oil leak been told to check breather

[donnyrayvon]

So I have an oil leak that only appears when the car has been running, drips off bell housing, had crank seal done, won't drip if just run up stood still, so spoke to an ex dealer mechanic who said common problem is a blocked breather causing to much pressure, my question is how do I clean out the breather and is it easy to take off, ordered a new pcv just incase it is that also as on idle it is a bit lumpy.

[SimonG]

I assume an 8 valve engine? Could be the case as you describe. But also check oil pressure switches on the filter housing and around the crank sensor if present. Known problem areas to check.

[gasketface]

It could be crankcase breather pipe as they get hard and crack at the bottom where they go in to the breather housing but it could also be the cam cover gasket as the engine slants to one side,oil runs down back of engine and drips off bellhousing.I'm taking it you are talking about an 8v model ?.

[donnyrayvon]

Sorry yes it is an 8v, deffo not coming from rocker or pressure switch, now it does have a tiny weep from crank sensor.  Was just told it sounds like to much pressure and could be breather blocked as  that was also a common problem

[donnyrayvon]

Anyway of checking if it is breathing ok

[VW BUSH]

Anyway of checking if it is breathing ok

Take of the breather pipe carefully and clean it out by pouring paraffin or Jizer through it.
(if its old and knackered then it will probably fall apart best have a new one really)
The junction on the big black vent box on the rocker cover can be taken off and cleaned through in the same way.
This can fall apart as well...
If they are very soft they can collapse when under load from the air intake which can give issues.

Most oil leaks from the cam end seal and runs down the bell housing along with the switch.

[Foreveryoungaus16v]

Replace the seals, they are probably perished

[donnyrayvon]

Crank seal is brand new, going to change pcv, will clean all pipes out and see where I go from there, the breather housing on the side of the engine block I guess is just an unbolt process, oil only leaks when under load remember so this is why I have been told could be a breathing issue

[SimonG]

Give it a go and see how you get on.  The breather on the block does, indeed, unbolt, plus there is a gasket underneath it.  Try and clean as much oil of the block and bellhousing as you can but there will still be traces of it left.

[donnyrayvon]

So took breather pipe off and what should be a nice wide clean pipe turned out to be a 6mm hole, took pcv off and that way nearly double the weight of the new one, and it broke whilst taking it off and I had to cut the grommet off so got to weight for a new one to come, then we will see what happens but I'm sure it might be a bit better now the pipe is clean and a new pcv, any thoughts would be a good help to me