GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Object Number: 1617821  Size: SH

A "closed type" positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system is used to consume crankcase vapors created during the combustion process instead of venting them to the atmosphere.

Filtered fresh air is supplied to the crankcase through a PCV fresh air tube connecting from the air duct to the left camshaft cover PCV fitting. In the crankcase, the fresh air mixes with blow-by gases and then is passed through a PCV orifice fitting located in the right camshaft cover. The air/blow-by mixture is passed into the intake manifold through a foul air PCV tube.

The PCV orifice fitting restricts the flow rate of the blow-by gases using 2 small orifice holes located at the end of the PCV fitting. If abnormal operating conditions arise, the system is designed to allow excessive amounts of blow-by gases to back-flow through the PCV system fresh air tube back into the air duct in order to be consumed by normal combustion. The PCV orifice fitting is not serviceable. If the orifice fitting can not be unplugged, the camshaft cover must be replaced.