I have a 1996 Ford Explorer and want to replace the old PCV Valve. I haven't been able to locate the port where the PCV Valve connects to. I have seen the PCV Valve connection on other cars located right on the valve cover - very easy to get to, but for the life of me cannot locate it on my Explorer. I'm thinking it may be located on the upper rear of the engine near the firewall, but that's a cramped space and hard to get to. Any help would be appreciated.

 

you did not state what engine but on a V6 4.0 it is on the drivers side. It is on the rear of the valve cover near the firewall. Has a short rubber hose about 4 or five inches long. The hose has about a 90 degree curve in it and is about 5/8" in diameter. PVC valves are usually in the valve cover somewhere no matter what engine.

 

Sorry about that. I have the V8 5.0 L engine on my 96 Explorer. Would the location of the PCV valve be different than on the V6 4.0 L? Thanks for you help.

 

not familiar with the V8 but it should still be in one of the valve covers. Usually has a rubber grommet in the valve cover and the PCV valve just pushes into the grommet. These devices remove crankcase gases/fumes from the engine and recycle them into the intake to be burned. Acts like a vent and only allows flow to go one way, from the crankcase to the intake.

 

I have one of those. The PCV valve is on the intake manifold at the back of the engine in the middle. You can see it with an inspection mirror. Extremely difficult to get at. Unless you have a specific reason for changing it, I suggest you leave it alone. It really is a nightmare.

 

At what point would you suggest replacing the PCV? Any particular milage?

 

I think Ford recommends 60K.

 

OK, first of all, a big THANK YOU to oldcarbuff and cd96drumm for their help and insight. I just now completed the replacement of the PCV Valve on my Explorer (in fact, I'm typing this message out on my keyboard before washing my hands I'm so excited). cd96drumm was right, it is a nightmare to replace. The space you have to work in to remove the hose/valve from the rubber gromment is extremely cramped. I didn't have an inspection mirror to use, so I did it by feel (actually stuck my finger in the grommet to make sure it was what I thought it was), oh and make sure you do this while the engine is cool, if it's hot you don't even want to be messing around back there. The PCV Valve I bought at Auto Zone (Deustch PCV 214) worked, but I had to remove the plastic elbow from the valve in order to slip the actual valve into the hose (Once I removed the plastic elbow, I checked the new valve with the old one and they looked exactly the same). The last remaining question I have about this replacement concerns the valve and rubber grommet. It was easy enough to insert the valve into the gromment, but I'm left to wonder if there is supposed to be some sort of clamp or something that holds it in place? The valve comes out fairly easy, just slides out without much effort. Is it supposed to be like that, or is there some sort of clamp that holds it in place?
Thanks again guys for your help.

 

You are an awesome dude, Webslinger!
No clamp, it just slips in.

 

Woohoo, make this novice mechanic feel good. Again, thanks a bunch for the help.