2.3L ('83-'97) Oil Separatior

[PetroleumJunkie412]

1996 2.3, going through everything on it.

Pulled the oil separator, plugged nearly solid. Ran 400psi heated solvent through it trying to free it up to nearly no avail. Currently have it soaking in a can of PSC1000 parts cleaner.

Any recommendations on how to get the sludge out of this thing? Bake it? Different solvent? Ultrasonic cleaner?

I would have just replaced it, but can't seem to find a new one anywhere on this earth.

 

[cbxer55]

There's an oil separator on a 2.3 Ranger? Wow! I had to install one on my Lightning to keep the upper intake oil free. My 98 V-6 Ranger doesn't have one, nor does my 07 Mustang. Hmmmm.....

 

[Dirtman]

Throw it in the woods and replace it with a catch can.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Throw it in the woods and replace it with a catch can.

So, that would leave a gigantic hole in the block...

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Said oil separator:

 

[Dirtman]

No dumb dumb, you run a hose directly from the crankcase breather/oil separator hole, to the inlet of the catch can and then to the pcv valve.

Replace that big goofy thing with just a straight open nipple and let the catch can do the work.

 

[MikeG]

Acetone, maybe.

 

[-Nate]

Thanx for the image .

It often takes days or weeks for the solvent / penetrant to seep into the sludged up air maze so no rush .

Don't by pass it, that's the lazy way and will increase oil usage .

I'm currently using and having very good luck with the purple 'Industrial Degreaser' sold in gallons by COSTCO and Sams Club, $6 the gallon and I cut it 50/50 with tap water, it's amazing stuff but DO NOT USE IT ON WARM/HOT PARTS as it dries up pretty quickly .

If it doesn't open up in a few days, I know a method that works great *but* will raise the ire of your neighbors and the less experienced here....

It will open it up though .

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

If it doesn't open up in a few days, I know a method that works great *but* will raise the ire of your neighbors and the less experienced here....

It will open it up though .

I blast for a living. My neighbors already hate me.


Hit me.

 

[cbxer55]

This is the separator I installed on my Lightning last year. Line from PCV goes in the bottom, line to the upper intake out the top. There's a media in between, reminds me of those metal scrub pads you can get to clean sinks and stuff. And a petcock on the bottom to drain it. Works real well. It originally had straight barbs out the front. I couldn't get runs where needed without kinks in the hose, so I fabbed up the hard lines and painted it all satin black. .

 

[tomw]

Apparently there is more than one design. You should be able to find one that works in a boneyard. Perhaps one that needs cleaning, but is not yet a full hard block of vulcanized oil.
That said, you could use heat to turn the goo/solids into ash. I have seen people use fire to burn a set of baffles from a two-stroke muffler successfully.
The stuff inside is made to form a 'labyrinth' barrier to the passage of liquids, while allowing vapor to escape. The liquids or droplets are forced to 'go around' all the nooks and crannies of the 'scrubbing pad' metal shavings. They can't turn the corners as well as vapor, so skid out, and impact the outer rim of the turn. They impact the shavings, and then gravity slowly moves them to the bottom, and over the the inlet so they can return to the crankcase. If the PCV gets plugged, no flow, and things start to go bad, and gunk forms and bakes to hardened mess.
Get a used one, and be sure it will flow vapor/gas freely.
tom

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Acetone FTW. Did the trick. Thanks gents!

 

[Dirtman]

CATCH CAN!

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Its getting one. The amount of sludge in the intakes was downright impressive.

 

[Dirtman]

Its getting one. The amount of sludge in the intakes was downright impressive.

Cause those "oil seperstors" are worthless. The duratec engines have the same basic design with the line coming off the side of the block. It's fancier but just as dumb. I put a catch can on mine about 30,000 miles ago and my intake has been spotless since. I know you have a catch canish thing on your 2.9, only difference is on the 2.3 you would not use a breather, and put the pcv valve on top of the can.