How to test your PCV valve

I found this video on youtube that shows a simple test for your PCV system. The man looks like he knows a lot about cars.

My 4.0L FAILED this test while my other two vehicles passed. This may be a contributing factor to my oil leaks near the timing cover and the rear main seal. Luckily I ordered a PCV valve a couple days ago.

Have you all tried this method?

https://youtu.be/l3ppNvofPHI?si=b7dYmcpBk8WmuYMh

 

parts go bad at 10 years
yours was 18 years old
it Is cheap and easy to reach

no
not going to test bald tires with metal wire showing either

that is correct
positive crankcase ventilation valve
Ventilates positive crankcase

when bad, the crankcase is positive because it is not ventilated

 

Yes I have a new PCV valve arriving tomorrow

 

here’s a tip if you don’t know
While you’re in there
That valve normally ticks. Search YouTube VSV tick fix. I believe KFlo Tacoma video. Advises put some rubber washers from Home Depot

 

I have read a lot of your posts and you’ve always been helpful. Thank you for pointing that out to me.

 

Great video, very detailed explanation. I was excited to try this on my truck but I have a 4 banger lol. He said he would explain that later and never really did but if I recall, it sounded like it might work on a big 4 cylinder. I would consider the 2.7 a big 4 cyl.

 

I agree. For a few bucks and a few minutes of your time you might as well just replace it.

 

He did, you get a strip of paper amd hold it very near the dipstick tube and it should flutter

 

After I replaced my PCV valve, I got curious and cut the valve open to see what was inside. Here is the post with pictures:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/pcv-tear-down.780473/

 

But the true test was if the paper sticks or not. He said 4 cylinders would make the paper flutter but unless I completely missed something, he never clarified how to tell if the PCV was working properly on a 4 cyl. So if no flutter, then it's bad? Or can it be bad and still flutter?

 

Previous owner installed an aftermarket PCV valve so the paper test failed. I just replaced with OEM PCV valve and the paper test worked so hopefully this will help slow down the oil leaks I see.

 

There are lots of things on our engines that should be a part of routine maintenance that we tend to overlook or forget about. PCV valves are one of them. I replace mine between 50,000 and 100000 miles. They are cheap and easy to replace so why not replace them at a certain interval.

 

luckily it’s simple.

most other cars replacing PCV is 6+hr labor, bunch of big expensive parts, buried deep underneath remove a lot of things to reach it. Thousands of dollars.

or pull the oil cap and see if it has vacuum
Or put a nitrile glove on the hole with the cap to see if there’s vacuum

 

Wow it's terrible to design it like that.

 

I wouldn’t own a POS vehicle that takes 6+ hours or thousands of $$$ to change a pvc valve. But of course we weren’t talking about other vehicles, we are talking about a good old Taco. $10 or $15 , a few minutes and good to go. Just do it at certain maintenance intervals and you are good to go.

 

https://youtu.be/3oln_k-qfAI