What does the pcv do? and does it need 'servicing'?

[ryan101]

as the title says what is does it do? and does it need servicing? i was reading thru my books and it says at 80 000kms it was serviced, its due for its 160 000 in 4 000 km do i need to service it again?
i just thought it was a pipe?

[Hangman]

PCV is Positive Crankcase Ventilation.

The PCV valve should rattle when shaken, if it doesn't it needs to be freed up or replaced.

Here, knock yourself out. Plus it saves me typing
Crankcase ventilation system - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[graham7773]

To clean it, soak it in carby cleaner for 1/2 hour. you will have to use a closed container for soaking as carby cleaner evaporates extremely quickly. Just put the valve in the container and get as much cleaner in as possible. If the valve still is not loose/free, time for a new one. Considering the price of carby cleaner, it might be easier and cheaper to get a new one anyway.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Or soak it in petrol.

[ryan101]

whats happens if it doesn't rattle? is it bad?

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Most new ones have a spring in them so they don't rattle anyway, but you should be able to blow through one end and not the other.

[ryan101]

sorry i should have said, what happens when they fail?

[SirNemesis]

When they fail your engine may get extra unmetered air, which can result in erratic idle and surging. Best to just replace it if you are unsure. These systems do break down over time due to the oil content in the lines and heat. Oil doesn't do rubber any favours.

[lufkin]

how easy are these to replace on the vt v6?

[MR_VX]

esay as..... unbolt the plenum (top bit) from the manifold (bottem bit) and in between them there is a small valve and a spring. thats the PCV.

[lufkin]

thanks mr_vx i know where it is, but you simply just put some pointy nose pliers on it and pull out or what?

[MR_VX]

yeah that will work or if its not to oily just pull it out. Replace it with a new one. i did a few months ago and from holden the PCV is $15 and a new plenum gasket ( metal one ) was $26 i think

[undar8ed1]

now you know when/how to service it I thought I`d throw in what exactly it does when oil gets hot it creates vapour that due to emission laws can not be vented into the atmosphere untreated/filtered so some clever engineer created a system that vents the gas/vapour into the inlet manifold via the PCV valve to mix with the fuel air for combustion therfor been treated by the cat converter.

cheers, Damo.