PCV Valves

The PCV Valve, or positive crankcase ventilation valve, is a seemingly simple piece of plastic equipment that in fact handles a very important job in the emissions process of your vehicle. After combustion, there are leftover vapors that contain excess fuel and combustion byproducts. These gasses, if left in the crankcase after combustion can lead to oil contamination, which in turn can cause sludge buildup inside the engine.  To prevent this, the PCV draws fresh air from a hose connected to the intake manifold to help flush all the harmful gasses out of the crankcase. It also regulates the amount of incoming air; too much of which could cause symptoms of a vacuum leak – poor idling, bad gas mileage, loss of power and sluggish acceleration. Your PCV valve may need to be replaced every 30,000-50,000 miles, so if you are experiencing any issues like those listed above, bring your vehicle into Lucas Auto Care today for a diagnosis.