Another BOV Question

[janszott]

I just installed a BOV (from JAE) and it didn't seem to work. I did a search thru the archives and found some postings that suggest that they sometimes get stuck from sitting on a shelf and need to be loosened up.
I took a piece of wooden dowel and pushed on the plunger. At first it wouldn't move but finally it let go. Problem is that it seems to be making a scraping sound as I move it in and out. Sort of like "ZZZZZIT, ZZZZIT"
It does move, but not smoothly.
Is that nomal?
I haven't tried to take it apart yet.

[dr.ian]

Well, it is normal for it to make those sounds. Those valves are tight when new. Here is what you can do. Open the valve and remove the big black spring and plastic valve. You can remove the rubber ring around the plastic valve. Put it back together, and see if it works better. If that does not do it, take the plastic valve back out and very lightly sand it to reduce the outer diameter. If either of these do not work, you can put the spring in a vise and compress it a few millimeters and then quickly and uniformly heat it with a torch. This will shorten in weaken it just enough for and turbo to open it. I would only use these as last resorts, and make sure you are already having a strong vacuum pull. Hope this helps.

[bojangles]

i doubt that torch and so on will keep warranty alive....

[Skerd]

Set it to the lowest setting and it will loosen up. Unless you are really on it, it is difficult to hear it working over all the regular noise.

[janszott]

OK. I took it apart. It was still very hard to move the piston back and forth (without the spring pushing on it). Even with the o-ring removed, the piston still stuck. I lightly sanded the inside of the bore and the outside of the piston until it slid smoothly in the cylinder but once I put the O-ring back on, I had to really push to get it to move. It was certainly 100%better than before but still not great. I gave it a try but it still doesn't work.
It sure seems to be the O-ring that is making it bind but I don't know how to fix that other than removing it altogether.

(I have verified that I am getting vacuum and that the BOV is set to the lowest setting. I am also running a #3 chip so I can easily push 1 bar boost)

[dr.ian]

I would just drive it around for a week or so. It might take awhile to really break in, even after what you did. That O Ring did not seem to be the sealing power....but the spring did. Sure, it may make your warranty null, but you can put other springs in there. I would wait awile for it to start working. Then, I would try the heating thing. You will just want to put it in a vise and compress it only 3mm or so. Heat it with a torch. Be sure you are uniform so the spring does not become curved. Also, dont heat it too long...you just want to weaken it a little. It worked great for me, but I dont want to be guilty if it messes someone elses up. Hope this helps.

[cnh1990]

I guess I have one of the oldest BOV's from Marcus (almost 3 years old). It took a while till mine loosened up (a few weeks). It did it by itself and little help from 2 cleanings. The sound is normal and it will loosen up. During this time it will only work on high boost on low setting and will get more frequent with time. Do not use silicone based lubricants as this will hose up the O2 sensor if it were to migrate into the intake. Marcus warned me about a few people that used it make it easier to slip the T hose on. Better not to take chances. The O ring on the piston is a little on the large size. Instead of messing with it and if you are in a hurry. Go to a place that sells O rings and just get a smaller one that will thin out as it it stretched into the groove where it rests.