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what does an oil control valve do

by Garrett Lesch Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The Oil Control Valve (OCV) is a a critical part used in every engine that is fitted with variable valve technology (VVT). A single control valve will regulate the supply of oil to a designated VVT hub, to advance or retard the timing by altering the camshaft angle position.

Full Answer

Can I replace oil control valve?

You should replace your oil control valve as soon as you notice it has problems. On average, the replacement cost of an oil control valve is anywhere from $180 to 360$. The price of the parts is around $100 to $200, while the cost of the labor is about, $80 to $160.

What is the oil control valve in a car?

What does an oil control valve do?

  • Check Engine Light comes on. Since today's modern cars are controlled by an Engine Control Unit (ECU), virtually all individual components are monitored by the ECU.
  • Engine oil is dirty.
  • Rough engine idle.
  • Decrease in fuel economy.

What is the function of an oil cooler bypass valve?

The bypass valve – otherwise known as a pressure relief valve – is an integral part of the oil filter. The valve is designed to open when the oil filter becomes clogged or when the oil is too thick. This allows the oil to bypass the filter through a center tube. The oil then goes straight to the engine to prevent starvation and damage.

Does a flow control valve decrease pressure?

The valve does cause the dissipation, and that leads to the reduction in pressure, but there is only flow through the valve when there is a pressure difference imposed externally across the valve. Maybe that's just semantics. The valve sort of causes the pressure drop as long as there is a flow through it.

Why use oil control valve?

What is the valve that controls the flow of oil into the engine?

What is variable valve timing?

What are the symptoms of a failing oil control valve?

Why would exhaust valves open and close at the wrong time?

Can a failure of an oil control valve cause a problem?

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What happens if you don't replace a oil control valve?

Remember if the oil control valve doesn't manage the flow of oil properly then it will cause the engine to over perform and use up more fuel. This means you'll be spending more money on gas while causing your exhaust valves to open and close at the wrong time.

What is the purpose of the oil flow control valve?

The flow control valve in an engine oil system directs hot oil through the core of the cooler or bypasses cool oil around the outside of the core.

Can I drive without an oil control valve?

Technically, yes, you can drive with a bad oil control valve. However, it'll do more and more damage to your engine. Eventually, you'll end up with substantially more damage, potentially including: Damage to camshafts.

How much does it cost to replace a oil control valve?

While it's a common fix, you can expect to pay anywhere between $150 and $450 for both labor and replacement parts.

How do you test a oil control valve?

0:491:47Oil Control Valve: How it Works & How to Fix - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFirst carefully remove the oil control valve from the engine. Use a valve cleaner to clean theMoreFirst carefully remove the oil control valve from the engine. Use a valve cleaner to clean the camshaft oil control valve. Then use a multimeter to proceed with a test on the camshaft.

How do you change an oil control valve?

0:222:15Variable Valve Timing Oil Control Valve Solenoid ReplacementYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt. Then just get a screwdriver. And gently put some leverage on the oil control valve to get itMoreIt. Then just get a screwdriver. And gently put some leverage on the oil control valve to get it started coming out. Okay so here it is it came out real easy I ended up using a three inch extension.

When should I replace my oil control valve?

What common symptoms indicate you may need to replace the Variable Valve Timing (VVT) Oil Control Valve ?Unstable or shaky idling.Check engine light may be illuminated.Poor fuel economy.Loss of power when accelerating.

What happens if you don't replace variable valve timing solenoid?

A malfunctioning VVT solenoid can prevent the valve timing from advancing or retarding as needed. As a result, the engine may exhibit performance problems, such as rough running and poor acceleration.

How long do engine valves last?

An exhaust valve that may last for years and up to 150,000 miles or more in a typical passenger car engine might only last a season or two in a dirt track or drag racing engine.

Can a bad VVT cause engine knock?

A bad or faulty connected VVT solenoid can and often does cause engine knocking, inconsistent idle and acceleration problems. The issue could be with the solenoid itself or the electrical harness connected to the VVT.

What happens when VVT solenoid goes bad?

When the VVT solenoid is malfunctioning, the entire system can be compromised, which may result in intake and exhaust valves opening and closing at the wrong time. This typically causes the fuel economy to drastically reduce.

How do I know if my VVT actuator is bad?

