I took of the PCV valve and it rattled when I shook it. It popped right off. Is this why it could be leaking? What can I do to remedy this?
You can pull the PCV valve any old time. Take an old rag and clean up around the opening first so as to minimize getting any crud down into the valve cover. Whenever I pull mine out for the old “shake test” I typically clean it a little bit as well. Any kind of solvent that cuts oil/grease will do. Just get some in there, shake it up and then shake it out. It probably won’t look clean when you’re done but it keeps the build up down.
Incidentally, a new PCV valve can be easily found at any auto parts store for all about about $5.
I pulled it out while idling and it is getting suction too. So why is it leaking?
No!
Remove the PCV valve WITHOUT the engine running. Take the PCV valve out of the hose and try SHAKING it. If it doesn’t rattle replace it.
Tester
The fact that it is getting suction at idle is actually good.
The inside of your engine is a wildly dynamic place. At idle it’s doing 750 revolutions per minute - each one accompanied by multiple explosions inside of the engine. Think of that. It’s wild. The crankcase, where the oil is will at various times build up pressure instead. So it needs a place to vent - thus the “Positive Crankcase Ventilation” system. The PCV is a valve - because it will respond to the different conditions in the engine.
I took it out with the car off, shook it; it rattled. I took it off with the car idling and put my finger against it and it is getting suction.
So why is it leaking?
Is there a lot of gum and varnish in the PCV valve?
Tester
I’ve attached images.
I tried to take the grommet off to get a closer picture of that but I can’t get it off.
Could this leaking be why I’m losing oil pressure?
OMG!
Replace the PCV valve.
Tester
Okay. I can get the valve off the hose but there’s a rubber part that connects it to the hose that I can’t get off. I tried looking on RockAuto to see what that part is called but I can’t find it. Do part stores usually sell the rubber part with the valve? Should I try using a pair of pliers to get the grommet off?
If I replace all three of those, do you think the leak will stop??
Even on AutoZone’s website, I can’t find the rubber part that connects the valve to the hose.
EDIT: The part I’m talking about is the PCV Valve Elbow. If I’m gonna replace the valve, I might as well replace the elbow and grommet. I don’t want to drive 30 minutes leaking oil to a parts store if they’re not going to have the elbow.
Twist the PCV valve and the rubber elbow to break the rubber elbow lose.
Tester
"Could this leaking be why I’m losing oil pressure? "
No, it’s got nothing to do with oil pressure. Everytime the engine fires it does it with tremendous pressure - that’s why the car goes. Some of the pressure blows by the piston rings into the crank case and creates pressure. That spot is just for venting that pressure. (Getting a little suction at idle just means that you don’t have a lot of blow-by, which is why I said it was good). Most of the oil that hits the thing is in the form of mist carried in the hot gases. It’s not part of anything that any oil pumps through.
The grommet is probably fine. As Tester said, you just have to get the valve twisting in it to loosen it up and then it will slide right out.
So I went to AutoZone and got the new PCV valve, but they didn’t have a specific elbow listed for my car. So I had to just guess because I didn’t bring the old one with me for fear of stuff falling into the crankcase without those parts in place.
Turns out I got the wrong elbow. No matter how hard I twist and pull I can’t detach the valve from the elbow. Any ideas? Would spraying WD-40 on it to try to loosen it up be a bad idea?
The PCV valve is made of plastic. Right?
Place the PCV valve and the elbow on a hard surface. Take a hammer and hit the rubber elbow where the PCV valve plugs into the elbow. This will break up the plastic nipple inside the hose for the PCV valve so the hose can be removed.
Sorta like breaking up dried bread crumbs inside a Zip-Loc bag to make meatloaf.
Tester
The valve is made of metal.
Hit it with a hammer. If you deform the nipple the elbow will come off.
Tester
I just cracked the elbow hitting it with a hammer 
If you cracked the rubber elbow the rubber is dried out.
Take the PCV valve and the rubber elbow to a local parts store. They’ll match up the PCV valve. Then they’re going to let you look at their array of molded hoses. And then you’ll find one that most closely matches what you need. But you may have to trim that hose to fit the application.
Welcome to auto repair on the fly.
Tester
Yup, everything was closed when I got home with the wrong elbow so I’m gonna go out tomorrow with the old elbow and try to find a match.
I know very little about cars but I just have to be sure because I have to drive an hour tomorrow night and I really don’t want oil all over my crank case… Can I be sure that the grommet is not an issue? I want to replace it but I can’t get it off. Tried needle-nose pliers and even tried taking a flat-head screw driver and prying from the bottom and I couldn’t get it.