Over the years the pcv valve has slowly became an overlooked service. When I started in this industry, they were replaced with almost every second oil change. Now the vehicle manufactures have really stretched out the service intervals on this important and inexpensive piece. But what is a pcv valve and what does it do?
The positive crankcase ventilation, or PCV, valve routes crankcase gases through a hose and back into the air intake system where they are re-burned in the engine. Fresh, clean air is brought into the crankcase through a breather tube. It’s really a pretty simple system, but does an important job. The re-circulating air removes moisture and combustion waste from the crankcase, preventing sludge. This extends not only the life of your oil, but the engine as well. The PCV relieves pressure in the crankcase, preventing oil leaks.
Eventually, the PCV valve can get gummed up. Then it cannot move enough air through the engine to keep it working efficiently. If the PCV valve is sticking enough, you could have oil leaks, excess oil consumption and a fouled intake system. If you experience hesitation or surging or an oil leak, it may be a sign of PCV value problems.
I recommend replacing the PCV every 25,000 km or once a year. It is an inexpensive service and can go a long way to preventing problems.
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