ABZ breather hoses
 

It's a 96 4.2 (32v ABZ) with 137k miles recorded. The back of the engine is very oily and smells fumey.

This was why
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g...pskiffshw3.jpg

Presumably the original hoses - or their remains
The left hand hose was merely hanging. The one on the right was so bad I couldn't find it at first! The connection to the throttle body had been blanked off with a bottle top and some duct tape and if I hadn't known there was meant to be one I'd have missed it.

Getting the remains off was not easy - I ended up making a special tool - an 18" length of thinwall 1/2" pipe with one squashed and bent into a short, shallow hook. With the proper new pipes costing about 10% of what I paid for the car each, I wasn't going that route. Instead I got some 18mm nitrile hose and after fiddling about with the routing for a bit decided that I needed an elbow to make it neat and kink-free
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g...pslmcurkgw.jpg

Wiggle it into place and clamp with a couple of tie wraps, job done on the left hand bank
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g...pstokauhzi.jpg

Right hand bank was similar except much harder to fit - took ages to get the pipe on the stub under the manifold and no way of getting even a tie wrap on it. It's pretty well wedged in though and can only be an improvement on what was there!
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g...psrnyx6x5z.jpg

I'd already replaced the link pipe across the front with a simple hose - which somebody had done before but using EPDM heater hose which really didn't like the oil and had fallen apart.

Breather system sorted now hopefully!

Nick

Wow. Massive improvement and long overdue by the state of what you replaced. Things people bodge in the past always comes back to haunt new owners.

Nice write-up! +++


I must take a closer look at the condition of my breather hoses.

I thought they used a metal pipe apart from the last inch or two. :Confused:


I replaced my breather valve recently because it was making a bit of noise, only to find the new one was worse. The old one made a constant groan/buzz but the new one honks intermittently like a feckin' goose. I found that by cable-tying it back slightly I could stop it making noise, so I'm wondering now if the cause is actually a split hose ...

Breather valve.....? Didn't find one of those - is this a 40v thing or have I lost something?

Nick

Mushroom-shaped thing, back left on top under the engine cover.

Yes 40V, will not find it on 32V

Ah, didn't realise the 32V engines don't have them!

It's #9 here:

http://i.imgur.com/VJR5YD9.jpg


Looks like this:


http://i.imgur.com/EEAIcS1.jpg

Good! That was the answer I wanted - thanks!

Nick

Another plus is that because 32V does not have it you get a bit more oil mist going in the intake so it keeps manifold flaps nicely lubricated and they do not seize like on 40V. +++

The good news just keeps on coming :) Thanks.

Which reminds me..... I'm trying to confirm whether my manifold flap is working as it should. It isn't siezed and the pipework appears intact, but I can't make it do anything. This might simply be because it isn't meant to under the sort of conditions you can create with the bonnet open but I can't find any test procedures that relate to the 32v engines?

Nick