Today, we are talking about your PCV valve. The PCV Valve is a little, inexpensive part that does a key job for Gig Harbor car owners. PCV stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation.
The crankcase is the bottom area of the engine that holds the oil. When the car, truck, SUV engine's running, fuel is burned to generate power. Most of the exhaust from combustion goes out through the exhaust system. But some exhaust blows by the pistons and goes into the lower engine, or crankcase.
These hot gases are about seventy percent un-burned fuel. This can dilute and contaminate the oil, leading to damaging engine oil sludge. It can also cause car, truck, SUV engine corrosion, something we see occasionally at Mackert Automotive. At high speeds on Gig Harbor freeways, the pressure can build up to the point that gaskets and seals start to leak.
Back in the old days, auto makers simply installed a hose that vented these gases out into the atmosphere. But starting in the 1964 model year, environmental protection laws required that these gases be recycled back into the air intake system to be mixed with fuel and burned in the car, truck, SUV's engine.
This is much better for air quality and improves gas mileage also. (Budget-conscious Gig Harbor drivers take note!) The little valve that performs this important function is the PCV valve. The PCV valve lets dangerous gases out of the engine, but won't let anything back in. Over time, the vented gases will gum up the PCV valve and it won't work well. That can lead to all of the problems I've already described, oil leaks, excessive oil consumption and decreased gas mileage.
Fortunately, it's very easy to test the PCV Valve at Mackert Automotive in Gig Harbor and quick and inexpensive to replace. Even so, it's often overlooked because many Gig Harbor auto owners don't know about it. Check your car, truck, SUV owner's manual or ask your Mackert Automotive service advisor. If this is the first time you've heard of a PCV valve, you might be in line for a replacement.
There's another aspect to the PCV system. In order for the valve to work correctly, it needs a little clean air to come in. This is done through a breather tube that gets some filtered air from the engine air filter. Now some vehicles have a small separate air filter for the breather tube called the breather element. That'll need to be replaced at Mackert Automotive when it gets dirty.
Please ask your friendly and courteous Gig Harbor service advisor about your PCV valve. For the price of a couple of burger combo meals in Gig Harbor, you can avoid some very costly engine repairs.