Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[cyberfarmer]

Hi to all,

Im working on an X20XEV facelift and I have noticed that the TB Throttle Body is full of gunk from the valve cover. The idle is up and down 1,000 to 1,500 rpm and I have been adjusting the TB Screw more often than not to maintain or adjust idling.  Im planning to remove the TB, ICV and the system for cleaning tomorrow. I read several forums about installing oil catch tanks and it was mixed reviews. I would like to know how effective it would be in eliminating oil gunk in the TB and how it would affect the performance in the long run.

Thank you very much.

Alex
Philippines

[Abiton]

Do you already have the 'flame trap' fitted between the top of the metal breather pipe, and the back corner of the camcover?

One of these: http://www.vauxcentre.co.uk/index.php?product_id=708037&option=Prod_detail&image_id=365755

The image shows the bottom side of the thing.

[cyberfarmer]

Hi!

I dont have that installed. Does it have the same purpose as an oil catch tank?

Thanks

[bored bigyin54]

pm sent

[Kevin Wood]

Firstly, adjusting the throttle stop to get an idle shouldn't be necessary since the ICV should be passing almost all the air for idling and the throttle stop needs to be adjusted so that the throttle shuts fully without binding in its' bore.

You are on the right track taking everything apart and cleaning it out as a starter. A bit of oven cleaner can help with the IACV and a few drops of oil when it's done will ensure it moves freely. Make sure all the breather passages are clear including the brass nozzle into the intake manifold which often blocks.

The fitting of catch tanks, etc. shouldn't be necessary and can be counter productive since the breather system needs to be sealed from the atmosphere to prevent the entry of unmetered air.

Breathers and throttles getting clagged up is normally a symptom of neglected oil changes in the past, with dirty oil being drawn up and depositing muck in the breathers, so I would clean it all up, give it a fresh oil and filter and see how it runs for starters. If the oil goes jet black within the first 1,000 miles give it another oil change to flush out any crud that remains in the engine and then stick to a decent service schedule changing the oil every 5k miles or so at the most if using GM semi-synth 10w40.

[cyberfarmer]

Hi Kevin!

Ill do all those tomorrow and will keep you posted. Do you think I should open up the valve cover as well to clean the gunk inside?

Thanks

[Abiton]

Hi!

I dont have that installed. Does it have the same purpose as an oil catch tank?

Thanks

Well, yes.  It's filled with a wire mesh so that oil mist coming up from the crankcase has a large surface area to condense onto, and drip back down into the sump, instead of being sucked straight into the breather section of the camcover, and onward towards the inlet. 

It isn't really possible to clean out the breather part of the inside of the camcover, it is a glued-together two part plastic structure, the area you need to clean being between the two parts.  Check that the two large holes and the small pipe are not blocked up, which you can do with it in place.  Be careful not to break off any of the plastic bits.  Age and heat may have weakened them.

[cyberfarmer]

Thanks Abiton!

I should probably do a thorough cleaning of all parts 1st. Ill try to source the flame trap locally and install it on the engine. Are there any alternatives for it?

[TheBoy]

I agree 100% with Kevin Wood

Adjust the throttle stop screw back so that butterfly FULLY closes. Engine Management takes care of idle - throttle not fully closing will cause it to hunt.

[cyberfarmer]

Hi again!

Codes came out, both crank and camshaft error malfunctions also an open relay circuit for the abs. The engine had the flame trap installed, is it a service part or can it also be a DIY cleaning? I also dismantled and cleaned thoroughly the TB, ICV and related parts. I just have to wait for the sensors and clear the codes before firing the engine. Ill keep you all posted.

Many thanks!

[cyberfarmer]

Hi again!

Replaced camshaft and crankshaft sensors, valve cover gaskets, spark plugs and cleared codes - everything working fine now.

When started, cloud of smoke came out from the exhaust pipe probably because of the oil accumulated from the spark plug holes and from the breather to TB housing. I'm just curious if I cut off the hose from the valve cover to the intake hose and replace with a small cone filter (Valve Cover Side) and block off the the inlet on the intake hose side so that no oil will come in the TB housing? What do you think? Pros and Cons?

Thanks