If the BOV piston is slightly open at idle as a result of insufficient spring preload, it can cause some or all of the following symptoms:

  • Engine stalls after venting, or when pulling to a stop
  • When revs fall back to idle, they drop below normal idle rpm before stabilising
  • Engine idles roughly or revs hunt up and down
  • Significant black smoke or backfiring from the exhaust on deceleration
  • Noticeable hesitation when changing gears

The solution is to increase the spring preload by turning the spring adjustment clockwise a turn or two at a time until none of the above symptoms are evident. The aim is to have the piston closed just before the engine returns to idle after being revved.