Nissan
Pathfinder PCV Valve Replacement Guide
How to change the PCV valve in a 4th
generation 2013 to 2016 Nissan Pathfinder with the VQ35DE 3.5L V6 engine.
 2016 Pathfinder 3.5L Engine |
 Front Left Engine Cover Bolt |
 Loosen Counterclockwise |
| This
automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist
owners of the fourth generation (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and probably
also the updated 2017 model year) Nissan Pathfinder SUV in checking
or changing the PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) valve in the
VQ35DE 3.5 liter V6 engine. Owners of other Nissan or Infiniti vehicles such as the Versa, Maxima, Juke, Rogue, Altima, Xterra, Sentra, Murano, Cube, Armada, Leaf, Quest, Frontier, Teana, 370Z, GT-R, Titan, G25, G37, M35, QX56, QX60 and M37 may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. A few compatible replacement PCV valves with their part numbers include the following: Airtex 6P1273, OES W01331776680OES and Standard Motor Products # V436. The tools needed to access and replace the PCV valve include a 10mm socket with a 1/4" drive ratchet, a pair of pliers, a deep well 23mm socket with a 1/2" drive ratchet or an adjustable wrench. |
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 Top Left 10mm Bolt |
 10mm Bolt Removed |
 Top Right Bolt |
| The first step is
to open the hood. Then locate the four bolts that secure the plastic engine cover in place. There are two bolts on the top rear area of the engine cover and the other two are situated at the front bottom edge. Remove the two bolts on the top of the engine cover by turning them counterclockwise with a 10mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratcheting wrench. |
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 10mm Bolt Removed |
 Bottom Right Bolt |
 Loosen Counterclockwise |
| Set the two top
10mm bolts aside in a safe place. Then remove the front bottom bolt at the lower left edge of the engine cover by turning it counterclockwise with the 10mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet. |
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 Loosening Bottom Right Bolt |
 Remove Plastic Engine Cover |
 Engine Cover Removed |
| Then reach in in to
the bottom right side of the engine cover and remove the fourth 10mm bolt by
turning it counterclockwise. The two front bottom edge bolts will remain attached to the engine cover. Gently lift off the plastic engine cover and set it aside in a safe place. |
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 Left Rear Area of Engine |
 PCV Valve Rubber Hose |
 Hose Clamp & PCV Valve |
| Move to the left
(passenger side) rear area of the engine bay. Locate the black rubber hose that leads down to the black and green plastic PCV valve. |
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 Pliers For Hose Clamp |
 Squeeze Hose Clamp Tabs |
 Hose Clamp Off Valve |
| Use a pair of pliers to carefully pinch together the two metal tabs on the hose clamp before sliding it up and off the bottom of the rubber hose and also the PCV valve. | ||
 Pull Hose Off Valve |
 Deep Well 23mm Socket |
 Loosen Counterclockwise |
| Firmly pull the
rubber hose off the top of the PCV valve. Attach the deep well 23mm socket to the 1/2" drive ratcheting wrench. Loosen the old PCV valve by turning it counterclockwise a few turns. Once the old PCV valve is loose, pull off the socket. Spin out the old PCV valve by hand the rest of the way to prevent from having fall down behind the engine. |
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 Old PCV Valve Removed |
 Empty Valve Housing |
 New Airtex PCV Valve |
| Test the old PCV
valve by shaking it vigorously.
If the old PCV valve makes a healthy rattling sound, it should still be good. Although since PCV valves are so inexpensive, you might as well replace it with a new one. If you plan on re-using the old valve, clean it out with some spray cleaner such as carburetor cleaner, MAF (mass air flow) cleaner or throttle body cleaner. I recommend buying the Airtex 6P1273 replacement PCV valve. |
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 Spin In New Valve Clockwise |
 New Valve Installed |
 Deep Well 23mm Socket |
| Wipe away any
debris or oil from the PCV valve housing on the engine block. Carefully spin in the new PCV valve a few turns in the clockwise direction to prevent it from becoming cross threaded. |
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 Tighten Valve Clockwise |
 Push On Rubber Tube |
 Slide Down Hose Clamp |
| Tighten the new PCV
valve with the deep well 23mm socket and the ratchet to just past hand tight
(or about 15-20 lb-ft of torque). Slide the rubber hose on to the nipple of the new PCV valve. |
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 Pliers For Hose Clamp |
 Pinch Tabs - Replace Clamp |
 Lower Plastic Engine Cover |
| Use the pliers to
squeeze together the two tabs on the hose clamp to release the tension
before sliding it down to the bottom of the rubber hose and secure it to the
top of the new PCV valve. Line up the plastic engine cover and lower it down in to place. |
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 Spin In 10mm Bolts |
 Tighten 10mm Clockwise |
 |
| Replace the two top bolts in to the engine cover and tighten them in the clockwise direction with the 10mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet until they are snug. | ||
 Front Left 10mm Bolt |
 Tighten Front Right Bolt |
 Engine Cover Replaced |
| Tighten the two
bolts on the front lower edge of the engine cover by turning them clockwise.
Try to avoid over tightening the four bolts to prevent from cracking the plastic engine cover. Start the engine and listen for any strange sounds that may indicate a problem such as a loose PCV valve or a disconnected vacuum line. If you replaced the PCV valve, remember to record the change in your vehicle's service records. For more,
check out all of my
2013-2016 Nissan Pathfinder DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
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