[avogadro]

I recently bought this Passat. I'm guessing the VW engineers who originally designed the V6 did not use electrical tape wound around a squarish piece of something :crazy: What is the correct part I should be looking to install?

 

[boyesreef]

if the square tube is kind of shrink wrapped on, its OE, if its electrical taped, someone probably cleaned it at some point.

 

[jjpark]

That squarish piece connecting the 2 hoses is a piece of your PCV system. I am going to take a guess and say someone Jerry Rigged it together. If that's the case I would replace the entire PCV system as the JR piece/ hoses may have been a temporary fix.

Also if this is the case I would seriously look over the entire car and see what else was 1/2 ass'd. I'm willing to bet there is more somewhere

 

[avogadro]

Thanks! I'm thinking in the 110K miles the car only had the oil, tires, and brakes changed.

It does a valve gasket/cam chain tensioner leak on the left/driver side (US). I'm guessing the PCV system was inspected with hopes of it being plugged and increasing pressure to cause the oil leak(?). I haven't seen anything else looking funky - but will definitely be more suspicious now.

I promptly did the timing belt the week I bought it - now I'm planning to go back in do the driver side cam chain tensioner (just gotta laugh - live and learn). Note to anyone doing a timing belt - thoroughly inspect/diagnose any and all oil leaks before doing the timing belt - so you can fix the leaks and timing belt at the same time.

 

[Tomvw]

That is a patched up part of the PCV system.
You should get the right PCV kit for your VIN.
If it hasn't been done, replace the vac lines as well.