A shop vac should pull out any little chunks from the breather hole, which doesn't open directly into the head anyway. I wouldn't worry too much about it. You'll likely need a new seal where the tube attaches to the valve cover, this seal is often fossilized after 5-10 years. My originals came out in chunks and felt like plastic... it should be nice, soft rubber. A new PCV tube is something like $30 I think.
No worries about driving the car around the driveway with the PCV not connected, but I wouldn't drive it down the road like that... you'll be blowing quite a bit of oil vapor out the valve cover hole, and sucking unfiltered air into the rubber intake snorkel. =) -Dave M. > ------------------------------ > Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2006 10:01:44 -0400 > From: ANGELO GIAIMO <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Re: [MBZ] 350 sdl glow plugs > > > Sunday, while tring to replace the boost pressure control hose on the > turbo, I removed the several other pieces of hardware for better access. > One such piece, the breather hose, went "SNAP" at the valve cover > end....busted off flush at the gromet while tring to remove it. Oh s**t. > > I can account for all (well, almsost all) of the plastic, so I'm pretty > confident none went down the breather hole, but short of removing the valve > cover (and now, part of the intake manifold), any tricks to getting this > plastic out? > > Also, aside from running rough, will I do any real damage leaving the hose > "disconnected" at the valve cover? No real amount of driving, just jocking > it around so I can get another vehicle out of the garage. > > Thanks, > > Angelo Giaimo/Fishkill/IBM @ IBMUS
