I have read that Volvo changed the flame trap configuration in the late model 240s to allow easy access. I just tried to clean out mine and I am led to believe that there is some sort of cultural misunderstanding about the concept of "easy access." Perhaps in addition to the limited political freedoms, living in a monarchy conditions a society to accept a lower standard for physical freedom of movement as well.

At any rate, I can't find my flame trap! I found the plastic Y connector, cleaned it out, and replaced the vacuum line to the intake manifold-no major blockage problems, but it was old and a little too easily slid on and off the fittings. Just underneath the Y connector was a largish hose (about an inch in diameter) that had an S-curve to it. This lifted out easily from the plastic part on the engine that I assume is the oil seperater box. But no flame trap was to be seen (or at least not that I recognized). From the diagrams that I have seen, I was expecting the flame trap to be located between the curved rubber hose and the Y connector. It's not. I didn't actually take the Y-connector off, is the flame trap up inside there somewhere? Due to the aforementioned lack of space (and poor lighting) I couldn't tell whether or not the flame trap might have been on top of the breather box, but I couldn't feel anything. I'm hoping the flame trap wasn't removed by the previous owner.

So three questions here:

1. Where exactly, in relation to the parts that I mentioned, is the flame trap on an LH 2.2 B230?

2. My oil cap skitters, but then it's the later plastic one so apparently that's not a good indicator that I might have a PCV problem. Besides oil leaks, is there another way to tell if I might have PCV problems?

3. What do you all do to have easier access to the flame trap parts? Take off the throttle body? I just cleaned my throttle body, so it's not like I can save labor and do both things at once. But I'll take it off if it makes it noticeably easier to get in there.

Many thanks.