A PCV valve, or positive crankcase ventilation valve, is attached to your vehicle’s crankcase to reduce harmful emissions. It routes the harmful gases released from the crankcase into the engine’s combustion chambers, where they are more safely burned out.

Unless you deal with the inner workings of vehicles often, you may have never heard of the PCV valve. It’s one of those engine components you don’t think about until you have to, but PCV valve malfunctions can create a host of issues that lead to serious engine problems.

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What is a PCV valve?

A PCV, or positive crankcase ventilation valve, is a one-way valve positioned on your vehicle’s crankcase. The crankcase sits at the bottom of your engine near the intake manifold. It holds the engine oil and takes in some of the gases produced when your engine burns fuel.

The PCV valve is a one-way valve attached to the crankcase to redirect the gases that flow in the crankcase to the engine combustion chamber so they’ll be burned safely. Before PCV valves were used, those harmful crankcase gases were released out the exhaust system.

This engine component was among the first automotive emission-controlling technologies in the US and has been installed in all internal combustion engines since 1964.

MORE:How to pass emissions testing

What does a PCV valve do?

The PCV valve exists both to make the emissions from a vehicle less harmful and to increase the general performance of a vehicle. It helps with emission control by directing the crankcase gases into the engine’s combustion chamber to be converted to less harmful gases before they’re released.

Without the PCV valve, the waste gas produced from burning fuel would build up in the engine crankcase and mix with the motor oil to create oil sludge.

As you can probably imagine, oil sludge in the engine can really gum up the works and lead to expensive corrosion and clogging damage.

This can all start to happen with a faulty PCV valve as well, so it’s important to ensure the component is in proper working order to avoid lasting engine damage.

Symptoms of a bad PCV valve

But how can you tell if your PCV valve is on the fritz? Pay attention to your car’s engine behaviors and some of these other tell-tale signs of a bad PCV valve. You can have a mechanic check the situation out to know for sure.

Check engine light on

Okay, we know that the check engine light can come on for a ton of reasons, and it won’t always be simple to tell a bad PCV valve from a loose gas cap with just this light itself. But an illuminated check engine light is one of the first signs of a bad PCV valve.

If you see your check engine light turn on, use an onboard diagnostic (OBD) tool if your car comes with that, or bring your car to a mechanic to check the code and identify the problem.

MORE:

What does the check engine light mean

High idling

High idlingis another sign of a failing PCV valve. Rather than the slow and low idle vehicles are supposed to have when the engine is running but the car is stopped, a high idle is just that—higher. The engine will sound like it’s doing more work than it needs to be.

Rough idling

On that same token, your PCV valve may be bad if your vehicle rough idles. Rough idling happens when your engine bounces sporadically between a regular low idle and high idle, sometimes sputtering.

This can also happen because of a dirty air filter, spark plug problems, or issues with the oxygen sensor, so you may wish to investigate further before ruling the issue a bad PCV valve.

Wrong air-to-fuel ratio

The function of the PCV valve impacts the engine’s air intake, so if the valve is clogged or otherwise malfunctioning the engine’s air-to-fuel ratio can be thrown off. Without the appropriate mix of air and fuel, the engine will either underperform and run lean or overcompensate and run rich. Either scenario puts unnecessary strain and wear on the engine system.

Engine misfires

You can tell if your engine misfires by sound. It can be quite a loud bang, resembling the sound of a gunshot or other explosive—but maybe not as damaging as that.

A misfire is caused by the engine running too lean or too rich from an incorrect air-to-fuel mixture. It will wreak havoc on your engine’s systems if not taken care of as soon as possible.

Rough acceleration

A bad PCV valve could also lead to a rough acceleration and stuttering engine. With a functioning PCV valve, your car should be able to get up to the desired speed relatively smoothly and without stalling or running at too low of an RPM.

Oil leaks

As its function is to redirect gases and lower pressure within the crankcase, a malfunctioning PCV valve will instead contribute to a rise in crankcase pressure. The extra built-up crankcase pressure can wear on components like the gaskets and lead to oil leaks.

MORE:

What fluid is leaking from my car?

Excessive oil consumption

If there’s an oil leak, you can bet the engine is recording excessive oil consumption too. The PCV valve is unable to release the excess gas pressure within the crankcase, and since it will have to be released somehow, the oil is forced out.

Not only will you need to shell out for an oil change sooner than otherwise necessary, but the lack of lubrication in the engine also means more friction wearing on your engine components.

Engine sludge

As discussed earlier, among the PCV valve’s duties is the removal of gases produced from burning fuel so they won’t mix with the crankcase’s motor oil and produce engine sludge. Engine sludge can lead to engine damage and a worsened fuel economy.

Poor fuel economy

To continue on that note, a bad PCV valve can lead to poor gas mileage! In general, a functioning PCV valve allows the other systems in your engine to perform their jobs and keep the engine working in healthy order.

When those systems are not able to work effectively, your fuel economy will suffer.

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When to replace your PCV valve

With all of these potentially really damaging consequences of a bad PCV valve, you may be looking for some easily placed benchmarks to keep track of replacement needs. Unfortunately, there is no specific timeframe to adhere to for PCV valve replacements.

Essentially, the PCV valve works until it doesn’t. You’ll need to keep your senses out for symptoms of a failing PCV valve, like:

Oil leaks

Sludge around the engine

An illuminated check engine light

Unfamiliar engine noise

Reduced vehicle performance

If you suspect your PCV valve is malfunctioning, you’ll need to replace it as soon as you can to avoid costly engine damage and auto repairs.

How much does a PCV valve replacement cost?

Happily, replacing a PCV valve is one of the most inexpensive engine component replacements out there. The part itself usually costs between $10 and $15, but you’ll need to factor in the cost of labor as well.

Labor costs will vary depending on where you’re getting the repair done, too. Dealerships tend to charge more than your local repair shop, but go wherever you’re comfortable! The entire PCV valve replacement—parts and labor included—will typically run you between $25 and $110.

MORE:

How to dispute your mechanic bill

How to find cheap car insurance

PCV system repairs are on the less expensive side of things, but most other engine repairs are not. And sometimes they’re totally unavoidable. Such is the life of a car owner.

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Can you drive without a PCV valve?

It depends on the type of car you drive! PCV valves and similar technology like orifice tubes are necessary for internal combustion engines to avoid engine damage and the production of super harmful emissions. But if you’re driving an EV, you have no need for a PCV valve!

What is the PCV valve made of?

The PCV valve is typically made of a metal head attached to a silicone, polyurethane, or rubber hose. It’s sealed to the valve cover via a rubber grommet.

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