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[Terbs]

Hi all...
I have read the 'How to' about breather cleaning, but....can you shortcut it. Basically, I see all sorts of problems if I start taking off things like plenums, etc. Looking at the front of the plemun, it looks like the four bolts are easy to get at on the throttle body, so can that be pulled forward a bit to allow the breathers to be seperated. ?
I know the puritons will stand back in shock....but the least I disturb, the better. I do not want to call on son in laws garage as they do mountains for me as it is.
If I bust one, I have a spare here.
Reason for cleaning is preventitive, as I have noticed very small damp like patches around the cam cover bolts. not excessive at all. Cant find any leaks around cam cover seals. However....after a long runs at speed, I seem to smell burnt oil at times when inside the car and occasionally have to top up oil, but only half the level on the dipstick, if that.
Thought this all may be breather related.
Car runs perfectly, btw.  2.6 Elite Estate 2001 vintage.

Any feedback appreciated

[Marks DTM Calib]

Yes you can although its harder to clean the pipe work obviously.

[chrisgixer]

You can check the breathers are clear by disconnecting the breather pipes and blowing though each way alternately to the breather box and then the other way to the plenum...? Old Kevin Wood post iirc.

So I guess in theory it's possible to blast through with carb cleaner, then change the oil.

But, if it is blocked, it's got to come off to clear it. I have tried to remove the Eco tech box and throttle body with (long) plenum in place, but I can't remember why I had to remove plenum to access it. Possibly getting access to the tB bolts. Easier to remove plenum than bag pipes perhaps...?

[Webby the Bear]

I removed my first plenum about 4 years ago now.

I too was trying to figure out ways of disturbing the least amount of stuff as possible.

However it is a damn site easier in my opinion to just bite the bullet and remove it and you have good clear access to the breather box.

That's just my opinion though.

I've now removed / replaced this so often its probably the easiest thing to do on an omega for me.practise 

[Webby the Bear]

.....with the short plenum bottom TB bolt access is stopped by the cambelt cover.

No idea about long plenum

[Marks DTM Calib]

On the long plenum you can remove the breather bridge etc and leave the throttle body in place....

[chrisgixer]

And if the plenum bolts show a weep, it's wort re torquing. 8nm.

But if your smelling oil, might be too late. Check plug wells for oil.

[chrisgixer]

On the long plenum you can remove the breather bridge etc and leave the throttle body in place....

I didn't want to force it. As it plugs into the back of the tb, then the back pushes down into the hole in the plenum. I didn't want to force it last the D shaped seal and damage it. .... But now though, my seals on the plenum need replacing anyway as they also weep, come to think of it.

[Marks DTM Calib]

What works in your favour is the fact the long plenum has a two piece breather bridge, if you pull the larger one straight up so as not to damage the top hat seal, the lower section where it connects with the throttle body simply slides out with a minimal angle on it. 

[05omegav6]

1/4" sockets on the TB bolts make short work of access issues

This method has the added advantage of keeping the coolant hoses attached just watch out for the vac pipe from the fuel pressure regulator... easily overlooked and causes a slight airleak if forgotten

[Terbs]

Thanks fellas....great replies.

As Mark says, lift off the large breather, and slide out the small. Thats what I was hoping to hear. And your comment noted as regards the vac pipe, Al.
I have just brought a Torque wrench covering 5nm to 25nm, so no problems there hopefully.
Whilst on the subject, is it ok to check the tightness of the cam covers, or are they best left alone

[chrisgixer]

As Master says though, with long plenum as on the 2.6 the TB can stay put.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Right - so it's a bad idea to lever upward the breather bridge on the short plenums? If you want to remove this, best to lift the plenum, gain access to the throttle body, remove that, then lift the breather bridge straight up, so as not damage the top hat seal?

Noticed my breather bride has one end cracked off (as shown below) presumably from previous owners doing this.

[Marks DTM Calib]

No, easy enough to remove the throttle body on the short plenum as used on early 3.0 and all 2.5 V6's

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Thanks again Mark