The engine is one of the most important parts of any vehicle Except an Electric Vehicle. Each vehicle has an intake and exhaust manifold. Intake manifold takes a proper amount of air to make the fuel burned. The task of the exhaust manifold is to pass the burnt gas through the catalytic converter to the exhaust pipe. In every situation, the intake manifold must have to be clean and clear all the time.
Many car users come to us with the problem that engine oil is reducing, and they need to top up frequently. In the checking process, every mechanic checks air cleaner filter, spark plug, and they check if there’s any leakage or not. Finally, they run compression and emission test.
We’ve found oil in the intake manifold in many of the cars. In most of the cases, the main cause is clogged or rusty air filter or delay of the oil change. If this happens to your vehicle, the check engine light will show up in the instrument cluster. But the fact to note down is this symptom shows up in old vehicles or diesel run heavy vehicles mostly.
However, our today’s topic is this. We’ll share with you the details of oil in the intake manifold and how you can avoid such problems.
Possible Reasons and Solutions:
#Clogged Air Cleaner Filter:
Clean Air is always preferable for all places. This fact is the same for cars too! Clean air is essential for the vehicle’s good engine performance. In the automotive industry, every engine maker such as BMW, Toyota, Ford, Honda, and others focus on the importance of air cleaner. Nowadays, every modern car makers use Turbocharger in their engine for high performance with less fuel cost. So, we have to take good care of turbochargers.
Keep in mind that turbocharger runs by the force of engine exhaust gas. So, the exhaust system must have to be perfect. Or else, your car turbo will not perform correctly. If you follow some tips and tricks, your vehicle’s turbocharger life, as well as engine life, will be increased.
If Your Vehicle’s air cleaner is jammed or clogged, your car engine will not be able to take enough air. As a result, more gas will enter the combustion chamber, and the engine will give black smoke. Besides, bad smelly smoke can be felt. Inappropriate exhaust gas from your vehicle makes the turboshaft bush bearing weak day by day, and for this, the oil comes to the intake manifold through the turbo.
So, Always Change the air cleaner before it dies. It will increase your car engine’s life as well as turbo life.
#PCV Valve Faulty:
Another reason for this can be the Positive Crankcase Ventilation Valve or PCV valve. If you notice oil in the intake manifold, you need to check this out. But this is not a worrying matter if there’s a little oil in the intake manifold. A blocked PCV valve in the car is not a rare case.
You need to check the entire PCV system. A faulty PCV valve can cause an imbalanced airflow. This issue can send some oil in the air intake. Besides, if there’s anything wrong with the PCV valve, it’ll cause the check engine light to show up. In such cases, cleaning is the best solution. But if it’s totally blocked, then you need to get it to an expert mechanic.
#Clogged Oil passage
Sludge and rusty oil will be deposited in the oil passage if you don’t change your engine oil in time. When oil can’t pass through the passage freely, or the passage is fully blocked, the oil goes through the PVC valve and the oil goes to the air intake manifold at last.
Oil in air intake tube from pcv breather – YouTube:
The FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions):
Q: How long do PCV valves last?
A: There’s no specific lifespan of the PCV valve. It doesn’t follow up any lifespan. The lifespan of the PVC valve depends on its care and maintenance. Proper maintenance can increase the lifespan of the PCV valve. However, it requires a major scheduled service like 30k, 60k, 90k. It’s possible that your PVC is wearing out in between services.
Q: What causes oil in the air intake?
A: A clogged air cleaner or a faulty PVC valve can make oil in the intake manifold. If you observe this problem, don’t worry. Take your car to an expert and get it fixed as soon as possible.
Q: What are the symptoms of a bad intake manifold gasket?
A: There are a lot of symptoms you can notice if you have a bad intake manifold gasket. But the main three reasons are
- Engine misfiring
- Coolant leaking
- Engine overheating
Q: Can you drive with a bad intake manifold gasket?
A: Yes, it’s possible to drive with a bad intake manifold gasket. The intake manifold can take much pressure. But if you drive with a bad intake manifold, it’ll cause an imbalance of air-fuel ratio. In this case, too much or too little air can enter. As a result, you won’t get a smooth drive. Your vehicle will run poorly. But driving with a bad intake manifold gasket is not recommended by the experts.
Q: How much does it cost to replace an intake manifold?
A: Replacing an intake manifold will cost you in between 400$ to 600$. In this case, the high cost is the labor charge. The price of components is a bit lower.
Final Words:
So, these are the main reasons for oil in intake manifold. If you notice oil in your intake manifold, don’t worry or overthink. Get it fixed from an expert mechanic. Take good care of your car. Keep the air cleaner filter clean and make sure your PVC valve is not having any issue.
We hope your problems will be solved.