Common signs include a rough engine idle, the Check Engine Light coming on, and the engine stumbling when climbing hills or under load.

Which control valve will control the flow of oil?

OFCV. The Global Combustion Oil Flow Control Valve has a straight line characteristic, in that the flow is directly proportional to the angular position of the throttle lever over the operating angle of 60 Deg, irrespective of the valve setting for maximum required flow.

Where are flow control valves used?

System operators can use a flow control valve to rapidly depressurize a serviceable hose and change fittings quickly. They are also used in many consumer applications such as showers, faucets, and lawn watering systems to easily reduce the amount of water consumed without impacting the overall system performance.

How does a boiler flow control valve work?

The flow-control valve is intended to prevent hot water from circulating up through a heating zone by natural convection - as will occur even if a circulator is "off" unless we have a type of check valve to prevent it.

Do flow control valves reduce pressure?

Flow Control Valves react to an increase of the parameters they control by throttling closed. This is a "progressive" process = increase in demand results in the valve reducing the flow progressively. The more the valve closes, the more the downstream pressure is reduced.

Why is it important to have an oil control valve?

It is crucial for the oil control valve to stay fully function if the engine is going to stay functional and perform to the best of its ability. If there were ever any problems with the oil control valve, then it would cause problems with lubricating the camshaft and the various moving components of the engine.

How much does it cost to replace an oil control valve?

On average, the replacement cost of an oil control valve is anywhere from $180 to 360$. The price of the parts is around $100 to $200, while the cost of the labor is about, $80 to $160. There will be extra fees and taxes added to these amounts too.

Why does my engine overheat?

Since your engine has a lot of moving components that rub together and create friction, this could cause the engine to overheat if these components are not lubricated thoroughly enough.

What is the engine control unit?

The engine control unit is in constant communication with the oil control valve. A lot of mechanics refers to this valve as the engine oil solenoid valve, but it is the same thing. Since the performance demands of the engine are frequently changing, the engine control unit determines how much oil will be let through the valve so that it can reach the camshaft and satisfy these demands.

What is the part of an engine VVTI?

In this post, i will explain about one part in the engine vvti systems, the part is oil control valve. After read full article below, you will understand the basic function, failure symptoms and replacement cost. (Article Updated)

What does it mean when the RPM of an engine increases?

When the RPM of your engine increases, this means more demand is being placed on it. The oil control valve will activate as this happens. This demand does not just mean that you’re accelerating the vehicle and going faster.

Can You Drive with a Bad Oil Control Valve?

The technical answer is yes. You can still drive your vehicle if it has a bad oil control valve, at least for a while. However, it will be a rather costly and unpleasant experience to drive with a bad oil control valve. You’ll have to tolerate weak acceleration, a weird burning odor, and terrible brake performance.

What Is an Oil Control Valve?

Oil control valves aren’t found in all vehicles. But they are usually located in cars that have engines with variable valve timing systems in them. They’re designed to help improve the performance of an engine and make it possible for an engine to get better gas mileage with fewer emissions. They also protect a lot of the moving parts that are positioned inside of an engine.

Why is it important to catch a bad oil control valve?

This is why you need to try to catch a bad oil control valve before it spirals out of control. If you push a vehicle with a bad oil control valve too far, you’re going to have to deal with more than just poor fuel economy and some decreased engine performance.

Where Should You Take a Car With a Bad Oil Control Valve for Service?

If you believe there to be a bad oil control valve in your vehicle, you might want to think about taking it to an engine specialist to have them inspect it. They should be able to take one look at your car and let you know if you have an issue with an oil control valve. But you can also take your car to almost any ASE-certified mechanic to have them evaluable your oil control valve and your engine as a whole. They can tell you if they think you need to do oil control valve replacement.

Can You Replace a Bad Oil Control Valve Yourself?

Some of these same people will also try to tackle oil control valve replacement by themselves. If you know a little bit about working on cars , you might be able to get away with replacing oil control valves on your own. But if you’re never worked in or around a car’s engine before, replacing oil control valves is not a job that you should take on by yourself.

How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Bad Oil Control Valve?

While you might be able to save some money by replacing a bad oil control valve on your own, the good news for those who don’t want to tackle the task themselves is that it’s not that costly to pay someone else to do it. When you think about what an important responsibility a car’s oil control valve has, replacing one is actually a pretty affordable auto repair job in the grand scheme of things.

