real quick...pcv cleaning

[94cylcamry]

I've read here and there that it's a good thing to clean this out every now and then.

First, I want to make sure I'm labeling the right thing as the PCV. It's the...plastic elbow thing that comes up out of the valve cover? Then a small hose goes from there a couple inches away?

Anyway I took off the hose and noticed it definitely had some grime in it. I haven't noticed anything wrong with the car to warrant cleaning this, but I figure I may as well.

Anyway. So in the Haynes manual it just says pull it out of the valve cover.Tried this...but I don't want to snap it. Do I really just...pull? And once it's out, should I just soak it in Seafoam overnight?

Thanks

[Firecaptain]

Cheap enough to just replace it if you don't know how long it's been in service.

[94cylcamry]

But I really do just yank until it comes out?

[chullen]

yeah it should come out easily with a slight tug and then just replace it

[94cylcamry]

Haha, I guess I may as well. How much do they run? While I'm at it, are there any other valves I should look at? I keep hearing all these abbreviations like IAC and PCV and EGR and things and I just don't know where to start. I hear the EGR is quite fun to remove, though.

[chullen]

You should be fine with the PCV valve for now. I would maybe think about seafoaming the motor. The PCV don't run more than like 6 bucks.

[94cylcamry]

I already used Seafoam in the crank case and through the brake booster...didn't get nearly as much smoke as everyone else, so I guess my motor wasn't too bad. Should I try through the pcv line? I hear you can do that as well, and where the hose connects to the.....err...intake manifold? Throttle body? Where it connects to that is kinda gunky inside. Would it be safe to just spray some deep creep in there?

[Albuynp Ryeno]

Originally Posted by 94cylcamry

I already used Seafoam in the crank case and through the brake booster...didn't get nearly as much smoke as everyone else, so I guess my motor wasn't too bad. Should I try through the pcv line? I hear you can do that as well, and where the hose connects to the.....err...intake manifold? Throttle body? Where it connects to that is kinda gunky inside. Would it be safe to just spray some deep creep in there?

IMO I dont think seafoam does anything, inside the car, I think it burns up before it actually can clean anything. Also putting it into the PCV hole is gonna be the same as through to the engine oil hole.

Anyways i wouldnt try removing the EGR, their are 2 parts to it btw. The part on the right dont touch, odds are the bolts are rusted and if you try removing them it will brake. As for the part on the left, that comes out pretty easy. I just sprayed some seafoam in it and then let it dry.

The PCV is really cheep, its like 10-15 from the dealership. If you take it out, just shake it around, if you hear a clicking its still good. Also you could try sucking on it, to make sure the air only goes one way. If its still good, you could try seafoaming it and letting it soak.

The IAC is right next to the throttlebody butteryfly value. If you clean the throttlebody, some of the seafoam will fall into the IAC hole cleaning it. Once your done cleaning the throttlebody, use some compress air to get rid of all the fallen seafoam in the IAC hole, since they will take carbon done into the hole.

[Mike Gerber]

Originally Posted by 94cylcamry

But I really do just yank until it comes out?

Try twisting it as you tug on it.

Mike

[just_started]

Originally Posted by Albuynp Ryeno

The IAC is right next to the throttlebody butteryfly value. If you clean the throttlebody, some of the seafoam will fall into the IAC hole cleaning it. Once your done cleaning the throttlebody, use some compress air to get rid of all the fallen seafoam in the IAC hole, since they will take carbon done into the hole.

I cleaned the throttle body butterfly value last week and also passed some throttle cleaner spray down the IAC hole but i did not use any compressed air to suck it out of the hole..
Do you see any problem down the road?

Thanks

[94cylcamry]

I cleaned the butterfly valve a couple weeks ago with deep creep...what a difference. And yeah, I didn't blow compressed air down the IAC hole either, just sprayed a good amount of deep creep down there.

And I'll try twist-yanking the PCV. Haha.

[xtremeskier97]

Uhhh...if you try putting ANYTHING through the PCV valve, its going to get blow right back at you. PCV stands for POSITIVE Crankcase Ventilation...meaning air is being pulled OUT of the valve cover...not blown into it.

[Albuynp Ryeno]

Originally Posted by just_started

I cleaned the throttle body butterfly value last week and also passed some throttle cleaner spray down the IAC hole but i did not use any compressed air to suck it out of the hole..
Do you see any problem down the road?

Thanks

Nah you'll be fine.

If you think about it, any cleaner you use in the IAC hole will clean it but the gunk will have no place to go since gravity will pull it down. Thats why I used compressed air, since it will blow the stuff upward, out of the hole.

[Chris Crash]

For the PCV valve, just take a small screwdriver if you're still having trouble and pry it out. I'd say it's better to buy a new one anyways. They're cheap. And can actually make a load of difference.

[94cylcamry]

Hey guys update.

I finally went out and took the pcv off today...had to pry it off with a flathead screwdriver. When I got it out, I saw that the bottom was really gummed up(sort of the same stuff that's all over the inside of my oil cap, maybe my engine has sludge?). So I sprayed it all in and out with deep creep, cleaned it out a bit, sprayed it some more, etc. When I was done, I noticed you could blow air through both sides of it? Aren't you only supposed to be able to blow through one side? Or is it...you're only supposed to be able to suck through one side of it?

Either way, stuck it back on the car and it started fine and idled fine just like it always does. If there's something wrong with the PCV, the cars behavior isn't reflecting it.