Symptoms of a Bad or Faulty Crankcase Vent Filter
Common symptoms include oil leaks, excessively high idle, and reduced engine performance, power, and acceleration.
Virtually all vehicles on the roads today are equipped with internal combustion engines that have some sort of crankcase ventilation system. Internal combustion engines inherently have at least a small amount of blow-by, which occurs when some of the gases produced during combustion pass the piston rings and enter the engine crankcase. The crankcase ventilation system works to relieve any crankcase pressure associated with scavenging gases by redirecting the gases back into the engine intake manifold for consumption by the engine. This is necessary as excessive crankcase pressure can cause oil to leak if it is too high.
The gases are usually directed through the PCV valve, and sometimes through the crankcase ventilation filter or breather filter. The crankcase breather filter is one of the components of the crankcase breather system and therefore an important element in keeping the system running. The crankcase ventilation filter works just like any other filter. When the crankcase breather filter needs service, it usually shows several symptoms that may alert the driver to attention.
1. Oil leaks.
Oil leaks are one of the symptoms most commonly associated with a bad crankcase breather filter. The crankcase filter simply filters the exhaust gases to make sure they are clean before they are redirected back into the car's intake manifold. Over time, the filter can become dirty and restrict air flow and therefore reduce system pressure. If the pressure gets too high, it can cause gaskets and seals to explode, causing oil to leak.
2. High idle
Another sign of a potential problem with the crankcase breather filter is excessively high idle. If the filter is damaged or causes an oil or vacuum leak, it can disrupt the vehicle's idling. Usually, high idle is a potential symptom of one or more problems.
3. Engine power reduction
Reduced engine performance is another sign of a potential crankcase breather filter problem. If the filter becomes clogged and there is a vacuum leak, this can result in a reduction in engine power due to an imbalance in the air-fuel ratio. The vehicle may experience reduced power and acceleration, especially at low engine speeds. These symptoms can also be caused by a variety of other issues, so it is highly recommended that you properly diagnose your vehicle.
The crankcase filter is one of the few components of the crankcase ventilation system and is therefore essential to maintaining the full functionality of the system. For this reason, if you suspect that your crankcase ventilation filter may have a problem, have your car serviced by a professional, such as one from AvtoTachki. They will be able to replace a failed crankcase breather filter and perform any service that the vehicle may require.
