The PCV system is responsible for recirculating unburned gasses and vapors from the engine back into the intake manifold. This process helps to prevent these vapors from entering the atmosphere. However, this seemingly small piece of the valve can cause a lot of hassle for a car owner when it goes bad. A faulty PCV valve can burn through a lot of oil and lead to all sorts of problems, including oil leakage, clogging in the car’s engine, increased fuel consumption, and other damage like engine stalling.
So, how much oil can a bad PCV valve burn, and how do you understand this problem is caused by a bad PCV valve? This guide will help you understand all you need to know about a bad PCV valve.
How much oil can a bad PCV valve burn?
If the PCV valve is clogged, it can’t draw air properly, and oil can leak out. So, how much oil can a bad PCV valve burn? It can vary depending on how severe the clogging in the PCV valve is. But it can range from leaking a few drops of oil daily to leaking almost a quart of oil. That’s a lot of oil, and it can cause serious engine problems.
What are the signs of a bad PCV valve?
If your PCV valve is not functioning properly, it can cause various problems for your vehicle. Worse of all, it doesn’t stop you from driving the car. But the engine will be under a lot of pressure and can lead to many problems which will be quite costly to fix.
Here are some of the potential signs of a bad PCV valve:
Engine light warning
If you have a Check Engine Light appearing on your car’s dashboard, it could be due to a problem with the PCV valve. The PCV valve is responsible for regulating the pressure in the engine’s crankcase, and it’s directly connected to the engine. So if it’s not working properly, it can cause the Check Engine Light to come on.
Reduced fuel economy
When your PCV valve is not working properly, it can allow unburned fuel to enter the combustion chamber. This can lead to incomplete combustion, which in turn lowers your mileage. It also increases pressure inside the crankcase and forces out the oil.
So you are likely to notice a reduced fuel economy than earlier. You may notice oil drips on your garage floor from the car. If you notice such incidents, it might be a sign of a bad PCV valve in the car.
Misfiring of engine
A bad PCV valve can cause the car to misfire when trying to start it. The PCV valve will always screw up the air and fuel mixture ratio when it goes bad. This lead to a lean mixture of air and fuel ratio, which leads to the misfiring of the engine
Rough idle and acceleration
If your car is idling roughly, it could be a sign that your PCV valve is not working properly. The wrong mixture of air and fuel due to faulty PCV valves is also the reason for the Rough idle and acceleration.
Blue/Black/ White Smoke
Can a bad PCV valve cause smoke? A bad PCV valve can cause blue smoke from your car’s tailpipe. When the PCV valve is not working properly, it can allow oil to be drawn into the combustion chamber, which will burn off and cause blue smoke. You may also notice other colors of smoke-like white or black ones, but regardless of the color, it is caused by the PCV valve.
Contaminated Filter
The PCV valve is responsible for allowing fresh air to enter the engine; if it’s not working properly, contaminated air can also enter. This can lead to a decrease in performance and fuel economy and can even cause your engine to stall.
Carbon buildup on spark plugs
Bad PCV valves can lead to Moisture and sludge buildup in the engine, which can eventually clog the engine. As the PCV valve can’t properly ventilate the crankcase emissions, the gas gets trapped inside the system and starts carbon buildup on the spark plugs.
What is the PCV Valve Replacement Cost?
PCV Valve Replacement is a relatively inexpensive repair, but it can significantly affect how your car runs. But how much does the PCV valve replacement cost?
The cost to replace a PCV valve will vary depending on the make and model of your car. In most cases, it will be a fairly inexpensive repair. The average cost for a PCV valve replacement is between $50 and $200, including the labor cost but excluding the tax.
Final Words
As you can see, a bad PCV valve will not only cause excess oil burn and leak, but other problems such as engine misfire and sludge buildup can also happen. Although it’s inexpensive to fix, most people don’t realize it until it’s too late. So if you see oil leakage from your car into the garage floor or notice any other symptoms we have detailed here, make sure to replace the faulty PCV valve as soon as possible.
