PCV valve removal

I'm looking to remove the PCV to check and perform PM. It's probably original to the truck. Do you have any tips or tricks to remove the PCV valve? I know it should just pull out but I can't seem to do it. I pried the grommet a little bit to see if the rubber is still pliable and it seems so. Should I keep prying at the grommet with a screw driver to get both out?

 

Yeah you have to remove the gromet. I would make sure you have a new gromet tho before you pull it out since it’s old and will prob get messed up in the process.

 

thanks! just wondering... is it easier to pull out with a newer grommet or does the grommet get messed up everytime?

 

Should be fine to pull it after u got a new one on there. The old one is prob the original so it is all dried up now. But once u get a new one on there it should be good. Then again you shouldnt have to pull ur pcv a lot

 

I just found this thorough write up on how to remove the PCV
Doesn’t surprise me who the write up is from
Great job!
https://www.tacomaworld.com/posts/24191949/

 

Thanks! I did see that write up and also wiggled and jiggled mine but still almost got a hernia trying to pull it out. I just ordered a new grommet just in case like Main Brain said above so once I received that, I'll try wiggling it a little bit harder.

 

Just be very, VERY careful if you decide to remove the grommet. I broke my grommet and two large parts dropped into under the valve cover. It was a come-to-Jesus moment...

Took me about 15 minutes to get rid of the shakes, and another 15 minutes to fish the parts out. It wasn't fun trying to hook the parts without pushing them farther into the valve area, but I did manage. Somehow.

The truck had 100,000 miles on it when I replaced the grommet, hose, and PCV.

 

thanks for the heads up. It's this reason alone that makes me want to replace the grommet/pcv as soon as I can.

 

I found that a pair of long pliers can help with leverage to wiggle it out. Mine was definitely original and had the same hardened grommet disintegrating below the valve cover. Little parts grabber/claw was a savior

 

I got them out but I pretty much had to butcher the PCV with a locking plier and pry bar. I removed the air hose for room and leverage on the pry bar. Despite knowing what could happen, I ended up dropping the grommet into valve cover anyway. I was able to pull it out with a long nose plier and vacuum all the small pieces out with a dyson vacuum. I don't think there's anyway that an old grommet could be pulled out without having it dropped in. I went with new toyota pcv and grommet this time but I think I'll just change out the grommet with an aftermarket one every few years. It's a $3.5 peace of mind.

 

if it's anything like mine, use needle-nose pliers for any of the brittled plastic that has fallen in. I think it's the most overlooked piece on the truck. I'm actually thinking of getting an oil bypass container.

 

I have always used silicone spray and sometimes a heat gun for stubborn grommets.