crankcase and recirculated back into the
intake manifold. This process is incorporated
to prevent these gases from escaping into the
atmosphere. There are two important parts to
the PCV system. This consists of a breather
tube and the PCV valve. The breather tube
is located on the opposite side of the engine
to allow fresh air to enter the crankcase. The
breather tube must be free and clear in order
for the PCV valve to work properly. A faulty
PCV valve can cause rough idle, blown seals,
lean air/fuel mixture, misfire and motor oil
depletion and contamination. Replace the
PCV valve every 20,000- 30,000 miles. Some
prefer to change this part once a year. Test the
PCV valve by removing it from the rocker
cover. If the valve is good, engine RPM
should drop substantially. Place a finger over
the valve and shake the valve. Strong suction
should be felt and a rattle should be apparent.
If the valve is faulty, engine rpm will not drop
noticeably and no rattle from the valve will be
apparent.
Every 30,000 miles the transmission fluid
and filter needs to be changed. It is important
to look under the vehicle periodically and
look for any fluid or oil. Check the automatic
transmission fluid dipstick at least once
every other week. The transmission fluid
needs to be checked on level ground with the
engine running and the transmission must
be warm or driven for at least 20-25 miles.
Before checking the transmission dipstick,
make certain the vehicle is stationary with
the engine running and the brake pedal is
fully depressed. At this time, move the shift
lever through all the gears slowly to allow
the gears to engage. Once this is completed
return the shift lever back to park. With
the engine still running, it is now alright to
remove the dipstick and check the fluid level.
Remove the dipstick and wipe it with a clean
towel. Place the dipstick back in the filler
tube, making sure it seats all the way. Pull it
out once again and look at the level on the
stick. If the fluid level is between the low
and full marks it is considered an acceptable
level for operation. If the fluid level appears
to be at or below the low mark, then fluid
needs to be added to the dipstick filler tube
with a funnel. Do not drive the vehicle if the
fluid level is below the crosshatches. Add the
correct fluid that is indicated on the dipstick
or refer to the owner’s manual if unsure of
the fluid type. Most automatic transmissions
have an overflow tube in case too much
fluid is added. However, sometimes these
overflow tubes become plugged and do not
allow excess fluid to expel. For this reason it
is always very important to add fluid in half
pint increments. If an over-fill occurs, this
may cause shift slip issues and may damage
the transmission.
There are many parts and points of interest
when it comes to maintaining vehicles. Some
of which are not covered in this article. It
is always important to review the owner’s
manual and decipher what can and cannot be
addressed. Routine preventative maintenance
is the single most important factor to ensure
vehicle reliability and protection against
unnecessary downtime.
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