Generation III External Engine LS1 | LS6 | Bolt-Ons | Intakes | Exhaust | Ignition | Accessories
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

PCV system. Do I need it now?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 13, 2006 | 01:31 AM
  #1  
'Trust''s Avatar
Thread Starter
10 Second Club
iTrader: (24)
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 7,972
Likes: 4
From: Eternity
Default PCV system. Do I need it now?

I have a breather filter on the back of my driverside valve cover where the PCV used to hook up. I now have the LS6 PCV system with a catchcan between the valley cover and the intake, then the one line going from the passenger valvecover to the TB. Do I need any of the PCV system stuff, I mean can I plug up the TB, intake, valley, and valvecover and be ok, or will the breather filter not provide enough ventilation for the crank?
Reply
Old May 13, 2006 | 01:44 AM
  #2  
TheBlurLS1's Avatar
That's what she said...
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,954
Likes: 2
From: Nederland Texas
Default

The more I look at that line going from the valve cover to the TB, especially looking at how the machining looks on my NW 90, I have come to the conclusion that it's for sucking fresh air into the MOTOR. This explains why I've heard it called "the fresh air tube" before. I would not remove this tube if I were you.

As for the other system, I think you should go with one or the other. I like the breathers on racecars, catchcans on street cars. If it's working good, keep it the way it is, no reason to change it.
Reply
Old May 15, 2006 | 06:38 PM
  #3  
'Trust''s Avatar
Thread Starter
10 Second Club
iTrader: (24)
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 7,972
Likes: 4
From: Eternity
Default

Does much, if any oil get past the catchcan?
Reply
Old May 15, 2006 | 06:46 PM
  #4  
Luna's Avatar
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,185
Likes: 3
From: Highland, Indiana
Default

Originally Posted by Trust
Does much, if any oil get past the catchcan?
little to none
Reply
Old May 15, 2006 | 08:14 PM
  #5  
DanZ28's Avatar
10 Second Club
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,412
Likes: 0
From: Cali/Bay Area
Default

I still get oil past the catch can even with the LS6 PCV swap and a low milage forged block. I run a breather on the passenger cover as well cause I've blown the front crank seal 3 times with the use of a little N20.

I have considered pulling all the PCV stuff off and run 2 breathers (one on each cover) to see how that works out.

A buddy of mine running well over the 500++RWHP N/A is actually blowing oil past the valve cover seal on the driver side.

Dan
Reply
Old May 15, 2006 | 09:52 PM
  #6  
TheBlurLS1's Avatar
That's what she said...
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,954
Likes: 2
From: Nederland Texas
Default

Originally Posted by DanZ28
A buddy of mine running well over the 500++RWHP N/A is actually blowing oil past the valve cover seal on the driver side.
Mine blows oil out too. I'm thinking about switching to a breather as well.
Reply
Old May 15, 2006 | 09:56 PM
  #7  
orangeapeel's Avatar
ЯєŧąяĐ Єl¡m¡иąŧøя ™
iTrader: (18)
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,083
Likes: 4
From: Justin, TX
Default

Originally Posted by TheBlurLS1
Mine blows oil out too. I'm thinking about switching to a breather as well.
Dibs on your catch system!
Reply
Old May 16, 2006 | 01:09 AM
  #8  
Lithium's Avatar
SSU's Drunk Typing Whore
iTrader: (47)
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,608
Likes: 0
Default

I am going to go with the breather setup as well. Seems to be the less complicated and thats good for me.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 16, 2006 | 09:45 AM
  #9  
Z'mnypit's Avatar
10 Second Club
iTrader: (58)
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,708
Likes: 3
Default

Originally Posted by DanZ28
A buddy of mine running well over the 500++RWHP N/A is actually blowing oil past the valve cover seal on the driver side.

Dan
With or without the breather mod?
Reply
Old May 16, 2006 | 02:26 PM
  #10  
~JOSHUA's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (92)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,757
Likes: 2
From: Atlanta
Default

My pcv system is gone. One breather on the passenger side cover and the engine is running perfectly.

Small-blocks (mild to wild) have been running single breathers since 1955 with zero issues. There are pushrod holes in the block that lets bank-to-bank pressure equalize immediately.

If you have enough piston ring blow-by where a single breather can't evacuate gasses fast enough then you have some serious piston ring issues.

BTW.... it's nice not having a single drop of oil in the intake manifold when you take the throttle body off for a peak inside.


Plus it looks much cleaner without all the pcv clutter.

