Possible ProVent Alternative

Ripster · **Posted:** Sun Oct 08, 2006 9:50 am

cowpie1, what do you do to keep the tube from freezing up in colder weather? That is the only issue
that I can think of with the hose. Had one on my VW start to freeze over.

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Sun Oct 08, 2006 12:44 pm

Well I think this recirculating and reburning and triple dipping ect. is a way to SAY that we are running cleaner. I do not think putting soot back into a cylinder to reburn it when it wasn't burned the first time is really doing any good. It seems like a circular arguement in a way. How is it burned "better" the second time than the first. In reality some of the same stuff could be reburned 4-5 times...It would be like reusing your wash water and expecting it to clean better the second time.

What I am trying to say is that this process is so ineffective, that over the period of 10 minutes of running...I would bet that the cumulative polution from the tailpipe is the same for all practical purposes. Unless you "collect" the particles with a collector or "change" the elements to benign susbstances (urea treatment that changes the NO2 to water), then you are just adding a process just to add a process.

I would bet that with better fuel (ULSD) and a more efficient burn instead of a choked down system, would be more friendly to the environment. In Europe the 2.8L CRD has a Particle Matter Collector for 2007...we don't because it requires service at 50,000 miles and the EPA requires a system to go 100,000 without service...I guess they haven't heard about our ERGs.

oldnavy · **Posted:** Sun Oct 08, 2006 7:18 pm

retmil46 wrote:

If you're going to try a home brew setup, such as the red beast pictured in the one post, you DO NOT want to make it out of PVC. Tried using some PVC fittings on my original Provent install - the oil and heat basically disintegrated them.

That is because you used the wrong PVC type, I have used grey without a problem.

Cowpie1 · **Posted:** Sun Oct 08, 2006 9:24 pm

Ripster wrote:

cowpie1, what do you do to keep the tube from freezing up in colder weather? That is the only issue
that I can think of with the hose. Had one on my VW start to freeze over.

Not really a problem for me. I had heard that the hose mod on the VW's was routed in front since the transverse mounted engine. With the hose routed down left hand side and just exiting along the skid plate, there appears to be no direct cold air hitting much of the hose. I also cut the end that hangs down at a slant much like is factory done on large diesels. Likewise, I also have a grill winter cover to block most of the cold air.

RFCRD · **Posted:** Sun Oct 08, 2006 10:42 pm

Cowpie1 wrote:

DC is just pulling our chain in having this setup. Else, the EPA would mandate it for the big diesels as well. Check out ANY semi engine up thru now and they all vent the cc to the outside.

True, your open vented CRD won't puke anything close that of a commercial truck. That doesen't make this either legal or enviornmentally friendly. There is a big difference between emissions standards for car diesels (such as the CRD and VW TDI), and medium duty truck diesels (Ram & F250), and commercial trucks & buses. From what I've read, CCV's will be required on commercial buses with the 2007 standard and most likely trucks too. The EPA is well aware of the enviornmental issues with open venting and has been attempting to back-force CCV's on commercial buses for over a year, a hot topic of discussion at the trade show maintenance forums.

sbohner · **Posted:** Fri Jan 05, 2007 10:09 am

Saw Racor CCV4500's on ebay for $200 and was wondering if anyone has actually install one in a CRD and if so, what is the experience both from the installation and performance perspectives. Thanks!

Goglio704 · **Posted:** Sat Jan 06, 2007 11:23 am

sbohner wrote:

Saw Racor CCV4500's on ebay for $200 and was wondering if anyone has actually install one in a CRD and if so, what is the experience both from the installation and performance perspectives. Thanks!

I looked at the Racor and liked it, but it uses unusual fittings which limit your install options. I couldn't figure out a place to mount it based on the published dimensions. The Provent and Racor both are oversized for our engines, but they seem to be the smallest units available.

RFCRD · **Posted:** Sat Jan 06, 2007 11:29 am

Goglio704 wrote:

sbohner wrote:

Saw Racor CCV4500's on ebay for $200 and was wondering if anyone has actually install one in a CRD and if so, what is the experience both from the installation and performance perspectives. Thanks!

I looked at the Racor and liked it, but it uses unusual fittings which limit your install options. I couldn't figure out a place to mount it based on the published dimensions. The Provent and Racor both are oversized for our engines, but they seem to be the smallest units available.

Isn't the Racor designed like our fuel filter with a permanently mounted head and the trap/filter is removed from the bottom? It's a problem when you can't access the bottom side for service. Provent is serviced through the top (where you can reach it in the CRD) and much less expensive to both buy and maintain.

Goglio704 · **Posted:** Sat Jan 06, 2007 11:33 am

RFCRD wrote:

Goglio704 wrote:

sbohner wrote:

Saw Racor CCV4500's on ebay for $200 and was wondering if anyone has actually install one in a CRD and if so, what is the experience both from the installation and performance perspectives. Thanks!

I looked at the Racor and liked it, but it uses unusual fittings which limit your install options. I couldn't figure out a place to mount it based on the published dimensions. The Provent and Racor both are oversized for our engines, but they seem to be the smallest units available.

Isn't the Racor designed like our fuel filter with a permanently mounted head and the trap/filter is removed from the bottom? It's a problem when you can't access the bottom side for service. Provent is serviced through the top (where you can reach it in the CRD) and much less expensive to both buy and maintain.

Yea, I forgot about that. It is set up for bottom service. I think it is a nice unit, but not for the CRD.

sbohner · **Posted:** Sat Jan 06, 2007 1:46 pm

Thanks for the feedback! I see the problem :shock:

. Unless I make a removeable connection for the overall unit so that I could change the filter from the bottome, and compensate for the unusual fittings, this would be a not so good choice.

I like the longer duration between filter changes and the less expensive filters on the Racor, but it sounds like the engineering requirements make this one a bit of a pain

.

I think the provent will be the way to go then. Thanks again for your insights

.

RFCRD · **Posted:** Sat Jan 06, 2007 2:42 pm

sbohner wrote:

Thanks for the feedback! I see the problem :shock:

. Unless I make a removeable connection for the overall unit so that I could change the filter from the bottome, and compensate for the unusual fittings, this would be a not so good choice.

I like the longer duration between filter changes and the less expensive filters on the Racor, but it sounds like the engineering requirements make this one a bit of a pain

.

I think the provent will be the way to go then. Thanks again for your insights

.

Keep in mind that both the Racor and the Provent are designed for commercial application diesels up to @ 13-14 liters. Our CRD is a toy compared to those thus the service intervals are greatly stretched. IIRC the service life of the Provent filter is @ 500 hrs (on a 12 L engine). So if you average 40 mph it would last @ 20K miles. Adjust for the size difference and you might see close to 100K mile service life. That's not counting the idea that you may be able to periodocally wash the filter element in fuel, rinse with ether and reuse.

I just bought a spare filter for the shelf ($30) just in case. I think they raised their prices but try www.airnowsupply.com. Mention you found them on lostkl or TDIclub and I think they give a slight discount or free shipping.

sbohner · **Posted:** Sun Jan 07, 2007 9:41 am

Thanks again for the great information. You had recommended a Provent in a previous listing when my EGR went out (the dealer is going to replace it this week and I have been researching different solutions. Thanks for the pointer to AirNowSupply!

Possible ProVent Alternative

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