PCV Valve - 94' SL2

Been reading pages worth of posts regarding oil consumption in older
Saturns, and mine's no different. It's getting pretty darn bad now,
with me having to add a quart every week or so. There's no leakage,
no blue-smoke-of-death out of the exhaust, etc, and I've got more than
160,000k on it, so I'm assuming short of an engine rebuild I'm just
going to have to suck it up.

However, I've read changing a gunked up PCV valve can help
considerably. Can someone point me to where the PCV valve is located
on this beast?

Thanks!

E. Reed

 

....on my 97SL2 the Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve is on the cam cover.

 

...on my 97SL2 the Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve is on the cam cover.

Its on the back of the cam cover inside a little black hose. You pull the hose
off the cam cover and the PCV valve is right there.

 

Found it! Thanks for the pointer.

Next question - the PCV valve is pretty gunked up, so I'm planning on
getting a new one....but, I'm curious as to the state of this thing.

When I take the PCV valve completely out and shake it...should it
sound like an empty spray paint can...with the valve loosely rattling
back and forth inside? Or should there be some tension on the valve?

Like I said, I intend to replace it anyhow...but I'd like to know how
hosed this valve really is....

E. Reed

 

....I've heard the empty spray paint can thing - maybe someone else can
confirm/correct.

 

The valve should move freely and if you shake it will rattle slightly.
Suggest you buy a replacement and shake it to see what it should look/sound
like when in good operating condition.

Bob

 

In other words, nobody knows.

I've been having the same mysterious oil consumption myself. I will tell you
this, I replaced mine yesterday and it was also fairly nasty. It seemed like
it was gunked up with old oil from the years and maybe that would have
stopped it from opening or closing correctly. This was on a '99 SOHC model
and it took about 30 seconds altogether. It's too early to tell whether or
not consumption will be a problem, and I really haven't noticed any
difference while driving, but it was nasty and needed to be replaced anyway.
Couldn't hurt.

 

re: chapter 4, page 5 (Chilton's 1991-1998 Repair Manual)

Under COMPONENT TESTING - I'll skip to steps 3 & 4

3. Remove the PCV valve from the rocker arm cover, but leave it connected to
the hose. With the engine at idle, feel the end of the valve for manifold
vacuum. If there is no vacuum, check for a plugged or leaking hose, PCV
valve or manifold port. Replace a plugged or damaged hose.

4. Stop the engine and remove the PCV valve. It should rattle when shaken.
If the valve does not rattle or it is plugged, replace the valve.

 

Thanks all. I did go ahead and pick-up/replace the PCV valve since it
was only a couple bucks. The new one did indeed rattle like an empty
spray paint can, just like the old one...so the old one probably
wasn't that bad, yet. Key word being "yet".

I'm also waiting to see the results of my other tactics I've seen
suggested in this forum. I went to 10w30 instead of 5w30, and I
supplemented with a bottle of Gumout oil additive that is intended to
prevent oil burn, help with worn rings, etc. The stuff was thick as
molasses! Anywho, after changing the oil, filter, and using the
additive my wee SL2's engine is purring like a kitten. Now to see if
it ceases drinking a quart of oil a week...!

E. Reed

 

I love it when people bitch at me for running 10w30 but then they won't
hesitate to run Bardahls or another thicker than molasses in winter product to
stop the oil consumption. Not saying this to you at all but just in general.

What do you people think that stuff does, and why is it so thick?

 

FWIW
I heard in different groups that other than OEM PCVs are problematic.
The Saturn part is a few dollars more (if not the same price).
10W30 is a good idea...but I'm not sure about thickeners!

b_b