Questions about PCV valve replacement in my 09
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,382
From: Maryland
Questions about PCV valve replacement in my 09
I have located the thing finally, I've been contemplating changing it forever now. I have the OEM new PCV sitting in my garage for 2 years now with a shiny Nissan sticker on it
1. The first issue is the clamp on the PCV pipe is kind of toward the firewall (bummer), how do you suggest to grab the hose clamp up? I even thought for a moment to cut the hose covering the short PCV pipe and hook the new one to the remaining of the hose. But kind of hate the idea of cutting the hose and might make it shorter
2. Will the PCV itself need an adjustable wrench to loosen? I have seen a video on youtube and the guy suggested a 24mm socket to crack it loose. Is it tight and not possible to loosen manually only? I also got the ball joint socket because the area is so tight
3. Do you need to lubricate the washer of the new PCV valve with oil to "seal" the edge? some youtuber suggest that
Please share your experience
Thanks
1. The first issue is the clamp on the PCV pipe is kind of toward the firewall (bummer), how do you suggest to grab the hose clamp up? I even thought for a moment to cut the hose covering the short PCV pipe and hook the new one to the remaining of the hose. But kind of hate the idea of cutting the hose and might make it shorter
2. Will the PCV itself need an adjustable wrench to loosen? I have seen a video on youtube and the guy suggested a 24mm socket to crack it loose. Is it tight and not possible to loosen manually only? I also got the ball joint socket because the area is so tight
3. Do you need to lubricate the washer of the new PCV valve with oil to "seal" the edge? some youtuber suggest that
Please share your experience
Thanks
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 384
It is a total PITA to change it out on the 07 as well. I just remove the windshield cowl rather than fighting with it. Takes me about 25min to do the job.
I use a channellock wrench to remove the the hose clamp and PCV Valve. The PCV valve is plastic so it should come out easily.
I have never lubed the rubber o-ring for the PCV valve. I just put the PCV valve in snug and that is it.
I use a channellock wrench to remove the the hose clamp and PCV Valve. The PCV valve is plastic so it should come out easily.
I have never lubed the rubber o-ring for the PCV valve. I just put the PCV valve in snug and that is it.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 781
This guy made a good video
https://youtu.be/K0PvZ2t2zKk
https://youtu.be/K0PvZ2t2zKk
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,382
From: Maryland
Finally got that bad boy out. The hose clamp lips stupidly were pointing toward the firewall. PITA to grab with my nose pliers. Got that up and facing forward and moved hose out of the PCV. The valve itself was SO tight it barely moved using a 15/16 inch socket (a 24mm might have been a better fit) manually twisted (another PITA using no ratchet because of no room to insert one there).
Put in the new one then gave it half a turn with the socket. Then reattached the hose and clamp.
The old one was barely rattling upon vigorous shaking. I'd say %15 of life remaining in it, seems original from factory til 104k miles. And I'd considered my car was meticulously maintained by me and the previous owner. Definitely needed replacement.
Put in the new one then gave it half a turn with the socket. Then reattached the hose and clamp.
The old one was barely rattling upon vigorous shaking. I'd say %15 of life remaining in it, seems original from factory til 104k miles. And I'd considered my car was meticulously maintained by me and the previous owner. Definitely needed replacement.
Last edited by mahanddeem; Jul 6, 2022 at 08:37 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 384
Finally got that bad boy out. The hose clamp lips stupidly were pointing toward the firewall. PITA to grab with my nose pliers. Got that up and facing forward and moved hose out of the PCV. The valve itself was SO tight it barely moved using a 15/16 inch socket (a 24mm might have been a better fit) manually twisted (another PITA using no ratchet because of no room to insert one there).
Put in the new one then gave it half a turn with the socket. Then reattached the hose and clamp.
The old one was barely rattling upon vigorous shaking. I'd say %15 of life remaining in it, seems original from factory til 104k miles. And I'd considered my car was meticulously maintained by me and the previous owner. Definitely needed replacement.
Put in the new one then gave it half a turn with the socket. Then reattached the hose and clamp.
The old one was barely rattling upon vigorous shaking. I'd say %15 of life remaining in it, seems original from factory til 104k miles. And I'd considered my car was meticulously maintained by me and the previous owner. Definitely needed replacement.
Good work. Those are very important little vales considering what they do. It is really too bad Nissan makes it so tough to replace them. I do mainly city (stop/go) traffic, so I change mine out every 2-3 years.
Now you know the drill. Next time will be much easier for you.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,847
From: Central Florida
Apologies for not replying before but one thing I noticed when replacing mine the first time was that the hose had a crack in it as it goes behind the firewall. I found it by (with the car running and pcv hose disconnected) putting my finger over the opening and listening. It was heat cycled so removed it and replaced it. Note that if you make the turn too tight, the new hose will deform and crack again.
First time I replaced it I thought I would have to enlist the services of a neighborhood 6yr old to have hands small enough to work in that space. I eventually ending up going to Harbor Freight and buying every length and nose configuration of pliers they had until I could get something behind that clamp facing the firewall.
When I replaced the valve covers years later, I found the ones that I had purchased included the new PVC pre-installed.
Congrats to all who tackled this often-missed component.\
First time I replaced it I thought I would have to enlist the services of a neighborhood 6yr old to have hands small enough to work in that space. I eventually ending up going to Harbor Freight and buying every length and nose configuration of pliers they had until I could get something behind that clamp facing the firewall.
When I replaced the valve covers years later, I found the ones that I had purchased included the new PVC pre-installed.
Congrats to all who tackled this often-missed component.\
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,382
From: Maryland
Apologies for not replying before but one thing I noticed when replacing mine the first time was that the hose had a crack in it as it goes behind the firewall. I found it by (with the car running and pcv hose disconnected) putting my finger over the opening and listening. It was heat cycled so removed it and replaced it. Note that if you make the turn too tight, the new hose will deform and crack again.
First time I replaced it I thought I would have to enlist the services of a neighborhood 6yr old to have hands small enough to work in that space. I eventually ending up going to Harbor Freight and buying every length and nose configuration of pliers they had until I could get something behind that clamp facing the firewall.
When I replaced the valve covers years later, I found the ones that I had purchased included the new PVC pre-installed.
Congrats to all who tackled this often-missed component.\
First time I replaced it I thought I would have to enlist the services of a neighborhood 6yr old to have hands small enough to work in that space. I eventually ending up going to Harbor Freight and buying every length and nose configuration of pliers they had until I could get something behind that clamp facing the firewall.
When I replaced the valve covers years later, I found the ones that I had purchased included the new PVC pre-installed.
Congrats to all who tackled this often-missed component.\
I tried to be very gentle with that hose.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,382
From: Maryland
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 781
small needle nose pliers to rotate clamp facing firewall, to facing strut mount, then slide up.
small pliers to grab edge of PCV to loosen - half a turn, finger other half.
tighten, used a fitting socket to tighten
done
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,847
From: Central Florida
Yeah, I have had my baby since the fall of 2008. The first time the pvc was oem. After that, whatever NAPA gave me and then finally the one that came with the valve covers.
Last edited by LtLeary; Jul 8, 2022 at 05:59 AM.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
NCSUpilot
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
6
Dec 22, 2006 06:34 AM
kbmaxima
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
6
Nov 29, 2004 08:16 PM