crankase breather hose?

[fulvia]

944 lux
Just wondering about the outlet for the breather hose which goes into the air filter housing -
It seems to come from the housing for the belts and pulleys, so what kinds of fumes are going to come from there? Or does it pass through there into the crankase?

I'm still working on getting rid of the smell of fumes coming into the cabin, and I think it could be something to do with the fact there was no breather pipe on the airbox.

 

[Riverside]

Smell of fumes in the cabin could be from lots of things but usually a strong petrol smell indicates corroded fuel lines under the car, an oily (exhaust) smell can come from poor sealing of the tail lights or boot hatch seal.

AFAIK the crankcase breather goes into the inlet after the filter, the one that coes onto the filter box is just for the timing belt cavity. I presume it's for airflow to ventilate it rather than particularly remove oil. Oil in the timing belt housing would be a bit of a worry tbh []

 

[fulvia]

Ahh - right! Well, the hose that goes into the box is certainly before the filter.
So, is there a crankcase breather hose at all?

 

[peanut]

ORIGINAL: fulvia

944 lux
Just wondering about the outlet for the breather hose which goes into the air filter housing -
It seems to come from the housing for the belts and pulleys, so what kinds of fumes are going to come from there? Or does it pass through there into the crankase?

I'm still working on getting rid of the smell of fumes coming into the cabin, and I think it could be something to do with the fact there was no breather pipe on the airbox.

Fumes in the cabin are usually sucked in by the airflow passing over the car. Often it will get worse when a side window is opened and the exhaust fumes are then sucked in through the rear hatch area.

Smear some vaseline around your rear hatch seal mating surface, shut your hatch and open and then check where it is is not seating properly.

Then take a look at the seal around the rear lights. These seals dry out and crumble and let water and air in. Sealant mastic should sort them out. if the fumes are petrol , check your filla pipe joints from the filla cap down to the tank .
Provided your car is properly sealed you should not smell a fuel pipe leak from within the car except if it were under the bonnet or from the filla pipe inside the car

oops Riverside got there before me ( peanut rubs glasses)

 

[fulvia]

Ok - i'll try the vaseline trick - I bought a new seal, but I guess there could still be gaps.

Can I re-seal the tail lights in situ?

To be honest, it seems more as though the fumes are coming in through the ventilation system, rather than from behind. That's why I thought they were being created in the engine bay area and finding their way into the air inlets above the scuttle.

 

[ukmastiff]

Its not what i had is it , a small oil leak on to the engine. This creates overpowering fumes in the car as he heater sucks in the air from the engine. If it is this you can tell as putting the blower on cold anfd full will give you next to zero fumes but with any heat on cough cough

Mas

 

[fulvia]

ORIGINAL: ukmastiff

Its not what i had is it , a small oil leak on to the engine. This creates overpowering fumes in the car as he heater sucks in the air from the engine. If it is this you can tell as putting the blower on cold anfd full will give you next to zero fumes but with any heat on cough cough

Mas

it does seem to be worse when the blower is on hot yes, although I thought I was just imagining it! But also, I've had a replacement engine which does not leak. The old one did though. Where abouts was your leak?

So, is the heater matrix susceptible to being contaminated with oil?

 

[peanut]

ORIGINAL: fulvia

Ok - i'll try the vaseline trick - I bought a new seal, but I guess there could still be gaps.

Can I re-seal the tail lights in situ?

To be honest, it seems more as though the fumes are coming in through the ventilation system, rather than from behind. That's why I thought they were being created in the engine bay area and finding their way into the air inlets above the scuttle.

no you'll need to remove the rear lights clean the old seals off and the area around the holes then either fit new seals or make a gasket with mastic.

If the smell is coming from the engine bay then you'll need to make a thorough inspection . Is it petrol fumes or burning oil ? I had a small leak from the back of my cam cover once that dripped onto the hot manifold. Took ages to find it

 

[fulvia]

ORIGINAL: peanut
If the smell is coming from the engine bay then you'll need to make a thorough inspection . Is it petrol fumes or burning oil ? I had a small leak from the back of my cam cover once that dripped onto the hot manifold. Took ages to find it

definitely not petrol - more like oil or exhaust fumes (hard to distinguish which, but it's not like the oil smell you get just after a new oil change).
Harder, faster driving seems to make it worse too rather than just pootling around.

