PCV question

[SUKI]

I have a Briggs 49M977-1036-G5 2013 that giving me fits.

Two year I replace sump gasket as oil was leaking and the gasket looked like Swiss cheese. This year it back with the same problem. Replaced the gasket again and the customer made a few rounds and the illiterately blew the gasket out again.

I pretty this a crankcase problem but just want to see if others has the same opinion that I might have bad positive crankcase vent valve that is failing to open or could something else being going on.

I have yet done a leak down test for a bad head gasket but on the list to do this time around.

[hanz63]

These are pretty simple reed breathers. Now that it is apart, does it pass the mouth test? Carbon on the plugs? Still, I'm of the mind that there have been plenty of failed head gaskets out there that never created a sump gasket failure. Maybe my sampling is too small.

A rule that I have on sumps, heads and the like, is manually loosening the fasteners so I get a feel for what held and what didn't. I never ever warranty any engine repair that has had sump bolts loosen. Briggs went to sealant years ago on the twins, I'm guessing for this reason.

[38racing]

You could use a manometer to verify if the crankcase has a vacuum or positive pressure.

[SUKI]

The problem appeared to have been the lousy gasket material Briggs had gasket made out of. I went with some after market gaskets and they are holding up fine. I actually repaired a second engine that used the same gasket but I had to open up because of a push rod in the crankcase problem.