PCV Valve

[STORMINORMAN]

So, while I'm at the Dealership getting a routine tranny service I mention that the original PVC valve (after 97K miles!) seems to have been put on with an air wrench and about 120 lbs. of pressure... That, or a very pissed-off ex-Sumo wrestler!

Would they be so kind as to just break it free for me with a distributor wrench or a 19mm crow's foot, please? I have already removed the covers... "Sure: no problem!"

When I picked it up a couple hours later I was informed that they would "...HAVE HAD TO REMOVE THE INTAKE PLENUM" to even get to it! "We don't have a tool that can access it from the top... We don't usually replace those... very often..."

Mind you, this is also a Chevy Dealership where they recommend you replace PCV valves every other oil change!

HAHAHAHAHA!

So I went over to the handy dandy Tool Crib (local yokal used & new tool shop) and bought me one of those fine, Made in China, used (?) 19mm crow's foot for $1.00. After much screaming, primarilly due to the amount of time it took to FINALLY get my $2.49 aftermarket PCV valve (Actually, they are ALL aftermarket!) to thread into the plenum, NOT the beautiful 1" burn on my right middle finger, the job is now done: whether this will positively affect my slight oil seal leak is yet to be determined. I would recommend the ones with straight internal sides vs. the ones that have a ridge at the tip as it is much harder to get them on the hex part of the PCV valve, taking into consideration that there must be at least an extra 1/4" of room in there! Why it had to come in from the underside at God Knows What! angle I'll never know! I would have gladly shot anyone on the engine design team responsible...

Oh, and the good news was that there was absolutely no metal nor any particulate matter in the pan or on the screen, the fluid was a pretty pink, with no smell, and they say it has been a couple of years since they had any SVX's in with tranny problems...

Life is good, sometimes!

[huck369]

Just changed my PVC today also, but I took it loose with a deep well socket, First I removed the covers, then the intake tube, then I took the throttle body loose, which allowed me to get a 3/8" breaker bar with a 19mm deep well(I accually used a 3/4" socket), after breaking it loose put the socket on a 3/8" ratchet and took it right out.
I don't see how you guys did it without taking off the throttle body off

[Earthworm]

I can laugh because I managed to change the PCV valve

I used haywire around the valve to hold it in a close enough position to start threading it with my fingers. There's no explaining the amount of relief of finally getting those threads started!!!

[vkykam]

I removed the PCV valve no problem, with just a standard wrench. Lots of patience, but got it off. Then I thought, how the heck was I supposed to get the hose back on without removing anything else?

I have small hands, so I ended up taking off the accessories belt, and swinging the alternator up, and reaching in from the front. Oh what fun.

I loosened the idler pully too much and it came off, and when I put it back on, I put the little piece behind the lock nut backwards, causing the pully to seize while the belt was moving. That was not good.

Hopefully, everything'll be OK...

VK

[Landshark]

you really can get the PCV valve in without removing anything but the two plastic covers. i was stumped, also, but i re-read the how-to. you can weasel your hand under from the rear (carefully!). i was able to get a finger to hold it up while i started threading it from above with another finger or two. then you can pop the hose on from below because its pretty rigid. a VERY handy tool to have for this is one of those telescoping magnetic pick-up tools. i probably dropped the damn thing about 6 times under the intake and had to fish it out. when your done, have a beer and schedule a chiropractor appointment.

[svx_commuter]

I remember the PCV was hard to break loose with the crows foot but it did come loose ans out. It was not too bad. Going back in I do not remember having any problems. I reached under the intake form the side or the back and got it in okay. I did not take anything "extra" off. The How-To worked okay for me

[Hocrest]

Originally posted by Earthworm
There's no explaining the amount of relief of finally getting those threads started!!!

Hell yeah!!!!

For reinstallation i put the valve in the tubing and used the stiffness of the tubing to hold the valve in place while I twisted the valve with my home made wrench

Here's what I used

[Hocrest]

Originally posted by JLittell
Here's what I used

Yeah, I found that in another post and went out to buy a MAP/O2 torch to make my own

[ensteele]

John - I made one of those, but need you to show me how it is used.

can I get the PVC valve at any parts shop or do I have to go to a subaru dealer?

The PCV valve on the SVX is the same one Subaru has been using on Legacys and Imprezas for about ten years. Any parts place should have it.




Dave

Originally posted by red95svx
The PCV valve on the SVX is the same one Subaru has been using on Legacys and Imprezas for about ten years. Any parts place should have it.

Dave

It fits about a billion other cars too.

I was looking back through my service records, and it appears as though i have about 160,000 miles on my original PCV valve. The car runs fine, but i DO have some seepage around the back of the valve cover gaskets. Think it's worth replacing? Should I do it myself, or leave it to the dealership?

Mike

[ensteele]

I think that it would be worth taking out and checking it. They say that if the little ball in there moves like it should, clean it and put it back. For $6.00, I think I would replace it so I would not have to mess with it again for many more miles.

I hope you try it, because I want to see what luck you have with it.