PCV valve

Race cars, at least for the time being, are not too tightly controlled by Environmental Protection Agency rules, certainly not as strictly as the vehicles that come out of the car factories. But consumers have been living with EPA regulations for many years.

ALSO  •  Listen to this Car Care Tip!

One of the earliest emission controls required by the federal government dates back to the mid 20th century. It was the PCV valve. PCV did not stand for pollution control, as many people think... it's positive crankcase ventilation. The by-products of combustion accumulate in the bottom of the engine in the oil reservoir known as the crankcase. Once vented into the atmosphere, these smelly and potentially lethal gases now are recirculated through the engine by way of the PCV system, then burned off in the combustion process.

A key player in this system is the little PCV valve, which prevents a reverse flow back into the crankcase. If it gets gummed up the result can be poor performance, oil leaks and excessive oil consumption. It's inexpensive to test and replace, says the Car Care Council, and doing so can improve your car's performance. For more automotive maintenance tips log on www.carcarecouncil.org.