034 Billet pcv valve review

[VWTech517]

Installed the 034 motorsport breather hose kit with the billet pcv valve. Had it on for 2 days and noticed very unstable idle and vacuum. Found out that it was caused by the billet pcv valve, installed the oem plastic pcv valve and everything was gravy again. Just want to give members a heads up.

[vhstejskal]

There have been others that have given a review on the breather hose kit and didn't have negative feedback. Did the PCV valve seem to stick?

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...her-Kit-Review

[walky_talky20]

On my B5, I did notice the vacuum regulation to the crankcase is different. At idle, the billet valve seems to apply much more vacuum to the crankcase than the stock piece. In other words, at high-vacuum (idle, etc), the billet valve does not "close down" the flow as much as the stock valve. I didn't measure the vacuum, but the difference was noticeable based on the behavior of the oil cap. I didn't think it was enough to worry about, though. I do think they should tweak the design to remedy this aspect.

It has not seemed to affect my idle in any negative way. It does give me some peace of mind that it seals 100% under boost, and I definitely think it's worth it for that. My stock valve would always leak a bit when I tested it.

[vhstejskal]

Another interesting comparison... I've order the kit and will be installing this very soon. I'm hoping it doesn't impact idle...

[walky_talky20]

I will say that due to the higher flow, any small vacuum leaks in the PCV system might be amplified with this valve. The stock valve will close down and make them less apparent. For example, with the stock valve I can remove my oil cap with almost no change in idle - the PCV flow into the intake was very low at idle so it didn't effect idle speed or mixture much. But with this valve, taking the oil cap off will make it stumble just a little bit and the idle changes. it is able to flow a bit more, pulling fresh air in the oil cap hole - affecting mixture and idle speed more than before.

I knew it was going to do have this difference before I even installed the thing. I had an extra stock valve at my desk and I compared them back-to-back for flow while simulating full vacuum (disc or ball pushed all the way to the internal stop - the spring fully compressed). The billet valve had a measurably higher "minimum flow rate" with an otherwise unrestricted inlet. I was a little disappointed at that point, but it doesn't seem to have had any negative effects for me.

[vhstejskal]

Sorry OP didn't want to thread jack but that's good information walky... I've got all of the replacement parts for the PCV system and it makes sense that as a result of the higher flow of the valve that any impact to idle would be a result of other downstream issues in the system. OP it sounds like putting the stock valve back on resulted in better idle hopefully it's not a defect part but it sounds like it could be other components.

[DBM]

I came to a similar conclusion...

If you missed it in my first post, I have the 034 breather hose kit. My leak is in the "T" area of the kit, and I've come to two possible conclusions. 1. There's just a leak in "T," or 2. The 034 check valve isn't "strong" enough for this application. It's very easily opened from the back by vacuum pressure. I realized that possibly there is no leak, just the negative pressure of the IM at idle sucking the check valve open. Anyways, I just bought a vacuum line cap at O'Reilly's, capped off the port on the intake manifold, and zip-tied the 034 hose to the side, allowing it to vent to atmosphere. Whatever, I guess. Maybe sometime I'll try an OEM check valve and see if there's any difference. But for now, my CEL is gone and the car feels great.

Original thread: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ttent-vac-leak

[VWTech517]

i'm 100% its the billet valve problem because before I pulled out that valve I pinched the hose from the valve to the manifold and the idle went back to normal. Pretty sure the billet valve is not strong enough...

[Pothole]

hmmm

maybe its not my new plugs that are causing some idle vibrations while cold found my new weekend project

[PNW Avant]

Somewhat related post...would excess air pressure out of my oil cap indicate my breather system needs a refresher?

[vhstejskal]

Yeah, I'll be ordering an OEM one as well. OP thanks for posting the information and glad you were able to resolve the problem you were having...

[n7plus1]

hmmm...interested in seeing if 034 will chime in here.

[Charles.waite]

Somewhat related post...would excess air pressure out of my oil cap indicate my breather system needs a refresher?

I'm wondering the same thing. I just replaced my Suction pump and related Check Valves and now my oil cap "dances" all over the place when its unscrewed. I was going to take off my PRV (pancake valve) last weekend and check that its working, but I ran out of time/daylight. I'm also suspicious of my PCV Valve (I have the overcomplicated 2004+ version, yay...). I'm wondering if fixing the Suction pump had a domino effect on other components in the PCV/Vacuum system...

As an aside, my B7 nearly dies when you unscrew the oil cap while running, while my b6 experiences almost zero change. I was under the impression that undoing the Oil cap should cause the engine to choke and sputter...

[Laszlo@034]

We've sold hundreds of the 034Motorsport Billet Check Valves, and this is the first we've heard of this issue.

Both the flow and cracking pressure (under vacuum) of the 034Motorsport Billet Ball-and-Spring Check Valve are very closely matched to the OEM diaphragm-type check valve. Our valve also does not leak under boost, as opposed to the OEM valve, which leaks under boost even when new.

Please contact me via PM or email if you have any issues.

[VWTech517]

I have the mid 04 with the pcv valve that has three nipples on it. Maybe the billet valve is not made for the later b6 models? 034 makes quality stuff, I just want to let people know what I've found with the billet check valve.

[CrazyCal]

There have been others that have given a review on the breather hose kit and didn't have negative feedback. Did the PCV valve seem to stick?

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...her-Kit-Review

This is my review, here.

I haven't had any problems with my kit other than the clip holding the block breather. I had a rough idle pop up recently, my thought was a dirty MAF. Turns out it is oil getting in the middle two plug wells. After I get that sorted out and install a new fuel filter, I'll be watching my idle very closely. Should be purring like a kitten after all this: new plugs, version D coilpacks, new breather, clean MAF, new fuel filter. If I have any problems after that, I may have a look at this PCV thing. Wanna make sure everything is in working order before I go Stage 1+.