Frequently Asked Questions - FAQs
Q: My engine compartment has an oily film on all surfaces and smells. Will your kit help?
A: Yes. This condition comes from crankcase "blow-by" gases.
Q: Will this kit get rid of the blue haze in my cabin when I am running my A4?
A: Yes. This haze comes from "blow-by" gases coming from the oil filler cap and with this kit, they get sucked out of the crankcase and burned.
Q: How can I tell if the smoke/haze in my cabin is "blow-by" gas or an exhaust leak?
A: A good way to verify that what you are getting is "blow-by" is to operate the engine in the dark and shine a flashlight across the oil fill tube above the flywheel with the oil fill cap off. As you apply more load to the engine, you should find that you see more fumes coming out of the oil fill tube, if blow-by is the problem. If the oil fill tube opening looks OK, then what you are getting in the cabin is from either a leak in the exhaust system or something "burning" off the outside of the hot section of the exhaust system. You can easily perform this check tied up at the dock.
Q: There is a black hose near my flame arrestor that pulls off gases. What happens to it with this kit?
A: That hose was Universals attempt at removing the gases. This kit uses manifold vacuum to more effectively provide a good suction. The old black hose is eliminated.
Q: Can I install this kit on my early model A4?
A: Yes. The installation is a little more complex but it can be installed and will work.
Q: How hard is it to install this kit?
A: If you have reasonable access to the carburetor, the kit is very easy to install. It involves unbolting the carburetor from the intake manifold, installing the new spacer plate, and then hooking up the hose and fittings.
Q: Being a long term visitor to you site, I see that the PCV valve is now oriented vertically where it was previously horizontal. What is the reason for the change and should I change mine?
A: In about 2005, I believe, something changed in the manufacturing of the PCV valve that I purchase from NAPA. The net effect of this change was that the new valve caused the A4 to idle poorly and sometimes not at all. The valve was apparently not closing fully at idle thus allowing too much air to enter the manifold. Putting the valve vertical made the new valve function properly. The original valves still work properly when mounted horizontally and one or several of the alternative valves may function properly in the horizontal orientation as well. To change to a vertical orientation requires the addition of the copper fabrication shown on the web site as well as removing and re-orienting the spacer plate and associated hose barb fitting, and re-routing the small copper tube from the bottom of the carburetor. It probably is not worth the effort. It is recommended that you remove your PCV valve periodically and flush it out with either mineral spirits or carburetor cleaner. As long as the valve rattles when shaken, it should perform properly.
Q: I keep reading Online that this kit is nothing more than a "controlled vacuum leak" and my engine will not run properly if installed. It obviously pulls a little vacuum on the crankcase so is this a problem?
A: The PCV valve utilized in this kit does indeed utilize the intake manifold vacuum to remove fumes and vapors from the crankcase. The extent of this "vacuum leak" is very minor, contrary to many of the Forum comments, and is easily managed by adjusting the Idle Air/Fuel mixture. The instructions that come with the kit walk you through adjustment of the Idle Air Mixture Screw by having you establish a starting position of the screw and then gradually screwing it Counter Clockwise, to increase the amount of air, until a stable idle condition is established. It will also most likely be necessary to re-adjust the idle speed setting on the carburetor linkage. The biggest problems we see are inadvertent vacuum leaks created during the installation process and a lack of patience when adjusting the Idle Air Mixture Screw..