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The PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) valve is a one-way valve attached to your vehicle’s crankcase. The crankcase contains motor oil and can be found near the bottom of your engine. The crankcase produces gases when your engine burns fuel. These gases are toxic to the environment, so the ventilation valve was created as part of a clean air emissions system.
Prior to the invention of emission control devices, toxic gases would be released from the crankcase out of the vehicle, into the open air around you.
If there is a problem with the valve, these gases can sometimes make it to the space between your engine’s pistons, which makes it easy for them to get inside the crankcase. The gases can mix with the oil and turn into highly-corrosive sludge that can then clog the engine. The PCV valve was created to remedy both of these problems.
The PCV valve is an instrumental part of your vehicle’s emissions system. This piece reroutes the gases from your crankcase back into the combustion chambers of your engine so that they can be burned without causing any damage to your vehicle or the environment.
The PCV valve only has one direction. Once gases are sent through the valve, they can not return to the crankcase. If the PCV did not exist, there would be a high likelihood of your engine becoming damaged by oil sludge. If you take proper care of your PCV valve then it can help your piston rings and crankcase improve your chamber’s compression.
Below are common symptoms of PCV valve failure:
The most noticeable sign that your engine is having any issues is an illuminated check engine light. If your engine light is on, you can use an OBD2 scanner to check your engine control module for error codes. The two codes that are most commonly associated with a faulty PCV valve are P0171 and P0174. Many automotive supply stores will have the scanner on hand and will be willing to check the codes for you free of charge.
A primary function of the PCV valve is to control the airflow between the crankcase and the intake manifold. If your valve is faulty and the air is leaking, it can cause your vehicle to idle at an abnormally high RPM or idle roughly with lots of shaking and vibrating.
Your vehicle needs the proper air/fuel mixture in order to operate at prime performance. If the mixture has too much air (lean) or too much fuel (rich) then your engines will incur complications. If your mixture is either too lean or too rich, it can be due to a faulty PCV valve.
A PCV valve that is blocked by moisture will very likely result in exceedingly high pressure within the engine crankcase. When the pressure inside the crankcase gets high enough, it will push the pressure up into the cylinders and out the gaskets and will result in an increase in oil consumption.
A faulty PCV valve can result in an improper air/fuel ratio. If your vehicle is either too rich or too lean, you may experience misfires. A misfire can be detected by a sporadic loss of power. It can come on suddenly or develop gradually. Another common symptom of a misfire is a “bucking” feeling as you’re driving.
Thick white, black, or blue smoke shooting from your exhaust is another tell-tale sign of a faulty PCV valve, specifically a clogged one. If your valve is clogged, the oil will be pushed up into the combustion chambers by the crankcase. If this happens, the oil will end up burning inside the engine before being released through the tailpipe.
If you notice your vehicle struggles to accelerate, you might have a PCV valve issue. A faulty or clogged PCV valve that is creating the improper fuel/air mixture will most likely wreak havoc on your vehicle’s overall performance. You might notice that your vehicle is suddenly accelerating roughly or it may occur gradually over time.
If your vehicle is experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned here, come in to visit our licensed mechanics right away. If you live in the Alpharetta, Chamblee, Norcross, Dunwoody, Buckhead, Roswell, and Atlanta, GA area, Call European Service Center today for affordable repairs of your MINI.
