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!

Yup, that's what I did on my 3.8 Windstar last year, used a 90 deg sparkplug boot. It hasn't failed yet :)

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.

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..

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

Just follow the hose from the PCV valve in the passengerside valve cover to the rear of the intake.

i've seen a pic of this somewhere... when i find it i'll post it!

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!

The Dorman Company is coming out with the boot only designed for the 5.4 pcv system

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!!!!!

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

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=104981&.jpg

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?

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.

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...

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.