# PCV valve **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [February 18, 2015, 7:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pcv-valve/89076 "2015-02-18T07:21:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mycruze2012](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mycruze2012/32/2922_2.png) [@mycruze2012](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mycruze2012)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 7:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pcv-valve/89076/1 "2015-02-18T07:21:41Z")
Hi. My Cruze is having issues again. The engine light came on so I took it to a mechanic to get it checked. I was told that the PCV valve was bad. They told me that the valve needs changed and the valve cover gasket needs changed. Does this sound correct for a PCV valve? ---
**Author:** ![mycruze2012](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mycruze2012/32/2922_2.png) [@mycruze2012](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mycruze2012)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 7:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pcv-valve/89076/2 "2015-02-18T07:37:13Z")
[http://www.cruzetalk.com/forum/129-engine-transmission-tutorials/49665-how-replace-valve-camshaft-cover-1-4l-turbo.html](http://www.cruzetalk.com/forum/129-engine-transmission-tutorials/49665-how-replace-valve-camshaft-cover-1-4l-turbo.html) I found this online about the valve. I guess this answers my question. ---
**Author:** ![MG-McAnick](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mg-mcanick/32/188_2.png) [@MG-McAnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MG-McAnick)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 8:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pcv-valve/89076/3 "2015-02-18T08:47:01Z")
It’s PVC for Positive Crankcase Ventilation. I’m not familiar with the Cruze engine, but I question the need to remove the camshaft cover to replace the PCV valve. On most engines, it’s a 30 second operation. I’ve never seen an engine where removing the cover was necessary, but I’m willing to learn. Is the cam cover leaking? What about the 5-year 100K mile emissions warranty? ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 8:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pcv-valve/89076/4 "2015-02-18T08:58:41Z")
MG, I think he meant that he was told that both needed to be done, not that the latter needed doing in order to do the former. ---
**Author:** ![MG-McAnick](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mg-mcanick/32/188_2.png) [@MG-McAnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MG-McAnick)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 9:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pcv-valve/89076/5 "2015-02-18T09:15:27Z")
As I asked, is the cam cover leaking? Can the OP ascertain whether or not it is? Are there oil drops on the ground? Does the OP smell oil smoke from oil burning on the exhaust manifold? It might be leaking, but then it might not. What mechanic made the diagnosis, Iffy lube, or a trusted indy shop? Sorry I’m suspicious. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 9:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pcv-valve/89076/6 "2015-02-18T09:44:40Z")
You should be. I’ve often complained that these “needed” gasket replacements are often being used as high-profit low-risk revenue generators. I also wonder why a PCV valve on a 2012 needs to be changed. And, frankly, if the PCV valve is stuck and excess pressure is forcing oil seepage past the valvecover gasket, why would a 3-year-old valvecover gasket need replacing once the source of the excess pressure (the clogged valvecover gasket) were replaced? And I’d love to know what the code(s) was(were). I can’t think of any monitoring device that would notify the ECU of elevated crankcase pressure or a malfunctioning PCV valve in any way. I’m starting to wonder if the mechanic couldn’t find the cause of the code(s) and went trolling for dollars. OP, what were the codes? ---
**Author:** ![MG-McAnick](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mg-mcanick/32/188_2.png) [@MG-McAnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MG-McAnick)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 4:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pcv-valve/89076/7 "2015-02-18T16:54:19Z")
Has the OP left the building? ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 6:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pcv-valve/89076/8 "2015-02-18T18:04:16Z")
If the OP is still monitoring this thread, I think that the obvious/logical course of action is to recognize that the PCV may need **TO BE** changed. This part is perhaps the cheapest one in your entire car, and spending the $5.00 or so for installing a new PCV valve is a very inexpensive way to–possibly–stop seepage of oil from the valve cover gasket. If that doesn’t stop the seepage, then it will be necessary to delve more deeply into the problem, but I see this potential $5.00 solution as a reasonable approach at this point. Does the valve cover gasket need **TO BE** changed? Maybe Maybe not Perhaps you just need to “snug up” the bolts holding the valve cover to the engine. In any event, this $5.00 experiment is one the cheapest approaches that you could take at this point, before you decide whether to take any further action. ---
**Author:** ![mycruze2012](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mycruze2012/32/2922_2.png) [@mycruze2012](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mycruze2012)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 10:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pcv-valve/89076/9 "2015-02-18T22:23:42Z")
Check out this link about the valve. [http://www.cruzetalk.com/forum/129-engine-transmission-tutorials/49665-how-replace-valve-camshaft-cover-1-4l-turbo.html](http://www.cruzetalk.com/forum/129-engine-transmission-tutorials/49665-how-replace-valve-camshaft-cover-1-4l-turbo.html) ---
**Author:** ![mycruze2012](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mycruze2012/32/2922_2.png) [@mycruze2012](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mycruze2012)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 10:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pcv-valve/89076/10 "2015-02-18T22:25:44Z")
I don’t know the codes but they advised they did further research and found the issue with the valve. I hope this is covered under the drive train warranty because it is pretty in depth. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 11:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pcv-valve/89076/11 "2015-02-18T23:02:10Z")
There is a service bulletin for this. The PCV valve diaphragm can become damaged due to a missing or improperly seated intake manifold non return valve. Have a professional who has experience with these engines diagnose this, an OEM PCV valve is $91 and if the cause of the failure isn’t corrected the replacement PCV valve will fail. ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 11:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pcv-valve/89076/12 "2015-02-18T23:24:12Z")
By casting the PCV valve and passages into the block and head GM saved a couple $ on hoses and fittings but made the system much more complicated to service. ---
**Author:** ![MG-McAnick](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mg-mcanick/32/188_2.png) [@MG-McAnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MG-McAnick)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 1:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pcv-valve/89076/13 "2015-02-19T01:24:21Z")
So the PCV valve is an integral part of the cam cover. What will they think of next (to make more money). ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 1:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pcv-valve/89076/14 "2015-02-19T01:41:36Z")
**^** No wonder it costs $91.00 instead of the usual $5.00! Yikes! What a terrible design…