I have the crankcase vent that's just the black thing that looks like a PCV valve and the parts places all call it a "PCV elbow".

See:
Does this type have a valve in it? Do they get clogged?

It's my understanding it can be a much bigger pain to change than the PCV (which was a snap), so if it's just an open 90 degree tube I'm not gonna even bother.

Any reason to switch to the big ole metal breather style?

1999 Dakota 3.9L V6 RWD

 

Eddie
I have a 2003 3.9 RWD and that part on mine is on the passenger side rocker cover and is just a straight through tube. The PVC valve is on the drivers side rocker cover and has a hose that goes into the throttle body or intake I don't remember which. That part you show has a tube that goes into the air intake big 3inch tube and the air intake sucks air out from under the rocker cover into the intake of the throttle body. They sometimes can get all nasty inside with oil deposits but a cleaning will cure that just some wire with a rag should do same with the hose to the air intake. The plastic/rubber they are made from turns hard as rock and usually require you to break them out to put in a new one and of course pieces break off and fall inside. So if it isn't broken I'd just clean it.

 

Its the same on the 5.9 and 5.2 as well. Just a simple tube with no valve or anything. As long as its not broken or leaking just leave it be.