Switched out the pcv valve and noticed its a little loose. Tried to take out the gasket but damn thing is stuck. Used my fingers for the most part and now my fingers are jacked up. Tried pliers but it looked like it was just trying to rip the gasket apart. So anyone got any tips on removing an old stuck pcv gasket?

 

Mine is a 3VZE engine, and for your sake I hope that your engine has a PCV valve in a better location. 3VZE PCV valve is nearly inaccessible.


I got some tips for ya all right First, it is a MAJOR PAIN IN THE and the to do the PCV Valve, at least in the 3VZE. Suffice it to say that it took me 4 hours of PAIN to do mine. The major issues were getting the valve pulled out and getting the gasket aka grommet out. Since you already did the valve you are 50% there. To remove the grommet, you have to get it out little piece by little piece. Yes, that means breaking it apart.

The best tools for that are some LOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG needle nose pliers. The length depends on where your valve is located, I am not familiar with the 3.4 engine. Autozone sells some of the longest pliers I have ever seen, made by Great Neck, for about 8 bucks. Start by removing about half the top circle of the grommet. DONT remove it all, as it will probably fall in then. After that is done, start working on the inside and, when you have removed the inner 50% that was under the outer 50%, you should be able to pull what was left out. Mine was ROCK SOLID and became a lock washer, like it was made of some of the toughest plastic. Probably took me near 2 hours to get the damn thing out in tiny little bits. Good luck !

 

but he has a 3rd gen with the 3.4

 

Here is my idea...

Get a razor blade and cut it in half on one side then I think you should be able to just pull it out (very carefully).

Hope this helps...

 

Great idea, if you can get a blade in there. I hope Toyota engineers came to their senses and put the valve in a more accessible location on the 3.4L. On mine, you could not get to it with anything but nearly footlong pliers. I have heard of dealerships refusing to do the PSV valve, or telling people that they have to pull the plenum to do it! They sometimes also claim that it is a "lifetime" (ha!) part, just like the fuel filter, I bet...

 

Haha yea i meant grommet. oops. On the 3.4 its really easily accessible and takes only a minute to change out the valve. I had thought about ripping it apart but was afraid of it dropping. So now I either leave it alone or spend a while carefully taking it apart. Thanks for the tips.

 

If you cant get it out I say push it back in. If it is loose then take elecrical tape and tape the male end of the valve where it inserts into the female end. Should be a nice tight fit. We are talking about PCV valves/crankcase ventilation valves correct? Confused myself for a sec.