If you have been following all of my posts you will notice that my recently purchased 86 4runner is turning out to be more of a project than I expected.

I caught today that the PCV valve grommet appears to be missing and valve got jammed in the valve cover slot - I've never seen anything like this. I tried for 10 minutes in the dark and rain to work it out and it wouldn't budge - it's really stuck. I'll try again this weekend if the rain ever takes a break.

So my questions are:
1) Does the 22re have have a baffle below the PCV valve? Or am I at risk of it grinding against the valve train?
2) Anyone ever experience this or have any tricks for getting this out? I can't believe how difficult this is and it's affecting the idle.

 

Usually the 22RE PCV valve gets stuck because the grommet gets baked on due to the heat.

This is what I did:

1. Sprayed the old PCV valve that is stuck with silicone spray(i.e. CRC Heavy Duty Silicon) to lubricate it. This makes it a WHOLE LOT easier to remove.

2.(not really sure if this is a step) After I sprayed it a good amount, I let it sit over night and the morning after, drove for about 30mins to make sure it was well lubricated.

3.YANK THE BAD BOY OUT! No, you wont need to remove the valve cover or anything of that nature. Simply get some pliers and PULL THE THING OUT OF IT! But since you lubricated it, it should come out fairly easy.

The piece of the grommet that you're saying is absent, was probably the piece that hugged the valve cover, but the rubber nipple of the grommet that goes in the valve cover is probably still there, or else the PCV valve would not be sitting there.

After you pull the PCV valve, my bet is that the what is remaining of the grommet will fall through the valve cover. If it does, just use some nose pliers to pull the remaining pieces of the grommet.

Remember, every time you change your PCV valve, change the grommet as well. It may not be necessary, but it's only $3.00 for a new grommet.

 

Quite common to encounter this with people that are less then zealous with taking care of things.

I would also be looking at all the other rubber hoses and such

I have found needle nose vise grips and a block to assist in using the vise grips as a lever sprayed well pops it right out

 

^x2

:wabbit2:

 

Heat gun.

 

i would just get a valve cover gasket kit ,pull the cover,change all the rubber on it ,re-install. really not that difficult.

 

Solved! Pliers and a pry bar got it out. Then used a pick to remove the remains of the grommet. I was relieved to learn that there was a baffle in there preventing the valve from hitting the valve train.

Fix happened just in time. I had to get it emissions testing today to register it in Oregon. The previous owner's plates expire tomorrow, so it was important that I resolved this today.

Thanks to all for your input!

 

I've heard of people putting a flat piece of scrap wood on the valve cover and using a wide spread crow bar to pry the thing out of there. Or if you have the valve cover completely out, put a little heat on it with a blow torch. Replace the grommet with the new valve.

 

Tighten down a drill chuck around it and spin to heat up the plastic until it pops out