How do you change a PCV valve?

[cyoonak]

What is it? Where is it exactly? and How do you change it?

I read on this forum it's a 2 dollar part, so I thought i'd go ahead and do it!

Pictures would be great; maybe this can go into the HOW TO section once enriched with knowledge!

[BMOBYLE]

Originally posted by cyoonak
What is it? Where is it exactly? and How do you change it?

I read on this forum it's a 2 dollar part, so I thought i'd go ahead and do it!

Pictures would be great; maybe this can go into the HOW TO section once enriched with knowledge!

A Positve Crankcase Ventilation valve takes all the gasses out of your crankcase that have slipped passed your rings from the combustion chamber and feeds it back into your intake to be burnt again. These gasses are harmful to the atmosphere and actually your oil. They only really need to be changed every 30k or so. It is located on the front Valve cover of the v6 GA's. In my pic it's to the right of the oil cap. You'll see a hard plastic type hose coming from the intake to your v. cover. Just carefully pull up on it and pull the pcv valve out. It might come up with the hose but it just sits in the V. cover surrounded by a rubber grommet. When you take it out and it rattles that actually means it's ok.
If it doesn't then it's either stuck open or closed from gunk.


I can't seem to get my cheap ass photoshop to work so maybe someone will post up an engine pic and circle it for ya

[MidwestJosh]

Hope you like my MSPaint skills




Pull that baby out of the valve cover and then pull off the hose. Insert new PCV valve. Piece of cake.

[BMOBYLE]

GOD I gotta learn how to do that.

You'd think I'd be able to figure it out but I'm just lazy

[cyoonak]

Omigod... it's THAT easy?? I'm gonna change it tomrrow. Anything to try and get a few more miles outta my gas tank! thanks!!

[sicc]

doez anyone know where to get that plastic 'L' shaped piece that holdz tha pvc valve? tha piece that makez tha bend on top. mine waz extremely dry & cracced into piecez, i went into tha pit at jiffy lube but they dont carry it. they have a bunch of look alikez, & 1 of them fit, but waz T-shaped. i ended up screwing a bolt into tha other end of tha T so itz fine for now.

[Mike Jung]

Originally posted by BMOBYLE
...[PCV valve] They only really need to be changed every 30k or so.
...When you take it out and it rattles that actually means it's ok.
If it doesn't then it's either stuck open or closed from gunk...

I change mine once per year, when I clean & re-oil my K&N air filter.

For the price I would change your PCV valve once per year; especially if you a lot of city driving or get stuck in traffic a lot.

Plus when I would change my PCV valve, I would change the air filter for a new one (if I didn't have the K&N air filter).

Note: buy only (they seem to be better than cheaper after-market ones) the AC Delco PCV valve CV892C, part # 25043843

[claymore]

Does it benefit or harm to have one of those valve cover filters put in where the PCV is? or are those filters mainly for engine appearance use ??

[BMOBYLE]

Originally posted by claymore
Does it benefit or harm to have one of those valve cover filters put in where the PCV is? or are those filters mainly for engine appearance use ??

I believe with what your talkin about those just vent into the atmosphere instead of getting reburnt through the intake.
"Supposidly" better for the intakes. Won't get gummed up and such. I may be wrong though never really had expierence with those type to tell you the truth but have seen them on alot of hotrods and stuff.

[X-ception]

can the "'boot" that goes on the pcv valve be bought somewhere? and if you follow that line up to the throttle body where it connects into another rubber piece. I think I have some small leaks coming from them. So, is my best bet to stop at the dealer or can I pick those up somewhere else.

it kinda hisses unless i press down on that one up by the tb. It just doesnt seem to wanna stay in.

[RedGrandTour]

Originally posted by X-ception
can the "'boot" that goes on the pcv valve be bought somewhere? and if you follow that line up to the throttle body where it connects into another rubber piece. I think I have some small leaks coming from them. So, is my best bet to stop at the dealer or can I pick those up somewhere else.

it kinda hisses unless i press down on that one up by the tb. It just doesnt seem to wanna stay in.

