1999 Ford Taurus Oil in Breather Tube

1999 FORD TAURUS
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RGIG58
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I have a 1999 Taurus with the 3.0L DOHC. When I changed my air filter I noticed oil in the air inlet tube running down into the filter. It is coming from bank 2 valve cover breather tube that connects to the corregated air inlet tube. Bank 1 is clean. What would cause this? Can I disconnect from the air inlet and leave the breather tube open while plugging the hole in the air inlet tube? This is not the PCV tube.
Jan 8, 2007 at 6:11 AM
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INDYUKE
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If you do that, you might want to place some kind of filter over that hole. I believe that tube belongs to the PCV system and pulls filtered air from the airbox. You might also want to check and/or replace the PCV valve.

The PCV system pulls filtered air from the airbox, through the tube you were describing, through the crankcase, through the PCV valve and into the intake. If the PCV valve is bad, the crankcase will vent out the tube into the airbox, or if that avenue isn't open, through some other means... which can be bad as those other means tend to be through seals which you want to keep in place. Good luck.
Jan 8, 2007 at 10:21 AM

Suggested Repair

Check and replace the PCV valve. The breather tube is part of the PCV system and should not be left open without a filter; a failed PCV valve can push crankcase oil vapor into the air inlet.

Conversation Summary

The owner of a 1999 Ford Taurus 3.0L DOHC found oil in the air inlet tube coming from the bank 2 valve cover breather, while bank 1 was clean, and asked whether the breather could be left open with the air inlet hole plugged. The expert said the tube belongs to the PCV system, which draws filtered air from the airbox through the crankcase and PCV valve into the intake. A bad PCV valve can vent crankcase pressure and oil into the airbox, so the PCV valve should be checked or replaced, and any open tube should have a filter.

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