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What is a PCV valve?

Updated: 12/23/2022
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8y ago

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PCV stands for positive crankcase ventilation.

They are usually right in plain sight on top of the valve cover. If you had one you probably could have changed it yourself in about 30 seconds or less.

A PCV valve helps keep a constant pressure within the engine block by releasing oil fumes when they get to a certain pressure and sending them into the fuel system to be reburned with the gas.

While they can be inexpensive, they can be very hard to locate and remove on several makes of cars and trucks. Some are internal and cannot be replaced, meaning they are located inside the valve cover.

The PCVs that can be replaced should be replaced every 15 to 60 thousand miles depending on the make and engine you have.

Shop around for a better price than you paid, $12.00 is a little steep.

It stands for positive crankcase ventilation. And what they told u was right about replacing it. All it does is prevent condensation build up and burn fuel fimes that get by the rings. The condensation will build up and create sludge and that is a bad thing because it will block oil galleries and return holes and ur engine will run oil dry and it will be fried.

pos.crankcase vent keeps pressures even in your eng.returns fumes to the intake threw the air filter houseing.easy to check shake it if it rattles it should be good put it back

The answers are correct as to what it does, and how it is to be checked, though usually the "prescribed" way to check it is not just shaking, but trying to suck, or blow, air in both directions (it should be one-way).

However I have never heard of routinely replacing this item, and have known some cheapskates actually "revitalizing" them by spraying them with engine cleaner.

As to price, $9 is too cheap for a professional oil (and filter?) change, so they nailed you for the valve, by its cost, and probably by its need.

There isn't any free lunch.

buy one and keep it in your glove box. change it every other year. it is an emmission control device. it takes blow by and directs back to be used again. it is cheap insurance and prevents sludge. change it every time you get a tune up also change your airfilter out at the same time. If your airfilter is oil soaked, it probably due to a worn pcv valve. change the valve first then change the airfilter.

The PCV Valve, or Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve is an emission control device that routes unburned crankcase blowby gases back into the intake manifold where they can be reburned. The PCV system is one of the oldest emission control devices, and also one of the most beneficial. Besides totally eliminating crankcase emissions as a source of air pollution, the constant recirculation of air through the crankcase helps remove moisture which otherwise would cause sludge to form. Thus the PCV valve extends the life of the oil and engine. The PCV valve requires little maintenance. The valve and filter should be replaced somewhere around 30,000 to 50,000 miles(see the vehicle owners manual for service intervals).

PCV is an acronym for Positive Crankcase Ventilation. This valve is needed to relieve the pressure built up in the crankcase that is created by the heating of the air inside the engine. If this valve were not present and the pressure went unchecked, it would blow out the seals and gaskets inside your engine.

PCV stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation. This replaceable valve replaced the vent pipe on the engine, this got rid of the fumes and or pressure that builds up in the crankcase, nowadays the crankcase does not vent into the environment. with the PCV valve these fumes are returned to the intake manifold and are mixed in with the fuel intake stroke to be burned and so create a cleaner exhaust.

Pcv valveI don't think a car has been built in the last 40 years that doesn't have a PCV valve. My 1965 Galaxie had one, but my 64 Ford pickup didn't. PCV means "Positive Crankcase Ventilation", in other words actively sucking junk out of the crankcase rather than just letting it be vented to the air.

The PCV valve allows unburned stuff that blows by the piston to be collected and re-burned rather than just vented to the air, without causing your engine to stall out at idle. This results in a serious reduction in air pollution at virtually no cost, which is why it was the first emissions control device employed.

Look on top of the valve cover. There should be a knob sticking out with a small diameter rubber hose attached to it. It will be inserted in a rubber grommet. You can just pull it out of the valve cover. If it's clogged it will be unnecessarily blowing junk into the air; if it's leaking, it will seriously foul up operation of your engine, especially at idle. They cost about two bucks and you can change it with your bare hands. Replace often. The book says 24000 miles/24 months. I always write the replacement date on them with a Sharpie so I can remember when I replaced it last.

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