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[terry paget]

About to clean the breathers on my PFL 2.5 petrol estate. I cannot think why I should remove the plenum. Is there a good reason?

[Doctor Gollum]

To clean it. Also improves access at back of engine for the breather box

[Diamond Black Geezer]

I see your point, OP, but though the Plenum itself is often 'fine' to remove the Breather Bridge requires the Plenum to be at least 'loosened' in order to take the Throttle Body off first (which will benefit from a carb cleaner squirt-through) Attempting to remove the Breather Bridge without taking off the Throttle Body will result in straining/snapping the two little outlets at the front of the BB (been there, seen it happen, inherited a car with broke ones)

As above, once off, the access is much improved. 

[tunnie]

Really need to clean breathers on 3.2, never really had a need before as it has always done long runs. But recently it's been on lots of short trips, had a build up of mayo in the filler cap. 

So really need to clean it up, must confess I've never cleaned the breather box on V6. Struggling to recall it's position on the 3.2 

[powerslinky]

Really need to clean breathers on 3.2, never really had a need before as it has always done long runs. But recently it's been on lots of short trips, had a build up of mayo in the filler cap. 

So really need to clean it up, must confess I've never cleaned the breather box on V6. Struggling to recall it's position on the 3.2 

Think you are on a "wind up" here mr. Tunnie  . . but just in case you are not

just follow the pipes from the rear of the breather bridge . . . it is down the back of engine block on  drivers side 

Can't believe you've never done the breathers on it Mark .  .how long you had that 3.2 ?

200 lines for you master Tunnie  " I must clean breathers annually" 

[tunnie]

Honestly I've never cleaned the breathers on the 3.2, up until recently I've never had a need as it's always done a long run. It's never had anyo may under the cap either, along with 5k oil changes.

It needs a bit of love though, still yet to fix the multi-ram since I broke it 

[EMD]

Really need to clean breathers on 3.2, never really had a need before as it has always done long runs. But recently it's been on lots of short trips, had a build up of mayo in the filler cap. 

So really need to clean it up, must confess I've never cleaned the breather box on V6. Struggling to recall it's position on the 3.2 

Its only the small pin hole on the breather box that really gets blocked  sure your cam cover gaskets would have blown if the big one was blocked or your crank seal 

[terry paget]

Thanks to all for advice, it was not a good idea.
I soon found I had to raise the plenum slightly to remove the lower throttle bolts. I realised there was a risk of disturbing an O ring, and so it proved. On start up there was a pronounced misfire, I guessed why, so removed the plenum and replaced the O ring.
As others point out, the only likely problem with the V6 breathers is blockage of the small hole in the breather box. I wondered if the the breather bridge or the hoses might be blocked, but they were fine. I suppose once the small hole blocks no more oil is sucked towards the breather bridge so risk of blocking is zero.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

I got myself a spare breather box (and swapped it for mine this summer) from a car which had suffered zero breather maintenance... ever, probably!

It was full of crud, the small hole was solid, but even the larger hole was closed up by I'd say half its original size by 'furry' dried oil. Same for the hose that went to the breather bridge, of course, blocked almost completely, it was horrible! Though the small hole is first to go, the larger do eventually get nasty, too. 

[EMD]

One open so you know what your poking 

[Diamond Black Geezer]

That guide was invaluable, thanks to whoever originally posted it 

[terry paget]

Thanks for comments gentlemen. This V reg 170K miles V6 was not too bad, put wire through the small hole and a fat hose throught the large one, squirted carb cleaner through the breather bridge channels, followed by compressed air, same with the hoses. I can now sleep easy confident that the breathers are clear. Most Omegas I buy, V6 or 4, have blocked small breather holes.