The boot comes as a whole with the entire line. That whole thing cost around $30-40 at the dealer. Also, the guys at the service dept. gave me some silicone to put around the rubber piece.

Originally posted by MidwestJosh

Pull that baby out of the valve cover and then pull off the hose. Insert new PCV valve. Piece of cake.

Now, for the REALLY dumb question: where is the PCV Valve on the 2.2L ecotech?

[X-ception]

I'm not to sure where it is on the eco

but, I went to the dealer and they only wanted $6 for the "boot" that goes on the pcv valve and the rest of the line including the other rubber pieces. so thats not too bad

[Mike Jung]

Originally posted by scaredpoet
Now, for the REALLY dumb question: where is the PCV Valve on the 2.2L ecotech?

If it is like the the 2.4L 4-cylinder engine; you might not have a PCV valve.

[jayno20]

how do u know if its bad or not, im not sure if mines ever been replaced, but i dunno for sure.... whats generally a good way to tell if it needs a good replacing??

[Mike Jung]

Originally posted by jayno20
how do u know if its bad or not, im not sure if mines ever been replaced, but i dunno for sure.... whats generally a good way to tell if it needs a good replacing??

From Haynes Repair Manual:

PCV valve check (& replace every 30K miles or 24-months)

...2. while he engine is idling at normal temp., pull the [PCV] valve (with hose attached) out of the rubber grommet in the valve cover.

3. Place your finger over the end of the [PCV] valve. If there is no vacuum at the valve, check for a plugged hose, manifold port, or valve itself. Repalce any plugged or defective hoses.

4. Turn off the engine & [take out the PCV valve &] shake the PCV valve, listening for a rattle. If the valve doesn't rattle, replace with new one.
[a new PCV valve when shakened has a nice metallic tink rattle to it; when they become used the rattle turns more into a thump]


After-market PCV valves recommend to change them yearly or 20k km/12.4K miles.
Basicly change the PCV valve every time you change your air filter or clean/re-oil it.

If you don't know when the last time it was changed; just change it & change the air filter too.

The AC Delco PCV valve is only like $6Cdn/$4.50US (& 1/2 that price if you use a non-AC Delco one).

[fschambe]

Originally posted by BMOBYLE
I believe with what your talkin about those just vent into the atmosphere instead of getting reburnt through the intake.
"Supposidly" better for the intakes. Won't get gummed up and such. I may be wrong though never really had expierence with those type to tell you the truth but have seen them on alot of hotrods and stuff.

I think they're a VERY BAD IDEA... The PCV has vacuum to suck the bad gasses out... If your reason to have a breather is so the intake stays cleaner, just think about how nice it is to have garbage from the combustion chamber mixing with your oil... Unburned HCs create an acidic situation in your oil and decreases its life... how many race cars have over 1000 miles without a complete rebuild... sure the intake is clean but then again it's a new one afer each race so who cares eh?

Could a bad PCV valve cause a rough idle?

[jimraelee]

Originally Posted by sicc

doez anyone know where to get that plastic 'L' shaped piece that holdz tha pvc valve? tha piece that makez tha bend on top. mine waz extremely dry & cracced into piecez, i went into tha pit at jiffy lube but they dont carry it. they have a bunch of look alikez, & 1 of them fit, but waz T-shaped. i ended up screwing a bolt into tha other end of tha T so itz fine for now.

most of the time you can get one from your local autoparts... you may have to hunt thru the "help" section of small misc parts or also dealer can/does have them

[jimraelee]

Originally Posted by Mike Jung

From Haynes Repair Manual:

PCV valve check (& replace every 30K miles or 24-months)

...2. while he engine is idling at normal temp., pull the [PCV] valve (with hose attached) out of the rubber grommet in the valve cover.

3. Place your finger over .....
4. Turn off the engine .....
After-market PCV valves ......

The AC Delco PCV valve is only like $6Cdn/$4.50US (& 1/2 that price if you use a non-AC Delco one).

excellent write up... the pcv has one purpose .... one way check valve allowing suction of crank case gases back for combustion