hey guys i just decided to change out my pcv valve after 115,000 miles. how often are we supposed to change it?

alright next question is where does this thing go? i found what looks to be a pcv valve on my driver side vavle cover but when i pulled it out it didn't look like the part i just bought. the part i bought looks like an elbow but the one i pulled out of the rear driver side valve cover is straight. am i pulling out the right thing? thanks for the help...

 

good question i have an 03 but when i went to change mine the old one was hollow. the parts store said our trucks dont use them instead they have a mock up one that looks like one but has no guts its just a tube so i cant help you there but yes it is on the rear driver side valve cover you pull the tube out then pry the pcv out of that if your truck is equiped with one but i guess 03 are not

 

There are two types, orifice type and one way valve type. Orifice type just has a small hole about 1/8" in diameter in it to still vent but also to help keep oil consumption down, the one way valve type is really only needed in FI applications. The valve type rattles when you shake it, the orifice has no guts and can't wear our. Just clean it with some solvent and put it back in if you have one.

 

The fixed orifice PCV was designed to help reduce oil consumption, it replaces the spring and plunger design. I've used both designs in my truck with an oil catch can and had pretty much the same results....excessive oil building up in the can, so I switched back to the original design since the fixed orifice design made an annoying whistling sound when used with the catch can.

As for the PCV with an elbow on it, sounds like you were given the wrong part. Either of the correct pcv's will look the same on the outside, but will be straight without any bends.