Change your PCV valve

Let’s see here…on a 4runner a PCV cost less money than almost any other part on the car. It takes no time to replace. The job is low-risk and hard to botch (besides using red loctite). A bad PCV has potential to cause expensive problems on older cars (or maybe even cars prone to gasket failures, like the 4runner timing cover).

Applying logic to that combination of factors makes easy to conclude that on 4runners it’s a very reasonable thing to do as a *preventative* maintainance item, even before it fails or gets gummy.

It would only be silly if it was a labor intensive, difficult job, on a clapped out old beater. I mean, it’s logically bordering on “penny wise, pound foolish” silliness to ignore it.

ETA: So maintenance is always silly unless it leaves you stranded?

 

When does the timing cover usually start leaking, how many miles?
Serious question.
PCV valve contribution to this issue?
Hey, I’m just wondering out loud. Not trying to complicate things…. I’m just thinking since we all know it “can” cause positive pressure to build.

 

I agree with you if the PCV in 5th gen 4Runners were well documented as failing. As far as I know they aren’t.

 

I seems like the timing cover leak not common, but not rare. I’ve even seen a post on here of this leaking on a new 4runners.

To me it seems like the timing cover leak isn’t worth worrying about. And even if it does happen, it may not be worth the thousands it would take to fix it.

But it does seem like that gasket has a lot of real estate to cover, and I’d want to give it the best odds of not leaking over the course of my ownership.

 

Just changed out my PCV while changing the spark plugs two days ago. 119K miles.
Plugs were in very good shape.
PCV was still functioning with slight carbon buildup.
Compared to the new valve the ball inside the old valve was noticeably not moving as quick as the new one.
Sprayed it with brake cleaner and started working as new.
My take would be to change out your PCV while doing your plugs since you're right there.

 

As much as I like a “data-driven decision making”, this approach is meant to be applied to complex, high stakes situations where “doing something” carries a high level of risk of making things worse.

This is a simple breather…the same design probably used for the last hundred years…a ball in a tube. They get gummy eventually. They may get more or less gummy depending on how the vehicle is used. You should be able to deduce the benefit of changing it without needing “documentation”.

I would agree with you if half the engine needed to be disassembled to replace the PCV valve. It doesn’t. The fact that it’s easy to replace is more of a benefit of the 4runner design, as it’s easier than other cars to keep it in tip top shape.

 

Turd is just one of those guys who has to always be right. He argues everything, adds no value, and doesnt understand maintenance. His idea of maintenance is a 10k oil change. Ive encountered him before - he shouldnt be taken seriously.

 

If I don’t understand maintenance then why are my vehicles never broken? My Tacoma has 204K miles on it and still running fine. The 4Runner has close to 120K miles and also no issues. Some of you guys are extremely gullible and will believe anything you see on a YouTube video.

 

So Turd. Dont change your pcv - NOBODY on here cares. NOBODY. You're right maintenance is not necessary. YOU ADD NO VALUE to any conversation on here. This is exactly what you do on EVERY post. You must be lonely. Adopt a dog

 

Sorry. I just don’t like seeing people doing unnecessary maintenance because of internet experts. I’ll leave now.

 

Amazing how an $11 part has created so much interest.

 

It's not the valve, so much as OP saying that we all need to change it. And if anyone asks why, they are labeled as stupid, cheap, or shortsighted. It is really interesting that this is the hill he's chosen to die on.

OP: how often do you change your brake pads? Rotate your tires? Change brake fluid?

 

I agree. I wouldn’t say we need to change it, because it may not gum up for me as fast as it does for you. I would call it a “Best Practice” maintenance item.

Since it’s rather easy to change/get to and pretty cheap, why not? But I won’t change it if it’s clean and my vehicle isn’t exhibiting symptoms that I need to clean it or replace it.

If I get to that point, I’ll take the PCV off, spray it with a liberal amount of throttle body cleaner and wipe it down with a rag before putting it back on. Easy Peasy.


There’s no need to get into a pissing match over the internet.

 

With due respect as you are a level headed contributor here, I don't see where the OP ever noted that we need to do this. In fact, he mentioned a couple of times for folks to "do their own thing" with this.

 

You are correct. The OP mentioned in his original post that this is “General Maintenance”. He never stated it was a must or demand that we do it.

 

Maybe this is too redneck for a 4Runner, but does anyone route the crank case gas down to the frame and not route them back into the intake....every truck or diesel pickup I've had or drove has done this...

 

Depends if I'm posting before or after coffee, lol.

You're right, I just reread and didn't see it, so I must have imagined it. And the defensiveness I saw may have been a response to people arguing against him changing it (if I didn't imagine that too).

 

Funny preventative maintenance story for long trips:
I drove cross country with a trailer a couple months ago (as in NC to WA cross country), and on day two of the trip, I thought, huh maybe I should check the oil and coolant levels, just to be safe, lol. (Fortunately nothing blew up on the trip).

 

Im telling you they go bad but still "rattle". Spend $7.00 you cheap bastards?

 

This thread actually makes me wonder if my 259.9k PCV valve has ever been changed. Coming up on my 260k maintenance and may add this to the oil and front diff fluid i had planned on doing.

 

Sorry, I know you pay ALOT for insurance and taxes and car payments and I do not.

 

Now imagine if K&N made PCV valves.

 

They would add 6 HP!

 

I'd say change it on your 10th oil change. At 100k miles.

 

Now now!
10th oil change for many would be 50k miles. So you mean change every 50k mile? That is premature.

 

Toyota PCV, changing mine. It has 60K on original.

 

Gawd this thread reads like reddit. More people talking about the people disagreeing rather than the actual topic. Ope, looks like I'm doing it too hah

ANYWAY, couldn't really join this shit show without doing the swap so I ordered the PCV valve and installed.

Old and new valve moved equally well, with obviously the old valve noticeably dirty with oil. Feels the same with eight dollars less in my bank account and 10 minutes closer to my death, I dunno. I'm a 10,000 mile oil change guy so maybe thats my problem.

I guess if it makes ya feel good!

 

LOL

I change my oil at 5K since new and I’m not feeling the hurt because I am going to replace it!

 

It's for Tacomas, but will fit the 4Runner as well: https://rmengineeringoffroad.com/products/16-23-tacoma-pcv-reroute-kit