Community Forums:

Thanks to everyone's good advice and some hours of work, I got the oil separator removed from the engine. Can't blow any air through it so it's definitely clogged. Using the BB suggestion of watching the separator with hoses disconnected at idle was helpful in diagnosing the problem. Anyway, the tube leading down into the oil pan has a bunch of sludge built up on the sides like a partially clogged artery. If I drain the oil, hone that tube a bit with a wire or something, then pour a couple quarts of oil down the hole and let it drain right out the pan drain hole, is this tactic going to have any tendency to clog up the oil pick-up system in the pan?? I have never had the pan off and don't know how it's set up in there. I know Don has had success with a similar approach in cleaning out the separator itself. I'll feel better knowing more about what the set up is in the pan before I knock some sludge down there. Sounds a little spooky to me, but, heck, if people have cleaned out the breather box this way, it should work fine to clean out the hose down to the pan. Any ideas of suggestions would be great.