PCV Vacuum leak at Intake -- cracked 90* rubber Elbow - Cheap and easy fix!

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Old 02-28-2005, 09:08 AM
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Exclamation PCV Vacuum leak at Intake -- cracked 90* rubber Elbow - Cheap and easy fix!

Howdy all! Though i would pass on some info of a cheap fix I figured out this weekend while doing spark plugs and a B1S1 O2S on a friends 5.4 expedition (shudder...).

I got it all done and test drove the truck....i found that the truck seemed to surge and want to stall. I also noted a strong hissing coming from under the hood. Vacuum leak! SO i ran my hand all around for a while and finally found where it was coming from. It was that little 90* rubber fitting that converts the 3/8 PCV Line to a lot bigger. Anyway, it is a weak spot for failure...and the rubber was very brittle. SO i though we were screwed as far as getting another fitting. We went to NAPA and inquired about a fix.....and like i though...none was offered...so i went into the back with the parts guy and looked at what he had to see if i could make anything work....then i saw a spark plug sitting on the wall. I noted that the plug side was a 90* rubber boot and the sizes were PERFECT for what i was looking for....so i bought the plug wire for $4 and pulled the boot off. I installed the hose back on the truck and it fit like it was meant to be! SO if you get a vacuum leak at the PCV fitting at the intake....just get a plug wire boot...and save yourself some cash!
 
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Old 02-28-2005, 04:18 PM
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Yup, that's what I did on my 3.8 Windstar last year, used a 90 deg sparkplug boot. It hasn't failed yet
 
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Old 03-04-2005, 11:05 PM
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huh, that's interesting. I just found out about that little bend tonight, so I'll probably check it sometime tomorrow or next week when I have time off from school for Spring Break. Thanks for suggesting the easy fix.
 
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Old 07-24-2005, 09:27 PM
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I just found the same elbow on the back side of my 1997 E150 5.4L.. I didn't notice the crack but I noticed that with the engine running the elbow was sucked into collapse.
I used a piece of 5/8" heater hose over a piece of 7/16" fueline with a hose clamp as a reducer. It seems to be running better now..
 
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Old 07-30-2005, 09:20 PM
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Can Anyone Take A Pic Of It Becasue I Have No Idea Where It Is Theres Like A Cagillion Hoses Under The Hood I Know Its Behind Eh Throttle Body And Thats It
 
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Old 07-31-2005, 02:10 PM
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Just follow the hose from the PCV valve in the passengerside valve cover to the rear of the intake.
 
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Old 08-05-2005, 12:40 AM
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Originally Posted by bigexpo
Can Anyone Take A Pic Of It Becasue I Have No Idea Where It Is Theres Like A Cagillion Hoses Under The Hood I Know Its Behind Eh Throttle Body And Thats It
i've seen a pic of this somewhere... when i find it i'll post it!
 
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Old 08-05-2005, 02:01 AM
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here it is...

http://www.azda.com/ford/

...this guy had the same problem so just read up and hopefully it'll be what you need.

laterz!
 
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Old 08-07-2005, 07:52 PM
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The Dorman Company is coming out with the boot only designed for the 5.4 pcv system
 
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Old 08-13-2005, 04:38 PM
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Just fixed mine too......I have a 97 f250 5.4L. Advanced Auto did not hae the 90 degree boot. They did however have one for a Chrysler that fit perfect. Got a new PCV while I was there. Total cost was $6.38!!!!!
 
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Old 02-02-2006, 02:54 PM
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I was searching for a similar problem on my 99 Expy 5.4L. The engine idles just fine, but if you press the accelerator hard (even in park) the engine stumbles. The picture below is what I have found so far. It is the elbow going into the side of the intake. Last year, I replaced a couple of COPs, so I cut the boot off one and used that as a replacement. I still have the problem, but I haven't checked the rear hoses yet.
Keith

 
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Old 01-06-2008, 08:44 PM
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Originally Posted by KE8BG
I just found the same elbow on the back side of my 1997 E150 5.4L.. I didn't notice the crack but I noticed that with the engine running the elbow was sucked into collapse.
I used a piece of 5/8" heater hose over a piece of 7/16" fueline with a hose clamp as a reducer. It seems to be running better now..
About a year ago I did this fix, only I used the 5/8" heater hose over 3/8" fuel line... noticed the hissing noise back earlier last week. Checked it out today and discovered that the 5/8" heater hose had collapsed like it had too much suction.

I guess tomorrow I'll have to either get a spark plug boot, the Ford part, or below.

Here's a question - would this work to fix it?
http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPage...CV%20Connector

Looking at the website linked above, I noticed that my PCV valve does not have a "y", it just has the hose going directly to the back of the intake. Any ideas why that might be or what I might be missing? This was already "fixed" once before I bought the truck, so maybe the person that did something before hooked wherever the other half of that "Y" goes to something else for vacuum?
 
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Old 01-07-2008, 04:54 AM
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When replacing my plugs, I opted to pull the IAC and clean it, and took the opportunity since I was working the back of the engine anyway to inspect this hose and elbow. My was fine, but before I reinstalled it, I cleaned and lubricated the rubber elbow and the pcv end connector and valve cover grommet with silicon grease. I added extra protection to the elbow in back by wrapping it in heat-blocking tape (like you use on water pipes, the wrap-type) and covered that with tight rubber electrical tape. Ain't no heat in the back of the engine gonna crack that elbow now.
 
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Old 01-07-2008, 11:58 AM
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Originally Posted by jason8225
Looking at the website linked above, I noticed that my PCV valve does not have a "y", it just has the hose going directly to the back of the intake. Any ideas why that might be or what I might be missing? This was already "fixed" once before I bought the truck, so maybe the person that did something before hooked wherever the other half of that "Y" goes to something else for vacuum?
Any input on the above?

I went ahead and ordered the Ford part, but not sure what I'm going to do with the extra connectors yet...
 
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Old 01-08-2008, 05:50 PM
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I know the car 4.6L had a T there and draws vacuum from both sides of the intake for the PCV for some reason. The trucks only use one with a 90. Not sure what they have done to yours.
 


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