PCV Valve (When Too Replace)

[c3po]

The owner's manual for my 2004 Mercury Marauder says to change the PCV Valve at 100,000 miles.

My car is now 5 years old and it is coming up on 29,000 miles. I was thinking of replacing this item at 30,000 miles.

On another forum, a guy said all you need to do is take it off and clean it. I was under the impression that there is no way to tell if the spring inside the PCV Valve was good or not, and that it would be cheap insurance to change it more often.

I change the PCV Valve once a year on my small block chevy with 367,000 miles, but the item only cost me $3.00, I think the Ford Motorcraft PCV Valve is like $15.00 or more.

I also have read that the most important item on your engine to prevent wear is the air filter, followed by a clean PCV system, then a good oil and oil filter.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[JayhawkRoy]

I would go ahead and replace it, even if it is $15. 5 years is long enough for the original. I don't believe in being penny-wise, pound-foolish on items like this.

 

[wirelessF]

The spring in the PCV valve wears out over time so it's wise to replace the valve.

 

[c3po]

I made a mistake on the price, it is $6.90, but I do not know what shipping is, I am going to call my Lincoln/Mercury Dealer tommorow and see how much they want.

Some guy e-mailed me a Ford Place in Texas.

 

[bdcardinal]

see if they will give you the part number, a lot of dealers dont give out part numbers. a lot of the chain places carry motorcraft, and since they buy in huge bulk, they sell them for less then dealer cost.

 

[c3po]

Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
see if they will give you the part number, a lot of dealers dont give out part numbers. a lot of the chain places carry motorcraft, and since they buy in huge bulk, they sell them for less then dealer cost.


I was able to get the part number ( EV257 ), if my order is over $50.00 I get free shipping. The shipping cost was almost as much as the PCV Valve.

Sorry about the $15.00 or more price, I think a dealer once quotted me $20.00 for that PCV Valve, its so much better to try to buy these parts online.

 

[sciphi]

Replace. It's time.

 

[c3po]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
Replace. It's time.


I am getting on this tommorow.

 

[mechtech2]

Get a good one.
Get the most expensive one.
This is our only clue to quality and proper flow, instead of a part that 'fits' other cars as well.

 

[c3po]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Get a good one.
Get the most expensive one.
This is our only clue to quality and proper flow, instead of a part that 'fits' other cars as well.


I have heard that if I use a PCV Valve on this car and it does not say Motorcraft on it I could have some problems.

Supposodely people who have used off brand PCV Valves on Ford's have had some problems.

 

[panthermike]

Originally Posted By: c3po
Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Get a good one.
Get the most expensive one.
This is our only clue to quality and proper flow, instead of a part that 'fits' other cars as well.


I have heard that if I use a PCV Valve on this car and it does not say Motorcraft on it I could have some problems.

Supposodely people who have used off brand PCV Valves on Ford's have had some problems.


I haven't called Ford yet, but nobody seems to carry the MC PCV for my Mark VIII.

 

[c3po]

Originally Posted By: panthermike
Originally Posted By: c3po
Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Get a good one.
Get the most expensive one.
This is our only clue to quality and proper flow, instead of a part that 'fits' other cars as well.


I have heard that if I use a PCV Valve on this car and it does not say Motorcraft on it I could have some problems.

Supposodely people who have used off brand PCV Valves on Ford's have had some problems.


panthermike, what is the part number, I would just Google it, or check Rock Auto Parts.com

I haven't called Ford yet, but nobody seems to carry the MC PCV for my Mark VIII.

 

[PandaBear]

I've used Fram PCV before and the fit and finish sucks. Have to use a razor blade to clean up all the flashing before putting it in the car or else air would leaks around the flashing.

I leave the FRAM in for as long as it take me to clean the old one out, and put it back in.

Stick with OEM, even if they have to be from the dealer.

 

[Ben99GT]

Originally Posted By: c3po
Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Get a good one.
Get the most expensive one.
This is our only clue to quality and proper flow, instead of a part that 'fits' other cars as well.


I have heard that if I use a PCV Valve on this car and it does not say Motorcraft on it I could have some problems.

Supposodely people who have used off brand PCV Valves on Ford's have had some problems.


This is true.

Many of the aftermarket PCVs will give you high idle conditions in very little time.

Best to stick with Motorcraft on items such as this.

 

[demarpaint]

Buy the Motorcraft part, don't be penny wise and pound foolish. Years ago I put a Fram PCV valve on a Ford and it started using oil, changed back to Motorcraft and the oil use stopped.

 

[Benzadmiral]

MIne's not a Ford, but I had a similar experience. I put in a NAPA PCV valve the first week I had the Buick. It rattled! So I put the old one back, and the sound vanished.

When I made it to the dealer (they're not open on Saturday) and got an OEM PCV valve, I put it in and had no noise.

 

[ziggy]

So, when would be a good time to replace the pcv on stop n go traffic car? I change my oil every 3 months, which i have about 700 to 900 miles racked up. Usualy, i change it every year, with a dealer one. Its a 95 plymouth neon, SOHC. Every year, i use berryman b 12 or mopar CCC through the throttle body/brake booster. Every year, i get EGR cell light, and have to remove the [censored] thing and clean it out. so obviously stop n go traffic is causing carbon to buildup.
X2 on the idle issues with aftermarket ones. I had a ac delco pcv valve once, and it did cause engine surging, i guess is how i can best describe it. Put a dealer pcv in, and car ran fine.
so! Under stop n go traffic conditions, and the mileage i stated, would 1 year and 700=900 miles be good enough? or could the valve go longer?

 

[nthach]

I'm still running the OEM Nissan one on the beater van - with 216K on it.

 

[harry j]

I just change out my PCV valve every time I clean the air filter, around 12,000 miles. I always use the OEM version due to bad experiences with after market junk.

 

[TallPaul]

My mechanic said to go with the Motorcraft part for PCV valves.

I think you can put a vacuum gauge on the engine and detect if there is a probem with the PCV valve.