Crankcase pressure

[bushwood]

I'm experiencing excessive crankcase pressure on my Chrysler 440. Does anyone know if you can pull the PCV out of the equation and substitute it with just an elbow in the valve cover to have free flowing air?

Thanks

[MartySchwartz]

If it really is a PCV valve then you want to replace it with a new one if it has failed. The PCV allows the intake to draw a vacum on the crankcase so any "blow by" is drawn into the engine and burned. I thought that most marine engines had vents rather than actual PCV valves but my experience was with older engines.

Marty.....................

[SomeSailor]

On boat motors, you wouldn't have a PCV valve. You want any accumulating vapors to be drawn out and burned in the carb. Mine has just elbows where a car would have valves.

[bushwood]

Mine has PCVs and has since we bought her 5 years ago. I've kept them rotated out so the ball would flow freely. However, I am not a fan my gaskets weeping constantly as well as other indicators of blow-by. I know what the PCV is for and why it's there, I'm just trying to think outside of the box when it comes to relieving additional pressure from the internals and keep dry gaskets.

Thank you.

[SomeSailor]

I'm sure you know why they work, but I would suggest you remove them and run the blow-by right to the spark arrestor. No value to containing it in the crankcase that I can think of.

[MartySchwartz]

Wow, must be some serious blow-by then. A working PCV system should keep the crankcase at a relative vacuum. I would think replacing the PCV valve with a elbow probably would increase the air flow as long as the vent on the other side is not clogged.

Marty..................