yeah it doesn't need much vac to open the check valve..
Which valve? There are actually two valves in the PCV unit, one small one which just acts as a bypass for the cyclonesm and the larger diaphragm valve. And there is also a piston in it too, which is operated by pressure, not vac.
but under boost when its closed, is that not where the valve fails? in a similar fashion to the old plastic diaphragms on the dv's?
No, because dispite what the 'big boost numbers boys' will tell you, in the inlet manifold, there isn't actually that much pressure - if there was, engines wouldn't pass emisssions tests, because the charged volume in the combustion chamber would just be pushed out the exhaust valves during the valve overlap phase. (I think? It's getting late, and I'm feeling decidedly dodgy - so I might be talking BS too!)
i wouldn't need to be asking these questions if i could get my etka working again and could see how it all went together

Look in the Mk5 maint + info section, and download the 'self study guide' for the GTI engine - it details how the PCV works.
