What are the symptoms of a faulty PCV valve in a car?
2 Answers
pcv valve failure can cause the following engine issues: engine shaking, unstable idle, and large amounts of white smoke from the exhaust pipe. It may allow gases to remain in the crankcase, leading to corrosion, accelerated wear, and shortened engine lifespan. It can also cause difficulties in starting the engine, idle shaking, poor acceleration, excessive oil consumption, and other faults. Additionally, it is prone to sludge buildup and clogging. Here is some additional information: Main function: The PCV valve directs gases from the crankcase into the intake manifold, with a small amount of air entering the intake manifold directly from the air filter through the PCV valve. This prevents icing at the throttle, incomplete combustion, and emission deterioration.
After years of driving experience, I've found that the most common symptoms of a faulty PCV valve include unexplained spikes in fuel consumption, fluctuating engine RPM at idle (sometimes with noticeable needle jumps on the tachometer), and occasional blue smoke from the tailpipe due to oil leaking into the combustion chamber. The check engine light may illuminate, and you might experience poor acceleration. The PCV valve is responsible for venting crankcase gases - when clogged or leaking, it causes pressure imbalance and accelerates oil contamination from sludge buildup. Always inspect this valve during routine maintenance. Replace it immediately if stuck or gummed up, as failure to do so can damage the catalytic converter, lead to excessive emissions (creating bigger compliance issues), and significantly increase repair costs.
