jodynich

I want to put some Seafoam in my truck but whenever I pull the PCV it dies, how do I remedy this and if there isn't one, can someone describe the location of another hose to use?

Thanks!

WatsonMD

Use a pair of vice grips or other "lockable" pliers/clamp to slightly restrict the flow of air. Put a small funnel on the end of the hose.

Andrew

jodynich

Just tried that, I about have to close the tube to get it to keep running and even then its *barely* idling and there is no suction. Any other ideas?

marko3xl3

Use the brake booster hose if clamping the PCV hose doesn't work. The brake booster hose is the only one connected to the brake booster (big black round thing stuck to your firewall). I am pretty sure you don't have a third gens, as 3.4L's usually manage to stay alive when the PCV is pulled. What truck do you have?

jodynich

It's actually an 02. Is this bad?

marko3xl3

So you have the 3.4L engine. Well, I dunno man, mine (at countless others') don't stall when you just pull the PCV hose, it runs like crap but it doesn't stall. It's usually the weaker engines that stall when you do that, I think that the 2.7L I4 that came with earlier 4Runners did that.

IMO, I don't think it's anything to worry about unless you have noticed something else wrong with it recently. If it runs fine, just ignore it and put it through the brake booster host which is here:



Since the hose is bigger, just make sure you pour the fluid slowly so you don't hydrolock your engine. You really have to tank the hose in the can for it to happen, so don't be too worried, just do it nice and slow and you'll be fine.

Also, don't expect any drastic results from the Seafoam since yours is only an 02, unless you have some really bad problems with it (really bad idle etc.). I did it to my healthy '98 and to be honest I noticed no difference at all. A throttle body cleaning did more than the Seafoam.

Good luck.

jodynich

Hey thanks for that detailed reply. I bought the truck used only about 2,000 miles ago so I really am not that used to it yet and don't know much about its inner workings. It seems to run strong, but when I open the hood when its idling it does seem to really tick. I don't know if this is normal but you can't hear it unless the hood is opened- then it becomes pretty prevolent.

marko3xl3

The whole ticking thing is completely normal for the 3.4L engines, very annoying, but you can't do much to deal with it. Someone else actually asked the same question (ticking related) today, so I am gonna cut and paste for you to read. How many miles are on your truck?

jodynich

Ok, I got the Seafoam in the PCV, but in the process of learning, I put it in the wrong end of the hose first. I know this won't F up my engine since it can be pretty much put in the washer fluid and then they will work better but is this gonna mess up the actual valve?

marko3xl3

I don't exactly know what you mean? If you try and put seafoam into the wrong side of the PCV, you won't be able to because air will be blowing out from the hose.

jodynich

I unplugged it from the intake and tried it that way.

Snorkeldepth

The easiest way to do this that I found is to remove either the PCV or booster hose from the intake . Slip a short piece of hose onto the intake nipple and pour the Seafoam into that.

Tacoma Dude

The easiest thing for me has been to get the vicegrips and set them on the hose until it's just *barely* open. Then I pour Seafoam into a cup and skim the surface of the Seafoam with the hose.

Snorkeldepth

Both good TacoDude! I just like pulling the hose off where I can see it and getting the fluid as close to the manifold as possible! I got some SeaFoam in a spray can to clean the throttle body side of the manifold . . . . and the body at the same time. Think it will work? I figure I'll warm up the engine, shut it off, remove the intake hose, open the butterfly, spray everything down good, let it sit for a few minutes, and start it up after hooking the hoses back up.