 

[edh]

If it's hatch or rear lights it will be worse with the sunroof open

I have some proper sealant for the lights if you want some

 

[fulvia]

Thanks Ed - I'll take you up on that. Are you about later in the week?

 

[fulvia]

just back to the orginal post - can I rule out fumes coming from the outlet which leads into the airbox?
And can anyone confirm if the entrance into the housing does lead to a PCV valve or not?

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Hi Ian
Cambelt cover vent is just that nothing more, (my original engine is like that), later ones vent out of the bottom (like my replacement) so if the fumes are cominig out of there I'd block it off and drill 4x 13mm holes in the bottom of the cover!
Also if the fumes are coming from there it would show any oil leaks coming from the front end seals - which would need attending to.
Crankcaes breather is under the inlet tract and there is a 3 way valve in the system, also under the inlet mainfold.
I'd check if all of the pipes are connected and if any oil is getting on to the exhaust.
Also, could check the grommets for steering brake electrics etc and possible the rubber gearlever gator under the cosmetic one.
Cheers
Mike

 

[fulvia]

ORIGINAL: A9XXC

Crankcaes breather is under the inlet tract and there is a 3 way valve in the system, also under the inlet mainfold.
I'd check if all of the pipes are connected and if any oil is getting on to the exhaust.
Cheers
Mike

Thanks Mike - is there an obvious pipe I should be looking for coming from the crankcase, and if so, where does this enter into the manifold?

Think I'll take the car somewhere with a ramp and get them to check oil on the exhaust.

I've also got a vexing problem with my computer! Burning audio CDs with Nero 6, and it keeps stalling at 7% and then locking the computer. Got the impression you were a whiz on computers too Mike, any ideas?

 

[edh]

ORIGINAL: fulvia

Thanks Ed - I'll take you up on that. Are you about later in the week?

I will be around on Wednesday & Friday

I live just off the A6, near the broadway pub

 

[fulvia]

ORIGINAL: edh

ORIGINAL: fulvia

Thanks Ed - I'll take you up on that. Are you about later in the week?

I will be around on Wednesday & Friday

I live just off the A6, near the broadway pub

Thanks Ed, PMd you.

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Hi Ian
The main breather comes out of the filler column pointing towards no4 cylinder, under the inlets, it then bends forward and attaches to a 3 way union under the curved rubber inlet pipe into which 1 pipe goes, the other pipe appears to come from the 3 way valve back under the inlet manifold between cylinders 2 + 3!
Its very complicated onder there!
I'd concentrate on checking the condition of the pipes, perishing etc and the connections, especially as some will have been reattached recently.
And as Peanut says I would check the cam cover carefully for leaks (and any other areas that could leak on to the exhaust).
As for the PC Id start by making sure its a CD R/RW not a DVD - that foxed me when one of the girls swapped the drives in a laptop!
Then reinstall Nero.
Hope that helps!
Mike

 

[944Turbo]

Have you got the seal across the scuttle area in front of the heater fans? The bonnet shuts down onto it, it holds the front edge of the plastic cover below the windscreen - I guess if its missing the heater fan will suck in all the engine smells.
Tony

 

[fulvia]

ORIGINAL: 944Turbo

Have you got the seal across the scuttle area in front of the heater fans? The bonnet shuts down onto it, it holds the front edge of the plastic cover below the windscreen - I guess if its missing the heater fan will suck in all the engine smells.
Tony

Hi Tony, yes, I had a look at this, and you're right, it would explain things. It looks in fair condition though, but I'll try Peanut's test on this seal too. Hopefully reseal the tail lights at the weekend also.

Out of interest does the heater rely on a heater matrix? I'm just going over Mas's idea around the smell of fumes only when the heater fan blows hot.