.

Also, are you still keeping the factory PCV valve in there?
Old 02-08-2008, 08:21 PM
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A PCV valve is a pretty effective one-way valve as backflow is minimal....
Old 02-09-2008, 11:46 AM
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Originally Posted by RooRnZ28
Also, are you still keeping the factory PCV valve in there?
I am. I haven't tested it to prove this, but I suspect it restricts the flow somewhat, so the pcv line isn't a big vacuum leak at idle, but a more controlled/restricted flow.

(on a maf car it would be even more important since that air is unmetered with a breather setup, but on my maf-less speed density tune technically it wouldn't matter)
Old 02-09-2008, 04:09 PM
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Yup SD here to, good therea here. I'll keep this in the back of my head when it comes time to do mine. I just wanna find a nice breather with a one way in it!
Old 07-08-2008, 10:27 PM
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Your diagram looks fairly straight forward. Did you just eliminate the pcv on the driver valve cover and keep it on the passenger side?
Imagine you just kept the pcv line (took out the actual pcv valve) and ran it to the catch can and "T" fitting?
Old 07-09-2008, 08:21 AM
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I tried a similar set-up and it didn't work at wot. One hose couldn't vent enough crankcase pressure. All depends on how much power you are making. I had to delete the oneway valve at the fresh air inlet and take two hoses to the turbo air filter (one from the back of each valve cover). Used the valley cover tap to pcv to catch can to intake vac for part throttle evacuation.
Old 07-09-2008, 08:40 AM
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Like this.
Attached Thumbnails a PCV layout for a boosted engine-img-large-.jpg  
Old 07-09-2008, 11:26 AM
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wouldnt that defeat the purpose of having a vaccum source having hooked into the system with no check valves?


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