What Happens If the Exhaust Check Valve Fails?
2 Answers
Consequences of a faulty exhaust check valve: 1. It can cause the vehicle to burn engine oil, and the malfunction indicator light on the dashboard will illuminate; 2. It can lead to unstable engine idle speed or even cause the engine to stall. The exhaust check valve primarily redirects a portion of the exhaust gases back into the combustion chamber for re-burning. If the exhaust check valve malfunctions, it may result in darker exhaust smoke and a strong odor. The exhaust check valve also plays a role in separating oil vapor. If it is damaged, it may cause the vehicle to burn engine oil. When the engine is running, the high temperatures can turn engine oil into vapor, which then mixes with some exhaust gases and reaches the exhaust check valve. The valve is responsible for separating the oil vapor and redirecting the remaining exhaust gases back into the combustion chamber for secondary combustion.
Last time the PCV valve in my old car got stuck, it ran like it had asthma. The most obvious symptom was the steering wheel shaking so badly at idle that my hands went numb, plus blue smoke from the exhaust - the mechanic said it was burning oil. Fuel consumption shot up, and throttle response felt sluggish on highways. The scariest moment was when I turned on the AC and smelled engine oil through the vents, which sent me straight to the repair shop. A clogged PCV valve not only accelerates carbon buildup but can also destroy the catalytic converter - repairs can be painfully expensive. My advice: get it checked at the first sign of abnormal vibration, don't wait until the engine warning light comes on like I did.
