I give up trying to change the PCV valves on my J30T

[Victor]

What a crappy design from a maintainability viewpoint. Looking at my PCV valves it looks like they have never been changed, and I can see why, probably have to pull the engine to do it or they were put on at the factory when the engine wasn't installed yet.
Problem 1, where are they located. I had a new one I bought (later found out the J30 has two PCV valves, one on each side of the engine, but good thing I only bought one because I can't even install that), and could see it had to be connected to about a half inch ID hose somewhere, so checked all the hoses going to the intake manifold and finally found the location about midpoint on the intake manifold at the bottom sticking out of a casting, with the valve facing rearward.
Problem 2. I could see the only way to remove the PCV valve would be using a deep socket on the end of a four inch extention. There was not enough clearance to get an open end wrench on the valve, and even if there was there was not enough room to turn the wrench.
Problem 3. The hose has to be removed first before you can get a deep socket on the valve. But the release tabs on the hose clamps were facing downward so you couldn't get a pair of pliers on them to release them. This is why I think the PCV valve was last installed when the engine was out of the car. I finally made a hook out of some coat hanger wire and managed to hook the tabs and swing them around to the side of the hose where I could get a pliers on them on the passenger side, this trick wouldn't work on the drivers side.
Problem 4: So now I can release the hose clamp on the passenger side, but the hose is old and hardened up and there is not enough space to get a good grip on it and remove it. Possibly if one had a lift and had a long skinny arm they might be able get in just the right position to squeeze their arm in next to the exhaust pipe and grab it. I tried pushing it off with a screwdriver from the frong but there is too much other stuff in the way to get a good angle on it. So looks like my J30t will go with its original PCV valves when it finally ends its life in a junk yard.

[yodawill2000]

Welcome to the VG30DE.
First off forget the hose.
Cut it out as it needs to be replaced anyway.
next deal with cut knuckles and dog the old PVC out.
Never say never.

[GerryO]

Replaced mine with the plenum off and at least replacement valves aren't very expensive. Don't remember how I got things apart, but I was able to re-use the old hoses. Replacing the EGR valve with plenum off is a different story.

[Amadauss1]

I feel for you. They are not the easiest to get out. took me a while to do it. I remember moving some things in the way and like yoda said cut the hose. Not an easy job but can be done with the engine still there . Good luck.

[Infinitiguy19]

Thankfully that's one of the real easy things to do on the Q. But the first time I cleaned the Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve (PCV) I lost it, but then found it after messing it up a little.

[fourdrinie]

I thought the same thing for years....couldn't get the PCV valve off, esp the drivers side....
the trick is to use a deep socket, I believe 19mm, a short extension, I think it was four inch, but the real trick is to use a swivel knuckle on the rachet...once I used the three-eighths swivel knuckle, I got it real easy....
plus you definitely have to replace the hose, dont even think about using the old one!!!!
you will see when you get the new one from the dealer, it is so pliable and easy to slip on with some liquid dish soap...and get yourself some new worm clamps, they are much easier to tighten!

[swimshark]

I replaced mine when I pulled the plenum to delete the throttle body coolant lines and replaced the oem hoses with silicone hoses from Z1. i wanna say its 19mm to get them off. mini wracheting 19mm wrench would do the job with plenum on the motor.

http://www.z1motorsports.com/product_in ... ts_id=3417

http://www.z1motorsports.com/product_in ... ts_id=3102

http://www.z1motorsports.com/product_in ... ts_id=3418

the silicone hoses wont ever crack and are a lot easier to slip on and off than the oem rubber hoses.

[GerryO]

the silicone hoses wont ever crack and are a lot easier to slip on and off than the oem rubber hoses.

Thanks for the silicone hoses links/tip!

[swimshark]

if you get short nose needle nose pliers it make it easy to move the clamps around.