3rd Gen Protege/MazdaSpeed/P5/MP3 General/Maintenance Discussion for 1999-2003.5 Models Only (BJ Chassis)

PCV valve/breather elements

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Old July-17th-2002 | 01:59 PM
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PCV valve/breather elements

Any idear where the PCV valve is located in the MP5? I'm not very mechanically-savvy, so I'll probably need a labeled picture. (Telling me it's right next to the whatchamahoozit likely won't help me much )

Thanks--
Chris
Old July-17th-2002 | 06:13 PM
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There's no specific instructions about PCV valve in manual at all, so I wouldn't bother. It's on the driver's side in the cam cover and tube is going into intake hose.
Alex
Old July-17th-2002 | 08:35 PM
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Actually, the PCV valve is located in the center/rear of the valve cover. There is a single 90 degree bent hose coming out of it that goes to a "T" nylon fitting and then 2 short hoses that go to the intake manifold. The hose that goes to the driver's side of the valve cover is just the breather. It has clean air pulled through it into the engine by the PCV.
Old July-18th-2002 | 09:32 AM
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Originally posted by Traveler
Actually, the PCV valve is located in the center/rear of the valve cover.
Ignorance strikes again... (me, not you ). What's the valve cover? Is that the aluminum plate the plugs sit on?
Old July-18th-2002 | 09:46 AM
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Its the piece of metal where you read mazda 2.0,and yes ,the 4 spark plug wires protrude from it.....
why do you bother about your pcv valve anyway?
Old July-18th-2002 | 01:06 PM
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Originally posted by traffik

why do you bother about your pcv valve anyway?
Standard maintenance. PCV valve should ideally be replaced every 1500 miles (although I won't be that religious). If it isn't doing its job, you can end up with gasoline in the crankcase, resulting in goopy oil, lowering its lubricating qualities and damaging the engine. You also get worse gas mileage and increased chances for oil leakages from seals getting hung up on "clumps".

I've got a lot of theoretical knowledge about cars, but I'm just starting to put any of it to use.....
Old July-18th-2002 | 01:15 PM
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PCV valve should ideally be replaced every 1500 miles
where did you read that????
they don't even need to be replaced every 150,000 miles. all you need to do is pull it out, if it rattles then you are fine
Old July-18th-2002 | 01:49 PM
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Where is the PCV on the 1.6L. I get 500kms on a tank. Seems low to me! I should be getting like closer to 600kms on a tank. Shouldn't I?????
Old July-18th-2002 | 02:08 PM
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Originally posted by VaporTrails

Standard maintenance. PCV valve should ideally be replaced every 1500 miles
Does it actually say that in the manual? I had heard every 15,000 miles. Heck the 1,500 is less than the interval on the oil change... it just does not seem right.
Old July-18th-2002 | 02:22 PM
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Originally posted by Tom Slick

where did you read that????
they don't even need to be replaced every 150,000 miles. all you need to do is pull it out, if it rattles then you are fine
I've heard a range of 12,000 to 50,000 miles (never as much as 150,000, though). This particular number came from:
http://www.jiflube.com/myhtml/questions/question10.html

Like I said, it seems a little often for me - I'm thinking around 30K I'll take a look & replace if necessary. It's really such a cheap part that does a pretty important thing, that it couldn't hurt at all to just change it often.
Old July-18th-2002 | 02:23 PM
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Originally posted by JJB

Does it actually say that in the manual? I had heard every 15,000 miles. Heck the 1,500 is less than the interval on the oil change... it just does not seem right.
Oops ... typo. I meant 15,000.
Old July-18th-2002 | 03:00 PM
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Post PCV...more than most do!

Isn't that the way with regular maintenance anyways... atleast some people got it right . A car isn't as maintenance free as people think. You have to keep replacing things regularly to keep the car running properly. A PCV valve is a tune-up item, and when I say tune up, I mean replacing parts that aren't broken as most owners do...somethings just wear out! This crap about 100,000 kms (60,000 mi) from a set of sparkplugs (as GM advertises ) is absurd if you ask me. Plugs should be changed every 25,000 kms, tires should be rotated every 10,000 kms (I pull out the plugs & re-check the gap when I rotate!) (maybe I'm **** ), but this is easy stuff! Spark plug wires once a year, Most importantly, oil change & filter every 5000 kms! It's written in the bible (is that New age or KingJames ) It's non hard, grab a on a lazy Sunday afternoon and spend some quality time with your car, give it a wash...if you show it love it will pay off !
Old July-18th-2002 | 04:10 PM
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Originally posted by Tom Slick

where did you read that????
they don't even need to be replaced every 150,000 miles. all you need to do is pull it out, if it rattles then you are fine
No, no. Rattling does not mean anything.

The way to inspect a PCV valve is to remove it, connect a piece of tubing to each end, then blow and suck into each tube. (The tubing is there so you don't get motor oil in your mouth. ) The valve should only open (it will "click" and flow air) when you suck on the intake end and blow into the engine end. If it opens and/or flows air under any other circumstance, it's bad.

If I recall correctly, the FSM says that you should *inspect* (not necessarily replace) the PCV valve every 15k miles. In my experience, they usually last a LONG time on a new engine. 150k miles isn't unheard of. Since PCV's are so dadgum cheap ($1.99 at AutoZone) you might as well replace it more often, but it's really not necessary.
Old July-19th-2002 | 08:28 AM
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Rebel- GM sparkplugs are rated for 100 000miles, not 100 000kms. ~160 000kms!! I don't beleive it either. Just like lifetime auto tranny fluid. Ya , Whatever!!!! So I will replace the tranny fluid and PCV and.......

Are the PCV on the 1.6L in the same place as the P5??? Thanks in advance!
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