1984 Ranger PCV System

[Ranger_X]

I just inherited an ’84 Ranger that has oil blowing out of the vented oil cap. My first thought goes to the PCV system which was disabled by one of the previous owners. In fact, nearly every vacuum line (except the vacuum to the distributor) has been cut and plugged. I suspect that this is the cause of the oil blowby (at least I hope it’s that and not the rings) and I want to put it back the way it should be.

There is a ¾ inch tube that runs from what looks like an oil separator on the crankcase. It has been cut and plugged with a metal rod. There is also a ¾ inch tube that runs to an intake just below the carb. It too has been cut and it is plugged with a lug nut. So, this looks like part of the PCV system with the center of the tube cut out and the ends plugged. Can this tube just be reconnected?

Another problem is that I cannot find a PCV valve there or anywhere else. Is the PCV valve incorporated into the oil separator? Or could it have been placed somewhere in the length of the 3/4 inch tube (most of which is missing)? Or is it supposed to be somewhere else altogether?

According to a build report from the VIN, this is a 2.0 and the odometer reads 80,000+ (which could be 180,000+, or 280,000+). The vehicle is a difficult start and takes a bit of coaxing to keep it running, but once warm it runs fairly smooth. The difficult start is probably because the vacuum to the automatic choke is missing and I'm not sure where it should hook up to either.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Mark_88]

Hmmm...well your first concern would be to connect the PCV...the canister is an oil separator and the hose from the top should come out above the intake or just slightly below it...that is where the PCV valve plugs in and then you run a line from the output of the PCV valve to the base of the carb. that completes the bottom end of the crankcase vent. The valve cover should also have either a tube or a cap that is vented into the breather either at the back or side of the breather body.

With blow by you may not want to run that top hose to the breather because it can foul your air filter. Many people just vent the top end off the side of the motor...some are working on drip cans to catch the oil...I'm working on a new breather similar to the FI systems on newer engines where that vent goes into the air box below the filter...still working on it...

If that doesn't cure the blow by then you may want to try some of that no-smoke oil treatment stuff (I like the red stuff by Bahrs) to help expand the valve seals...