i'm having trouble getting the old one out. could someone please tell me how to get it out? tried just pulling it out but doesn't seem to want to. i really don't want to break anything. is there a trick? thanks.
Was the PCV valve you took out in need of replacement?
yes, very much in need. hopefully not too much/any sludge build up. i was only getting 15mpg. changed, pcv valve and air filter so far. gonna do spark plugs and fuel filter this weekend hopefully. hope the mpgs improve.
I recently changed my PCV and the grommet it's in. I was changing the valve cover gaskets so I figured I should change the valve too. We have 222500 miles. The original PCV was still working. There was plenty of build up in the hose and intake and PCV but it was still working. I had slight sludge in the motor but not like I've seen in pictures.
What was your MPG before? Is there a sudden decrease?Is the engine vvt-I type?
We bought a used 2003 Sienna at high miles.I want to replace pcv valve too.
What is a flathead? Socket?
Black_Sunshine, I want to replace pcv valve but I am not familiar with the vehicle yet and I am worried I would break something trying to fix. Wiswind's instructive photos and suggestions are helpful. I hope I can manage doing it myself.
Last edited by blumonster; 03-15-2011 at 06:45 PM.
He meant a flat head screw driver. We are not talking about vvti. As WisWind has said the 2003 PCV is threaded in to the valve cover. Our older vans just have them pushed into a rubber grommet. That's why Big Evan got it out with a screwdriver.
One thing to note about the kind in grommets is that you don't want pieces falling into the cover. If the grommet is hardened the valve or the grommet itself may break and fall in. What's worse is the cover has a baffle that is not removable so the pieces fall into a pocket between the cover and the baffle.
This happened to me but I already had the cover off. I just tapped it until the piece came out. . . and a bunch of other crud.
He meant a flat head screw driver. We are not talking about vvti. As WisWind has said the 2003 PCV is threaded in to the valve cover. Our older vans just have them pushed into a rubber grommet. That's why Big Evan got it out with a screwdriver.
One thing to note about the kind in grommets is that you don't want pieces falling into the cover. If the grommet is hardened the valve or the grommet itself may break and fall in. What's worse is the cover has a baffle that is not removable so the pieces fall into a pocket between the cover and the baffle.
This happened to me but I already had the cover off. I just tapped it until the piece came out. . . and a bunch of other crud.
how hard is it to take off the valve cover and inspect for sludge? i'm real curious to see if there's any build up. my mechanic skills are pretty limited. it's really kind of killing me and i'd just like to see how it is under there. is it worth it to give it a shot by myself?
It's going to take you all day. You're gonna get really dirty. You need to have another vehicle handy in case you break something and you have to replace it.
The break down of it is:
Take the windsheild wiper cowl off. Easy.
Take the air box off. Easy.
Take the intake plenum off. This is when you get dirty. There are several wires, vac lines, and coolant crossover lines. Coolant will probably leak out. The intake requires large allen style sockets. (10mm I think)
After that you can take the covers off.
It's a good time to change the plugs and maybe the wires. You have to replace the valve cover gaskets if you take them off.
Wiswind has a write up on it. Or at least a detailed picture journey.
Personally, I don't think it's worth it to get in there just to see if it has sludge. The question is what would you do if you find sludge? I didn't want to break any of it up because it could then cause circulation problems. As it is it hasn't. I didn't mess with any of it in my van. I just put a quart of Marvel Mystery Oil in the motor.
I've resolved to add Marvel Mystery Oil to my cheap oil change regiments.
It's going to take you all day. You're gonna get really dirty. You need to have another vehicle handy in case you break something and you have to replace it.
The break down of it is:
Take the windsheild wiper cowl off. Easy.
Take the air box off. Easy.
Take the intake plenum off. This is when you get dirty. There are several wires, vac lines, and coolant crossover lines. Coolant will probably leak out. The intake requires large allen style sockets. (10mm I think)
After that you can take the covers off.
It's a good time to change the plugs and maybe the wires. You have to replace the valve cover gaskets if you take them off.
Wiswind has a write up on it. Or at least a detailed picture journey.
Personally, I don't think it's worth it to get in there just to see if it has sludge. The question is what would you do if you find sludge? I didn't want to break any of it up because it could then cause circulation problems. As it is it hasn't. I didn't mess with any of it in my van. I just put a quart of Marvel Mystery Oil in the motor.
I've resolved to add Marvel Mystery Oil to my cheap oil change regiments.
Thanks. Yea, don't really know what i would do if i found sludge. Maybe sell it? I'd like to know so i can figure out if the car's still worth putting money into. No point replacing the suspension if the engine fails in a few months right? It's been running well though. Anyways, plan on changing spark plugs soon. Hopefully it won't be too hard.
Put a new set of valve cover gaskets on if you remove the valve cover.
The front valve cover is not hard.
The rear one is a lot of work.....bending over and reaching ALL THE WAY back to the back of the engine compartment to undo those bolds/nuts holding the upper intake manifold/throttle body to the rear motor mount.
This is NOT a back friendly job.
If you replace the spark plugs make SURE to use ONLY the DENSO or NGK spark plug of the number called for as OEM for your year (2001 uses a different plug number than my 2003).
Using the wrong plug can cause problems.....and it is too much work to be going back in again to change them before another 100K miles.
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