My V50 started making a whining noise yesterday which seems to be a bad PCV trap (possibly just the rubber diaphragm?) The check engine light has come on and I plan to take it to a dealership to be serviced properly.

My question is this: Is it safe to drive on this over the next day or two until I can get it in to be serviced? I do need to get to work & back, but obviously don’t want to do any further damage to the PCV system.

 

does the whistle disappear when you pop up the dipstick? The concern with a clogged PCV system or flame trap is it will build up pressure in the crank case which can force oil out of the seals or worse, push out the seal creating a larger leak. If you pop up the dipstick you give the pressure a place to vent (but may get some oil spray on the front of the engine), but that can be one way to not worry about driving the car (just stay off the gas and keep the revs low if you are concerned).

You didn't mention which year your V50 is, and didn't mention whether you've had the CEL code read yet. Truth is most people don't know they have a clogged PCV until the car starts leaking oil. Two quick tests for a clogged PCV: 1) pull the dipstick and look if any fumes or smoke come out (normally this would get sucked into the intake via the PCV's oil separator (aka flame trap). 2) remove the oil fill cap, put a latex glove (ie a surgeons glove) over the top of the port then start the car to idle. If the glove fully inflates, you have positive crank case pressure... if it sucks in or puffs in/out, your PCV is working. If the whistle doesn't disappear when you vent via the dipstick, then its time to look around for the source.

 

Thanks for the info.
It’s a 2005. The noise does stop when the dipstick is out, which makes me think it’s the little rubber diaphragm and not clogged pcv.

 

Having the same problem. How did you resolve it???? Thanks.