Hello Soobites. I have a 1991 Legacy 2wd auto. While prodding under the hood I noticed an accumulation of oil film near where the hose from the PCV valve enters the crankcase. I wonder if this is due to a faulty PCV valve. Should the PCV be drawing any vacuum at idle? I figure if the valve or hose is blocked it could cause oil vapors to to accumate and slowly seep out the hose connection at the block. If I remove the PCV hose at the intake I do notice a fair bit of vacuum at idle. Is it possible to clean this valve? I hate the local soob dealer:mad: and have sworn to never have anything to do with them and they're the only dealer in town. I really like this little car and it's in fantastic shape.The only real annoyance is th erattle from the heat shields. Those puppies are going !

Just get a PCV valve of here, very cheap!

 

https://www.subarugenuineparts.com/oe_parts_cat.html

If the accumulation of oil is not very much (are we talking just a coating here or a pool?) I'd just leave it alone. There's going to be some leaking..the car is 16 you know.

Call me anal... the rest of the block is clean...the seals at the axles are clean..it's all clean except that one place by the pcv hose.Does accumulation of oil indicate a problem?

 

 

If the accumulation of oil is not very much (are we talking just a coating here or a pool?) I'd just leave it alone. There's going to be some leaking..the car is 16 you know.

The PCV system is designed to deal with "normal" engine blow-by. Since an engine in decent shape doesn't tend to have much blow-by at idle, intake vacuum is used to counteract the spring in the valve and mostly close the valve down. As engine load increases, blow-by will as well; the valve's spring will more readily overcome the lowered intake vacuum at load, opening the valve further and allowing the blow-by to be dealt with.

 

If the PCV valve or hoses are restricted, or the engine is worn and produces more blow-by than the PCV was designed to handle, crankcase pressure can become higher than it should be. That can cause oil to be forced from around seals, etc.

 

The hose and the valve could be checked and cleaned if necessary, although purchasing a new valve isn't usually that significant an expense.

The hose at the crankcase is more than likely all dried out and not sealing on the pipe that comes out of the crankcase . You will need to replace it , you may have to go to the dealer

You should also look at the two other hoses that connect to the t-fitting , and watch out you don't pry to hard on the t-fitting ,it maybe brittle after all these years aswell

 

SEA#3