Is the Oil Control Valve Replacement Cost Worth It?

As long as you’re planning on keeping your current car and continuing to drive it around, paying $300 to $600 for oil control valve replacement will be well worth it . It’ll ensure that your car’s engine will continue to get the oil that it needs day in and day out. You shouldn’t hesitate at all to replace an oil control valve at the first sign of trouble.

Can You Sell a Car When It Has a Bad Oil Control Valve?

Did you just find out that your old car has a bad oil control valve in it? Rather than running out and fixing it, you may want to consider selling your car. Selling it to a private buyer might prove to be a challenge. But there are junk car buyers that will give you top dollar for your car, even if it has a bad oil control valve in it.

What Does The Oil Control Valve Do?

Variable valve timing is a marvel of modern automotive engineering and a subtle way to make cars go faster, but without any penalties or compromises in regards to valve timing. For example, you’re able to get up to speed much faster at lower RPMs. Or, allow the engine to work more efficiently by carefully supplying the right amount of fuel, whenever it’s needed. This is all thanks to one part.

What Causes An Oil Control Valve To Fail?

Most automakers have their own take on variable valve timing. The most popular of which is Honda and Acura’s VTEC, or their newer i-VTEC. Ford’s equivalent is called VCT, whereas Audi has Valvelift, and Mitsubishi takes pride in its MIVEC engines. Subaru calls theirs either AVCS or AVLS, depending on the engine in question. Meanwhile, Toyota has VVT-i, and so on. There’s one constant, though.

What Is Variable Valve Timing (VVT), Anyway?

So, what does an oil control valve do, then? First, let’s start with the basics. In your engine, you’ll find something called a camshaft. Placed on top of the cylinders, the camshaft is a long rod, with a series of lobed, egg-shaped “cams”. When the engine is running, the camshaft coordinates its rotation with the crankshaft (at the bottom of the engine) depending on the movement of your pistons.

What Are The Symptoms Of A Bad Oil Control Valve?

The many symptoms (which we’ll discuss in a bit) will make your driving experience unpleasant. There’ll be the usual consequences of performance penalties, increased fuel economy, and poor driveability.

Can You Manage A DIY Oil Control Valve Replacement?

So, can you replace a faulty OCV by your lonesome, DIY-style? Yes, but seeing how it’s not as terribly pricey to get it fixed at a workshop, a DIY solution isn’t necessary.

What Does the Oil Control Valve Do?

The name should give you a pretty big clue as to the oil control valve’s function: it controls the flow of oil inside your engine. It’s also known as a “variable valve time” (VVT) solenoid, which tells you almost nothing about its intended purpose.

How Can You Prevent Your Oil Control Valve From Failing?

You’ve probably heard the old saying, “An ounce of prevention is better than spending hundreds of dollars at your mechanic’s.” It’s especially true in this case — and while it’s impossible to completely protect your oil control valve from breaking down, there are a few things you can do to make it less likely to happen.

What Causes an Oil Control Valve to Fail?

There are any number of reasons why an oil control valve can go bad, but some are more likely than others.

How Much Will It Cost to Have a Faulty Oil Control Valve Replaced?

Given the important role an oil control valve plays in your car’s operation, you might suspect that replacing one could cost an arm and a leg. That’s not the case, though, as it’s actually a relatively affordable procedure.

Is It Safe to Drive a Car With a Faulty Oil Control Valve?

If you suspect that your oil control valve has gone out, we wouldn’t recommend driving your car any more than is absolutely necessary. Your best bet is to just drive it to your mechanic’s garage and leave it there.

How to tell if oil control valve is bad?

Poor fuel economy is another telltale sign of a faulty oil control valve. The ECM and oil control valve combine to ensure that your engine is running as efficiently as possible; if either one of them goes out, the timing of your engine will be thrown off, causing your car to consume more gas than usual.

What is the ECM on a camshaft?

It’s connected to your engine control module (ECM). The ECM is actually what decides how much oil goes into the camshaft at any given time, and it directs the oil control valve to open or close accordingly.

What is oil control valve?