Reply
Old May 16, 2006 | 02:59 PM
  #11  
Charlie@LsXperts's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 897
Likes: 0
From: woodstock GA
Default

you just love to show that off dont you, I cant say i wouldnt if i spent day after day on it for months!!!!!!! but its so gorgeous pm me the name of that polish again becuase i got somethin that looked like it and you use it the same way but all it did is take off a layer of alluminum...
Reply
Old May 16, 2006 | 03:17 PM
  #12  
~JOSHUA's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (92)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,757
Likes: 2
From: Atlanta
Default

Originally Posted by CNVRTmyZ
you just love to show that off dont you, I cant say i wouldnt if i spent day after day on it for months!!!!!!! but its so gorgeous pm me the name of that polish again becuase i got somethin that looked like it and you use it the same way but all it did is take off a layer of alluminum...
Polishing is a waste of time if you don't sand it smooth as glass first. I'll call 'ya Charlie.
Reply
Old May 16, 2006 | 03:24 PM
  #13  
DanZ28's Avatar
10 Second Club
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,412
Likes: 0
From: Cali/Bay Area
Default

Originally Posted by Z'mnypit
With or without the breather mod?
Thats with the breather mod on both valve covers, oil is even being puked out of the breather. Judging by what's happening, it doesn't appear to have equal pressure on both sides. Car has alot of mods and puts down quite a bit of HP, so maybe this is exceptional. The engine is pretty new and there is no problems with piston rings. Car runs 10.1's N/A right now with a few issues.
Reply
Old May 16, 2006 | 03:51 PM
  #14  
~JOSHUA's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (92)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,757
Likes: 2
From: Atlanta
Default

Originally Posted by DanZ28
Thats with the breather mod on both valve covers, oil is even being puked out of the breather. Judging by what's happening, it doesn't appear to have equal pressure on both sides. Car has alot of mods and puts down quite a bit of HP, so maybe this is exceptional. The engine is pretty new and there is no problems with piston rings. Car runs 10.1's N/A right now with a few issues.
Notice how I still have my breather mounted on the factory "chimney?"

If I put the same breather sticking directly into the valvecover it would be swallowing gobs of oil because of the angle/trajectory.

Perhaps you need to put a baffle in the breather to stop from it from swallowing oil. even with mine on the chiney and a homemade baffle in the breather it will still have splatter after a day of abusive driving.

Not because of pressure, but because of a flurry of oil and the angle of the pushrod hole squirting oil and the opening on the valve cover.
Reply
Old May 16, 2006 | 03:58 PM
  #15  
MrDude_1's Avatar
TECH Junkie
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,368
Likes: 5
From: Charleston, SC
Default

Originally Posted by TheBlurLS1
The more I look at that line going from the valve cover to the TB, especially looking at how the machining looks on my NW 90, I have come to the conclusion that it's for sucking fresh air into the MOTOR. This explains why I've heard it called "the fresh air tube" before. I would not remove this tube if I were you.

As for the other system, I think you should go with one or the other. I like the breathers on racecars, catchcans on street cars. If it's working good, keep it the way it is, no reason to change it.

thats because 90% of the PCV systems job is to carry fresh air into the crankcase to displace blowby gasses.... a mere 10% of its job is to relieve crankcase pressure.... but most people dont bother figuring out WHY its there.. they just go by the "logic" of "if it works for racecars..."
Reply
Old May 16, 2006 | 04:04 PM
  #16  
98TADRIVER's Avatar
11 Second Club
20 Year Member
Photogenic
iTrader: (36)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,449
Likes: 0
From: South Jerzy
Default

so will it be ok to run breathers on it instead?? im interested
Reply
Old May 16, 2006 | 04:34 PM
  #17  
98Z28CobraKiller's Avatar
Restricted User
iTrader: (17)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,783
Likes: 5
From: WPB, FL
Default

How does the PCV system get "fresh" air into the crankcase? It seems that the crankcase is pressurized (blowing) and the top of the motor has a vacuum (sucking). How do you get air to flow from the sucking side into the pressurized side? Not trying to be a smart *** or anything, I just want to understand as it sounds impossible to me.
Reply
Old May 16, 2006 | 08:31 PM
  #18  
00'blkss's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
Default

one breather and just plug everything else or what?
Reply
Old May 16, 2006 | 09:57 PM
  #19  
oange ss's Avatar
TECH Junkie
20 Year Member
iTrader: (50)
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,241
Likes: 6
From: Texas
Default

Originally Posted by MrDude_1
thats because 90% of the PCV systems job is to carry fresh air into the crankcase to displace blowby gasses.... a mere 10% of its job is to relieve crankcase pressure.... but most people dont bother figuring out WHY its there.. they just go by the "logic" of "if it works for racecars..."
it's to get blowby/combustion gasses out of the crankcase thru a vacuum source
Reply
Old May 17, 2006 | 01:17 AM
  #20  
TheBlurLS1's Avatar
That's what she said...
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,954
Likes: 2
From: Nederland Texas
Default

Originally Posted by MrDude_1
thats because 90% of the PCV systems job is to carry fresh air into the crankcase to displace blowby gasses.... a mere 10% of its job is to relieve crankcase pressure.... but most people dont bother figuring out WHY its there.. they just go by the "logic" of "if it works for racecars..."
Are those eyes directed towards me? How does any of the information in your post help/correct any of the information in mine? I'm pretty sure me saying what I said about "sucking fresh air into the motor" was the exact same you decided to post again.
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:59 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE