At 11:29 AM 3/9/98 -0500, you wrote:
>> > The question is... what is it and why is is so beat up
>> >compared to the rest of the engine compartment?
>
>> That Thingy is called a PCV valve.. If my memory servs me it is
>> sort of a vent.
>
> Well, sorta. That pyramid-shaped thingy is the PCV breather. The
>PCV valve is in the other valve cover.
>
>> One of its jobs is to recycle fumes and hot air
>> back into the enging... For the EPA you need it.. From what I have
>> done in the past is to get rid of it..
>
> This is not good advice. Not only is the PCV system part of your
>emissions package (making disabling it illegal, which is what you're
>doing when you replace the breather with an open-air element), but
>it can actually help the engine by helping to remove volatile impurities
>from your crankcase. I don't know what effect breaking the pressure
>loop like this will have on the system, but I don't think the disadvantages
>outweigh any potential advantage.
I agree completely with Ron. The PCV valve is only in use when the
throttle is closed (ie high vacumn like idling or cruising) When the
throttle is open (low vacumn like accelerating), the piston blowby is
vented through the PCV breather and into the air inlet before the throttle
blades.
Crankcase blowby is fully 1/3 of the engine's nasty emissions and is the
easiest to clean. It wastes no power and uses little money ($2 for a
valve?) to operate.
Nicholas
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