When Should You Replace Your Mini’s PCV Valve

The recommended time frame to replace your Mini’s PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventilation) valve varies to a great extent. The model of your Mini, driving conditions, and the quality of the valve itself has a significant effect on how long the PCV valve will last. There is no routine maintenance schedule per se. That said, most manufacturers recommend changing your Mini’s  PCV valve every 30,000 to 60,000 miles.

In reality, you change it when it needs to be changed! However, that does NOT mean you can simply ignore the PCV valve. Mini Coopers are known to have problems with their PCV valve. So keep an eye on it, or bring your Mini to us, and we will!

What is a PCV Valve?

As its name suggests, the PCV valve (the Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve) is a one-way valve that helps with the ventilation of the blow-by gases from your engine. All internal combustion engines produce blow-by gases. These are the unburned fuel that is created when fuel, oil, and exhaust vapors slip by the piston rings. These are extremely toxic gasses, which, if left unchecked, will erode your engine. They are also bad for the environment if they escape through exhaust emissions.

The PCV valve in your Mini removes these unburned gasses from the engine’s crankcase and sends them back into the internal combustion chambers by way of the intake manifold. The engine can now burn these gases again, making the exhaust emissions much less toxic.

Signs of a Problematic PCV Valve

When a PCV Filter fails, you may see the following issues:

• • There is increased engine pressure.
  • Gaskets and seals start to fail.
  • There are oil leaks from the engine.
  • There is a buildup of sludge and black or blue smoke from the tailpipe.
  • The engine tends to surge and misfire.
  • The engine consumes more oil.

If the PCV valve gets stuck, you may notice the following:

• • The engine misfires during idling.
  • The correct fuel-to-air ratio is not being achieved.
  • More oil is being used.

Other symptoms, visual and auditory:

• • If you hear whistling or hissing sounds from your engine, it could mean there is something out of order with the PCV valve.
  • The Check Engine light or MIL (Malfunction Indicator Light) on your dashboard is alerting you that something is wrong with the engine. You’ll need to have your Mini inspected to make sure if the problem is with the PCV valve.

What Happens if You Ignore PCV Valve Problems?

This is a very serious problem. If you suspect your Mini’s PCV valve may be compromised, get it checked. The challenge is that many complications in a vehicle have similar symptoms. There is no way to know what exactly is the issue unless a complete and deep diagnostic is performed. For this, you need sophisticated equipment and trained professionals.

Some resulting effects of a failing PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventilation) valve are listed below:

• Since a malfunctioning PCV valve affects the air-to-fuel ratio, it impacts fuel efficiency, and you will notice bad gas mileage. This is not only bad for the car, but it also erodes away at your wallet.
• Increased oil consumption leads to oil loss and inherent engine damage.
• When your Mini misfires or experiences convulsive idling, it impacts and lowers the power and performance of the engine.
• When the PCV valve is not functioning correctly, pressure can build up in the crankcase, and seals, gaskets, and other important parts of the engine could be damaged.
• Improper ventilation allows the blow-by gasses to mix with oil and form sludge. Ignoring the accumulation of sludge buildup will clog the oil passages and cause irreparable damage to your Mini’s engine.
• As you’ll get higher emissions due to a failed PCV valve, your Mini will not be compliant with the emissions requirements.

What to Do?

As you see there is no set schedule for replacing the PCV valve of your Mini Cooper. This is why it is absolutely crucial that you are aware of the symptoms of a failed PCV valve, so that if you notice any of these, you can bring your car to a professional garage. The best way to do this is not to wait for problems to manifest themselves! When you are having your scheduled maintenance done, have your mechanic take a look at the PCV valve also.

At Germany’s Best Inc., we can help you with that. Our professionally trained and certified technicians can advise you as to when is the best time to replace your Mini’s PCV valve. Call us or stop by at any of our locations in Berkeley, Emeryville, Piedmont, and Oakland in California.

* Gray Mini Cooper Countryman Car image credit goes to: bruev.