What does the crankcase pressure sensor do?

The crankcase pressure sensor tells the PCM how much pressure is building up inside the engine. The PCM needs accurate pressure sensor values to prevent seals and gaskets from getting damaged due to excessive pressure.

What causes a crankcase pressure sensor to go bad?

Possible Causes Defective crankcase pressure sensor. Defective PCV valve. Clogged PCV system. Disconnected or chafed lines, broken runners or tubes, etc.

Is crankcase pressure bad?

These blow-by gases, if not ventilated, inevitably condense and combine with the oil vapour present in the crankcase, forming sludge or causing the oil to become diluted with unburnt fuel. Excessive crankcase pressure can furthermore lead to engine oil leaks past the crankshaft seals and other engine seals and gaskets.

Where is the crankcase pressure sensor?

The crankcase pressure sensor is located within the crankcase. The bearings that hold the crankshaft in place and allow it to rotate within the engine are the major bearing journals that hold the crankcase. This is a generic powertrain diagnostic trouble code (DTC) that most OBD-II automobiles will display.

How do I know if I have too much crankcase pressure?

A few things can cause excessive blow-by apart from worn cylinders or rings. Powerful spikes in crankcase pressure are a classic sign of a blown head gasket, or a cracked engine block. This is especially true if the gases coming out of the breather hole carry with them a strong stench of raw gasoline.

Can crankcase pressure cause oil leaks?

Side effect #1: Crankcase pressure (“My engine leaks oil”) If the engine is producing blow-by gases faster than the PCV system can dispose of them, an increasing surplus becomes trapped in the crankcase, causing excess pressure and, inevitably, oil leaks.

How do you get rid of crankcase pressure?

This usually happens when the engine is under load or at high rpm, which is when pressure builds up quickly and needs to be relieved the most. The extreme solution to prevent all of this is to install a vacuum pump that continuously draws the pressure out of the crankcase.