Why is my ProVent collecting liquid/water/condensation?
Condensation or water can be collected by the ProVent due to the moisture in the vapour coming from the crankcase. Moisture enters the engine as it draws in the air for the combustion cycle and depending on the time of year, and where you live, condensation collection may be evident.
Another factor can be your driving style particularly if driving trips are short as the engine doesn’t get hot enough to dry out the moisture due to the stop/ start momentum of city driving. Customers who use their Landcruisers for towing and/ or long trips typically don’t collect condensation in their ProVent.
To help minimise the condensation collection, it is suggested to wrap the ProVent with a foam wrap to insulate the body. Our Xpedition Concepts 200 series ProVent kits include a foam wrap and our kits can be purchased on our website.
Why is it important to drain the ProVent? And how often should this occur?
The engine may sustain damage if the ProVent is not drained regularly.
Liquid oil can build up in the body of the ProVent and if it is left to build up then it reduces the available surface area of the element which has the potential for the liquid oil to make its way back to the turbo inlet. The job of the element is to change the oil vapor into a liquid so it can be caught and disposed of correctly. It takes approximately 7,000 kms to fully soak the 10 layers of fabric in the element and reach its full efficiency. We do not advise that the oil be returned to the sump as some impurities and/or condensation may be present.
The drain hose is long enough to hold enough oil for about 6,000kms but we recommend drain intervals of 5,000kms so the liquid oil does not build up in the body of the Provent. If towing, remember that the engine will produce more crankcase vapor due to the turbos working harder. This means more oil will be caught by the ProVent and draining intervals will decrease to 4,000kms.
Does that mean I need to replace the element?
Yes, and it needs to be replaced once it has completed approximately 40,000 kms of driving. We recommend the elements be replaced with a genuine Mann and Hummel element to ensure product quality and unit efficiency of 97%.
Replacement of the element is a simple task of unscrewing the lid, pulling out the element and installing the new element. The element is held in the body of the ProVent by O- rings.
Should I regularly check the ProVent if I’m only driving in the city?
Simply ‘Yes’. It is more important to regularly check your ProVent when you are driving in the city as the engine may not get hot enough to dry out the moisture.
What happens if I don’t check the ProVent at timely intervals?
When oil is allowed to build up in the drain tube then the oil will build up higher inside the body of the ProVent. When the oil liquid level gets too high in the ProVent then it will cover the filter element which reduces the effective surface area and reduces the efficiency of the ProVent. There is also the potential of liquid oil returning to the air inlet before the turbo. If the ProVent was full and your vehicle was on a steep angle while four-wheel driving, then the situation may cause some engine damage.
How do I drain the ProVent?
The water can be simply drained out via the drain tap. The drain tap is usually located on the passenger side lower control arm front adjuster bolt tucked in the side of the bash plate. Simply open the valve on the drain hose assembly and drain out any collected oil/ condensation. Once the drain is empty then refit a cable tie to keep the handle closed and tuck it back into the side of the bash plate. As mentioned above, we recommend that the ProVent is drained every 5,000 kms for general driving and more frequently if towing.
Further information
Any further questions please don’t hesitate to contact me via the web page or direct. I’m always happy to chat. For further product information please refer to my shop page for detailed information.
Thanks for reading, Angus