Signs Your Car’s PCV Valve Is Failing (And What You Can Do About It)

The PCV valve (positive crankcase ventilation) on your car or truck is essential in keeping your engine running smoothly. However, you’ll soon notice several problems if it stops working correctly. Here are some signs that your car’s PCV valve might fail, along with what you can do about it if you discover this is the case.

The Basics of What is a PCV Valve

The PCV valve is a device that ventilates exhaust gases that enter your car’s crankcase and routes them back to the combustion chamber to be burned again. With internal combustion engines, your car’s engine will not burn fuel entirely during the stroke of the cylinders. Before the invention of the PCV valve, exhaust gases would get into the engine’s crankcase and mix with oil causing sludge to form. PCV valves improve the efficiency and performance of your car’s engine.

Why it may Fail

While the PCV valve is typically very durable, but it can occasionally fail, causing several issues. PCV valves are spring-loaded designs that allow airflow from the crankcase back to the manifold. Sometimes the spring can wear out due to wear and tear or faulty manufacturing. However, most PCV valve failures can be traced to a failed o ring not correctly sealing the valve to the engine manifold vacuum hose. If the PCV valve is not sealed correctly, it will not function as intended.

Signs of a Failing PCV Valve

PCV valve failure usually has several symptoms, common when emissions-related components fail. Some of the most common signs of PCV valve failure include a rough engine idle, rich or lean fuel/air mixture, whining noises coming from the engine when accelerating, and poor fuel economy. In addition, a failing PCV valve will usually result in an error code from the Engine Control Unit (ECU), resulting in the check engine light being active.

While PCV valves typically do not fail due to their simple design and function, like any mechanical component, they can occasionally. If your car’s PCV valve has failed, it’s essential to get it checked out by a mechanic before damage is done to engine components. PCV valve replacement is a relatively simple repair usually. Your mechanic can handle it without much trouble and expense.

If you suspect your car’s PCV valve is failing, see your mechanic to get it diagnosed and replaced, you might prolong the life of your car’s engine.