Crankcase Ventilation System: Overview

The crankcase ventilation system purges crankcase gases to the intake manifold. The crankcase ventilation system consists of:

• An expansion chamber separator
• A cyclonic oil separator unit with an integrated pressure limiting valve
• A stainless steel check valve
• An oil collection chamber
• A pressure regulating valve
• A crankcase ventilation sensor

Combustion blowby gases enter the rear port of the crankcase vent assembly and pass into an expansion chamber where the larger oil droplets fall out of the blowby gases due to a rapid decrease in flow velocity. The remaining blowby gases flow through into the cyclonic oil separator unit. The blowby gases are then separated into smaller cyclone oil separators which force the smaller oil droplets to the side walls so they drain out and flow to the oil collection chamber. The remaining lighter gases flow to the intake manifold.

The oil collection chamber has a drain port and a stainless steel check valve. The check valve allows the smaller oil droplets to return to the crankcase while blocking the gases in the oil return path. The oil separator works using cyclonic technology to eliminate the need for a filter media inside the canister.

There is an integrated pressure regulating valve on the side of the cyclonic oil separator which prevents excessive vacuum levels from being applied to the crankcase.

Maintenance is not required and the canister is replaced as an assembly.

For additional information on the crankcase ventilation sensor, refer to ENGINE CONTROL COMPONENTS  in this article.