The oil control valve is basically what controls the flow of oil into the camshaft of the engine (especially upper portion of the engine). This allows the internal moving parts of the engine to sustain their functionality. If the camshaft cannot be lubricated at the right times by the oil, then the engine won’t be able to perform its job properly. So, what the oil control valve does is opens and closes the camshaft at the appropriate times to let in oil when it is needed and prevent oil from entering when it is not needed. The PCM/ECM will control the valve and let it know what appropriate action it must take based on the engine’s performance demands.

How to tell if oil control valve is bad?

Before it gets this bad, the computer in your vehicle should give you some warnings first on the dashboard. The most obvious warning will be when the “Check Engine” light is on. You may not know exactly why it’s on unless you experience those other symptoms mentioned before.

What is an Oil Control Valve?

The camshafts are adjusted by oil flowing through the VVT solenoid or oil control valve.

Why does my oil control valve go bad?

Because it’s so thick, it can no longer flow through the valve and literally clogs it up to cause the failure. This is yet another reason why regular oil changes are so important. In addition, if the engine oil level gets too low , this too can cause the oil control valve to go bad.

What happens if a VVT solenoid stops working?

If the VVT solenoid stops working, the whole system may be compromised, in which may result in intake and exhaust valves opening and closing at the wrong time. This in turn can cause a drastic reduction in how many miles you can travel per gallon of fuel.

Why does my VVT solenoid go bad?

Oil is almost always the main cause of a VVT solenoid going bad. Most often, old oil is the culprit. As oil goes through an engine, over time, the combination of heat and small impurities cause the oil to thicken. If it goes on long enough before an oil change, the consistency of the engine oil is comparable to sludge.

How does a camshaft work?

Camshaft s control the timing of the intake and exhaust valves. On a dual overhead engine, there is typically one intake camshaft and one exhaust camshaft per cylinder bank. These camshafts are timed to the crankshaft via a timing belt or timing chain.

Can you use oil additives after changing oil?

There are some quality oil additives you may be able to use to clear up the clogged oil channels a bit. Only do this after you’ve changed the oil, though; additives won’t help much if your oil hasn’t been changed in 20,000 miles.

Why use oil control valve?

In addition, there are also many other inevitable benefits of using oil control valve such as efficient fuel consumption, reduce gas emissions generated by the vehicle, and improve engine performance. ...

What is the valve that controls the flow of oil into the engine?

Being regulated by engine control module, it is also known as engine oil solenoid valve. This valve controls the flow of oil into the engine’s camshaft. If the oil does not reach inappropriate amount, it may hamper the normal functionality of the engine. Hence, oil control valve must open and close at the right times to lubricate the camshaft.

What is variable valve timing?

For ensuring the flawless and superlative oil control valve, one must consider the variable valve timing system of the car. It generates the power required by the vehicle, which activates automatically when the RPM is higher than the normal. Even when the load on the car is more, especially on the upper hill road, it stimulates.

What are the symptoms of a failing oil control valve?

Common Failing Oil Control Valve Symptoms. There are certain symptoms, which needs immediate attention for repair, and smooth functioning of oil control valve. Some of them include: Smooth functioning of Oil control valves. 1.

Why would exhaust valves open and close at the wrong time?

Moreover, the exhaust valves would also open and close at the wrong time, which in turn would lead to more expenditure on gas. Eventually, it would also damage the other internal components of the engine alongside drastically reducing the fuel economy.

Can a failure of an oil control valve cause a problem?

However, its failure can sometimes cause the problem. Therefore, to know about the failing oil control valve symptoms, it is crucial to understand the basic functioning of it, beforehand.

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1.Videos of What Does An Oil Control Valve Do

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2 hours ago  · The oil control valve in a car’s engine is connected directly to the engine control module, which is better known as the ECM. The ECM communicates with an oil control valve …

5.Bad Oil Control Valve – Symptoms and Replacement Costs

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18 hours ago  · As the oil control valves open, fresh oil is circulated through the valves, camshafts, solenoids, and many other constituent parts of a variable valve timing system. Thus, …

6.Engine Oil Control Valve Functions and Malfunction …

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32 hours ago  · What Does the Oil Control Valve Do? The name should give you a pretty big clue as to the oil control valve’s function: it controls the flow of oil inside your engine. It’s also known …

7.5 Symptoms of a Bad Oil Control Valve (VVT Solenoid)

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10 hours ago  · The Oil Control Valve’s Principle of Operation in the Automobile System. This component plays an important role in the smooth operation of any automotive. It’s also known …

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