Have just come across todays thread on crankcase pressure and perhaps I could add my 10 cents worth having just had the same problem. Even though I could blow down through the oil separator and get the oil filler cap to jiggle It was only after I replaced the separator completely with a new unit that I got satifactory reduction in crankcase pressure. While the separator was removed I also gently probe through the oil return pipe back into the pan with one of those flexible coiled wire drain uncloggers and found that it was somewhat constricted only allowing the separated oil to flow back into the pan slowly. Consequently on long runs the separator was slowly filling with oil and not draining quickly enough to effect adaquate pressure control. As to your query about blow by - have you ever experienced the dipstick being pushed out of its tube during the first few minutes of engine operation- if so then you might have excessive blow by due to bad rings. You might also try placing your thumb over the dipstick tube opening whilst forcibly holding down the oil filler cap to see what excess pressure is present - dont let the engine get too hot before you try this !! Both your car and mine are of similar vintage, and I take slight oil smoke from the dipstick tube and when the oil filler cap is removed as being par for the course on engines of their years.

Running on sythetic oil is, they tell me, better for cleaner PCV systems particularly on turbo engines, though it will really show up your oil leaks and possibly surprise you with more!!

Are you sure you have excessive crank case pressure? Is your only oil leak the rear seal? Perhaps you just need to replace the seal: they don't last forever...

Pull the oil dipstick with the engine running. Are you getting blow by coming out of the tube? If not, I would think you 're okay.

And you are right on about the flame trap. No such a creature should be in your turbo.

Ed O'Briant

Jeff check your flame trap,it is a filter that is in a hose that goes to the large air intake hose that goes from the air filter to the intake manifold,the hose that the trap sits in usually teed into the large hose right before it connects to the intake manifold.Follow that hose down under the intake manifold and it will arrive at a junction that has a tee with a smaller hose connected to it that goes to the intake manifold,pull the plastic juntion apart and shoud find a element that looks like a cigarette lighter core.If this filter becomes plugged then the crancase will develope high pressure internally and cause oil leaks.You can order a new one thru IPD(www.ipdusa.com)for around 8 dollars for the entire kit which includes a new trap,hoses ect.