Serious Engine Trouble

[MoonRaker]

Ok, sounds like your running to a common problem with the wiring harness. Dont hold me to it but cheak on the passenger side between the transmission and the frame, you will see the O2 sensor rite there. I bet your wireing harness is melted and shorting out. If thats the case, very carfully peel it apart and fix as needed. Do a good job and make sure its water proof or youl get more codes again when its wet. Rerout that part of the harness away from the exaust. It should be done on every VX but it a very neglectid procedere. I even had Isuzu replace it all under warenty and the same thing happened a week later. It also took them 6 months to find it, idiots The factory routing is going the wrong way with that part of the harnes. Also you should disconect the battery before you mess with it. Also find all the plugs you can and put dialectric grease in them, including the ones on your engine. That will take some time but its worth it in the long run.

[gunpackingpoet]

No pics yet?

[blacksambo]

The issue with alumimium engine blocks and steel oil control rings is wear and compensatory oil loss. due to vacuum increase. Psychos is right to alleviate the suction problem via breather application. But you also need to make sure the engine is sealed up tight in the first place. Said differently, make sure the oil filler port is closed tight. Make sure your filler o-ring is in good shape or replaced every few years. If the systen leaks at any juncture it will cause the engine vacuum effect to be magnified and the PCV will remain open when it should be shut and oil will be sucked in and burned.

[MoonRaker]

So, does anyone now if it has steel sleeves or is it nicol coated alumminum or what im worried about, just aluminum. If its just aluminum im sending the block to millennium. http://www.mt-llc.com/index_home.shtml even if its scored nicol. If it breakes fix it better.

[psychos2]

Cool man! Thanks for all your effort!

Bart

Sorry I have not posted pics yet . I have been busy and it has been very cold. I will try to get them up soon. shawn

[nfpgasmask]

Hey man, that's cool. Whenever you get around to it! Until then, pour in more oil!

Bart

Sorry I have not posted pics yet . I have been busy and it has been very cold. I will try to get them up soon. shawn

[psychos2]

I have taken a pic from the vx manual and hope that it will help. where the blue circle is you connect the breather.Just get a short piece of hose and a couple clamps. Or you can get one the same size as the hole for the pcv valve and just remove the pcv valve and install the breather in the valve cover. Second step would be to plug the hose circled in purple.Again I used a short piece of hose and I plugged it with a bolt, again using clamps on the hose.Or you can just plug the stock hose with a bolt and use a clamp. If you use a hose on the pcv valve put the breather pointing toward the front . It will be covered by the plastic cover and you will not see it.The pcv valve is in the drivers side valve cover. Hope this helps. As soon as I can I wil post an actual pic. Right now we are getting hit with a pretty big snow storm. hopefully enough to open the snowmobile trails. shawn

[AndyC]

Snow storm? We'er supposed to be in the middle of one too. The forecaster said yesterday that we'd have 6-9" by morning. Well it's morning and there is maybe 2" of snow/sleet out there covering the ground. Who knows maybe by tomorrow there will be more.
Maybe that one that your getting will hit use later. Might have to start up the sled later.
Ok back to the oil problem -- how about valve seals? bad seals would cause the oil to leak into the cylinders and burn, right? I've been pretty luckly with mine. I use a little oil when I pull my boat but generally it's good.

[nfpgasmask]

Hey Shawn, thanks. But pardon my ignorance, what the heck is a "breather"???

And for hose, what are you using? Just the clear plastic stuff (like the stuff from Home Depot that is used with ice cube makers and cold water lines?)

