
I replace mine every 60K as part of preventive maintenance, some here are still running their orig. one @ 140K. They can clog or the spring stretches out. If you use any small amount of oil that may be a sign of PCV valve needing replacement.
When does the PCV valve need to be replaced?
Most positive crankcase ventilation systems have a valve known as the PCV valve. When does the PCV valve need to be replaced? Let’s take a closer look. The PCV system is seldom listed as a maintenance item, but an old valve that is no longer functioning like it should can cause performance and emissions problems.
When to test the PCV valve on a car?
Testing Your PCV Valve. Though it's not listed in the maintenance schedule in most vehicles, the PCV system should be inspected periodically to make sure it's still in good condition, especially if engine performance has deteriorated. Fortunately, this valve is relatively easy to test and replace.
What to do if your PCV valve is bad?
If you have a bad PCV valve, PCV valve replacement could eliminate the problems listed above. The PCV valve is usually mounted in a grommet on a valve cover, at the end of a hose or tube. One way to check whether a PCV valve is functioning is to remove it from the hose or tube and shake it.
What is a PCV valve?
Most positive crankcase ventilation systems have a valve known as the PCV valve. When does the PCV valve need to be replaced? Let’s take a closer look.

How much does it cost to replace a PCV valve?
However, the PCV valve’s price is often meager, and you can expect prices of around $20-50 for a brand new valve.
How long does a PCV valve last?
Most of the PCV valves are made of plastic hoses with a spring inside. Any plastic would wear out after 10 years, fitted in a hot place like the engine bay, and because of the importance of the PCV valve, you may notice a lot of different symptoms when it fails.
What is a PCV Valve?
PCV valve stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation, and it is one of the oldest and most used emission devices in many vehicles. The PCV valve function is to eliminate crankcase emissions from the crankcase and send them to the intake. Therefore, they combust them again in another engine cycle, making the engine’s emissions cleaner and more effective.
What does it mean when your PCV valve is faulty?
If the PCV valve is faulty and causing a rich or lean mixture to the engine, you can get symptoms like white or black smoke coming out from the exhaust pipe, depending on what type of mixture problem the engine has. A short conclusion is: If you see any strange smoke from the exhaust pipe, make sure that the PCV valve is in good shape.
What happens when you have a faulty PCV valve?
When you have a faulty PCV valve, causing a wrong fuel mixture, you can feel that your car has rough acceleration on high and low RPMs. On most cars, you won’t feel a broken PCV valve on higher RPMs than idle, but it’s worth mentioning because it can happen depending on the valve’s design.
Why does my PCV valve feel like it's bad?
Because you can get a faulty lean/rich mixture due to a faulty PCV valve, you can feel misfires on both idle or acceleration when your PCV valve is bad. If you have a too lean mixture, the cylinders won’t fire up correctly, which can cause misfires.
Where is the PCV valve located?
PCV Valve Location. The PCV Valve is often located on the valve cover, on the engine’s top, but it can also be on a hose between the valve cover and the air intake filter. Just follow the hose on the top of the car engine, and you will find the PCV valve. Some cars do also have an integrated PCV valve with the valve cover.