PCV Valve Help ?????
Site Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8,374
Likes: 28
From: Sioux Falls, SD
PCV Valve
You take the vacuum hose off of it, pull it out of its rubber piece, and shake it. If it clicks (ball inside bouncing back and forth a little), it should be OK. If its slow or sometimes doesn't click, or doesn't click at all, you need a new one.
This is one of those parts you should not get at an auto parts store, as all they carry are generic PCVs that aren't high quality at all. Thankfully, the dealership charges less than $10 for an OEM unit. Get it there if yours needs changing.
You take the vacuum hose off of it, pull it out of its rubber piece, and shake it. If it clicks (ball inside bouncing back and forth a little), it should be OK. If its slow or sometimes doesn't click, or doesn't click at all, you need a new one.
This is one of those parts you should not get at an auto parts store, as all they carry are generic PCVs that aren't high quality at all. Thankfully, the dealership charges less than $10 for an OEM unit. Get it there if yours needs changing.
Hall Of Fame
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 12,204
Likes: 10
From: Gainesville, Ga.
what it is, is a very small and controlled vacuum leak that pulls oil/gas vapors (and pressure buildup) from the crankcase and vents it into the intake where it can be burned by the engine.
the spring and the ball are what convert a large potential engine vacuum down to a trickle.
old cars from a long time ago didn't have a pcv valve, they had a simple vent to the outside to let any pressure vent off. same with the fuel tank. the emissions regulations of the early 70's required these vents to be captured and reburned.
if you get creative and delete your pcv (not recommended), be sure you don't cap it off, but allow it to vent.
the spring and the ball are what convert a large potential engine vacuum down to a trickle.
old cars from a long time ago didn't have a pcv valve, they had a simple vent to the outside to let any pressure vent off. same with the fuel tank. the emissions regulations of the early 70's required these vents to be captured and reburned.
if you get creative and delete your pcv (not recommended), be sure you don't cap it off, but allow it to vent.
Record Breaker
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,977
Likes: 1
From: DuQuoin,IL.
[QUOTE=dhvaughan;2359544]old cars from a long time ago didn't have a pcv valve, they had a simple vent to the outside to let any pressure vent off.
QUOTE]
They had a metal tube that usually ran down the side of the motor. It was called a road draft tube. The air rushing past the end of it would help draw the fumes out into the atmosphere. Easy to tell if you had a lot of blowby past the rings.
QUOTE]
They had a metal tube that usually ran down the side of the motor. It was called a road draft tube. The air rushing past the end of it would help draw the fumes out into the atmosphere. Easy to tell if you had a lot of blowby past the rings.