Bart

I have taken a pic from the vx manual and hope that it will help. where the blue circle is you connect the breather.Just get a short piece of hose and a couple clamps. Or you can get one the same size as the hole for the pcv valve and just remove the pcv valve and install the breather in the valve cover. Second step would be to plug the hose circled in purple.Again I used a short piece of hose and I plugged it with a bolt, again using clamps on the hose.Or you can just plug the stock hose with a bolt and use a clamp. If you use a hose on the pcv valve put the breather pointing toward the front . It will be covered by the plastic cover and you will not see it.The pcv valve is in the drivers side valve cover. Hope this helps. As soon as I can I wil post an actual pic. Right now we are getting hit with a pretty big snow storm. hopefully enough to open the snowmobile trails. shawn

[phant0m-je$ter]

Wow - I thought I was one of few, but it looks like a lot of VX owners are on their way to a blown motor. I never got a chance to post - but in the fall of last year my motor threw a rod in what I believe was also the #1 cylinder and once I heard the rapping\clicking sound - I knew it was all over. I took it to my local dealership and they did indicate that it's happened plenty of times before because of excessive oil consumption. My 2001 Proton VX had right about 78,000 miles on it and was still well within the 120,000 power train warranty. They asked that I provide all of my oil change records illustrating that I have changed the oil in no more than 7500 mile intervals. Upon reviewing all of my records they replaced the motor with a long block under warranty. I now have about 83,000 miles on it and all is well. However I love my VX like no other and would like to hold on to it for a while longer as I am the original owner and have quite an attachment to it. I would be VERY interested in this PCV valve fix if it stops the excessive oil consumption - especially it I am going to just run into the same issue again.

From what others have experienced - has adding the breather and plugging the hose solved the consumption problems? Has it had any negative side effects?

Thanks all,

-Rob

[nfpgasmask]

Hey Rob, yeah, that is what I am afraid of. My VX runs well and I baby it so hopefully I can avoid this tragedy in the future.

With the new engine, do you have the oil burning problem?

Even if I get this oil consumption problem solved, I will still check my oil once a week as I have done since I owned my VX. Nothing is worse than catostrophic engine failure. Trust me, I know from experience.

Bart

Wow - I thought I was one of few, but it looks like a lot of VX owners are on their way to a blown motor. I never got a chance to post - but in the fall of last year my motor threw a rod in what I believe was also the #1 cylinder and once I heard the rapping\clicking sound - I knew it was all over. I took it to my local dealership and they did indicate that it's happened plenty of times before because of excessive oil consumption. My 2001 Proton VX had right about 78,000 miles on it and was still well within the 120,000 power train warranty. They asked that I provide all of my oil change records illustrating that I have changed the oil in no more than 7500 mile intervals. Upon reviewing all of my records they replaced the motor with a long block under warranty. I now have about 83,000 miles on it and all is well. However I love my VX like no other and would like to hold on to it for a while longer as I am the original owner and have quite an attachment to it. I would be VERY interested in this PCV valve fix if it stops the excessive oil consumption - especially it I am going to just run into the same issue again.

From what others have experienced - has adding the breather and plugging the hose solved the consumption problems? Has it had any negative side effects?

Thanks all,

-Rob

[VCrossfan]

I can't believe I missed this post, anyway I've had this installed for alittle less than a year now and has worked well. 90 degree pvc fitting with the original hose from the intake still in place with the end plugged and a new pvc valve in my storage trunk just in case I have to reinstall it for some reason away from home..

[nfpgasmask]

OK, so let me get this straight:

The hose connecting to the upper end of the PCV Valve is blocked off or plugged, and then the PCV Valve is attached to a vent or "breather"?

And that's it? Voila? No more oil consumption and no related problems/side effects??

Sounds simple...
Bart

I can't believe I missed this post, anyway I've had this installed for alittle less than a year now and has worked well. 90 degree pvc fitting with the original hose from the intake still in place with the end plugged and a new pvc valve in my storage trunk just in case I have to reinstall it for some reason away from home..

[thedutchguy]

BTW these valves cost practicaly nothing!
So just replace it everytime with your oil change!
http://www.fram.com/products/accessories.php

FRAM part number:FV384

[VCrossfan]

OK, so let me get this straight:

The hose connecting to the upper end of the PCV Valve is blocked off or plugged, and then the PCV Valve is attached to a vent or "breather"?

And that's it? Voila? No more oil consumption and no related problems/side effects??

Sounds simple...
Bart

Sorry MASK..A wrong order of letters by me lol. I now have the PCV valve removed and a 90 degree piece of PVC in it's place in the valve cover w/a small air filter attatched to it to allow the engine to vent without any vacuum
support..