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My Atomic 4 is in a Pearson Vanguard. While motoring, the fumes in the cabin are pretty bad. They aren't fuel or exhaust. I have no known leaks. Can any who has had this same problem give a testimonial as to whether the crankcase vent upgrade by Moyer can really solve the problem?
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Cabin Fumes
I had the same problem with my Atomic 4. The bypass upgrade solved the problem right away. I would definitely recommend it.
Brad -
I'm not familiar with any crankcase vent bypass kit that Moyer offers??? Are you by chance referring to the PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventilation) kit that Tom Stevens @ Indigo Electronics offers?? (http://www.atomic4.com/crankcase.html)
If this is what you are referring to - I have one installed on my A4 and it works great!Comment
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Indigo Crankcase kit
I agree, the Indigo crankcase ventilator kit is a good adit. I had some obnoxious fumes in my Ericson 35 cabin after running the ol A-4 for a while and the Indigo kit cured that 98%. Good investment in my book and took about an hour or two to install (dependeing on access). All the parts are included: new carbo mounting gasket, carbo spacer, longer copper fuel line, new crank breather appaeratus, hose, and new bolts.
Quality $75.00 item that works!
John M.Comment
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cabin fumes
Thanks guys, sounds like a good upgrade. My wife will be happy too.Comment
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I purchased this PCV kit from Moyer Marine a few years back and it improved the smell immensley. I does take a little timeComment
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Indigo Upgrade - A Problem
I installed the indigo kit, and it seems to work, but has a problem...the hose supplied seems to have a very slippery core, which causes the PCV valve to pop out occasionally, making the unit nonfunctional.
I've tried gluing the valve into the hose, no go.
One of these days I'll take the thing off the boat and take it to NAPA and see if there is another type of hose that will hold the PCV valve in place a bit better.
Anyone else run into this problem?
thanks,
Paul Christiansen
Cal 2-27 "Wampeter"
Astoria, ORComment
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Not just fumes
I found in the last few weeks that fumes/smoke are not the only problems with the breather tube as installed by Universal. I found droplets of oil in the bilge water. After my initial concern about an oil leak, I traced the source back to the air intake of the carburator. About a quarter of a teaspoon was puddled in the intake--and the breather tube was the source. Besides the mess in the bilge, I was concerned about the oil being pumped out by the automatic bilge pump when I'm not around. I plan to add the Indigo PCV kit over the winter.Comment
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Slipping PCV hose
Paul,
have you tried a small hose clamp? I think that's what I have on mine and almost certain it came with the kit, and if not, I added one as I like things attached not just slipped on. Small width hose clamps are out there....seek and you shall find. Cheapest stainless hose clamps in the world I've found are at:
Plumbingsupply.com
They are 1/2 to 2/3 cheaper than any place I ever seen before. Yes, they are all stainless clamps and screws (Ideal clamps). Just purchased a variety of sizes (1" to 4") which came to 48 total hose clamps for $65.00...absolute bargain!
John M.Comment
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Alternative viewpoint about the PCV Valve
Guys, I have been thinking about the PCV valve myself, as my own A4 offers up quite a stink in the cabin, and it occasionally makes me feel somewhat nautious. My girlfriend has also complained. However, I must recommend the website of one salty dog Robert Hess of Vancouver, Canada, whose page "Atomic Four Frequently Asked Questions" claims this:
"Many people will spend a lot of money on cheaply made accessories for their boat and marine engine, but skimp on basic maintenance and regular overhauls. We recommend purchasing a heat exchanger and suggest the Indigo Electronics PCV valve kit is a good short-term fix for an engine that needs a ring job and is smoking up the cabin, but don't recommend an accessory oil filter, an electronic ignition, or an adjustable thermostat bypass valve."
...which makes me think that the rings on my pistons probably need to be evaluated. Or is it just that these are now older engines and will inevitably have some degree of mechanical smell when running?Comment
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What I found isn't quite in accord Mr. Hess' opinion.
For starters, the rings on my engine are just fine.
However, the A-4 crankcase vents to a tube that ends just above the carburator flame arrestor. The theory is that the carb will suck in the crankcase vapors, which naturally contain enough oil vapor to make a strong "oily engine" smell when the thing is run.
Unfortunately, the theory doesn't work perfectly I had an engine smell after running the iron wind. Not excessive amounts of oil due to bad rings, just a hot oil smell due to the crankcase being warm.
The PCV valve eliminated the vapors.MikeComment
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Thanks Marthur, that's good to know.
I think I will look into getting one. Is it much hassle to install?Comment
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I installed the Indigo Electronics PCV kit. Installing the PCV valve took slightly longer than advertised, but was an easy afternoon's project.
Good Luck,
MikeMikeComment
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Why its like that
Either kit will work fine and fix the problem. Direct crancase ventilation like on the A4 used to be on cars as well, but back in the 60's or 70s they did the exact same thing by plumbing that tube into the carb intake, like these kits are designed to do. The slash tube that is originally there doesn't cut it. The fumes are not the best thing for the environment in general and especially not an environment our girlfriends enjoy down below!Comment
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oil filter change
I usually change my oil and filter, but the problem is when I insert the tube in the dipstick holder [I] seem to get more air out than oil is there an easier way to do it can I go from my oil filter housing, and pull the oil out that way, recently I have been getting a bad exhaust leak from somewhere around the intake/exhaust manifold and I cant seem to locate it can anyone tell me where to look before I spend 350$ for a new manifoldComment
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