PCV Valve Grommet Piece Fell In Valve Cover

[JohnMed]

Hi everyone! I am in the process of replacing the PCV valve and grommet....and of course the old grommet was rock hard. I managed to get nearly all of it out but a small portion of the bottom part of the grommet (about 4-5mm x 4-5mm) chunk fell into the corner. I tried shop vac and then some narrow pliers, and a pick but no luck getting it out. I can no longer see it, I think it may have fallen into that small hole in the corner. I assume this is where the PCV baffle starts. Is it safe to assume that it is probably just going to remain in the baffle? How concerned do I need to be? I haven't seen any pictures on the forums of what the internals of this baffle looks like and if it could fall onto the valves?

 

[Mike NXP]

Hi everyone! I am in the process of replacing the PCV valve and grommet....and of course the old grommet was rock hard. I managed to get nearly all of it out but a small portion of the bottom part of the grommet (about 4-5mm x 4-5mm) chunk fell into the corner. I tried shop vac and then some narrow pliers, and a pick but no luck getting it out. I can no longer see it, I think it may have fallen into that small hole in the corner. I assume this is where the PCV baffle starts. Is it safe to assume that it is probably just going to remain in the baffle? How concerned do I need to be? I haven't seen any pictures on the forums of what the internals of this baffle looks like and if it could fall onto the valves?

I've seen a few of these forums floating around but I'll wait for someone to chime in with personal experience. I guess it will depend on the size and amount of material that dropped it. It sounds like you didn't break a lot of material off so probably OK.

The reality is you have two options, I think....... Live with it or open up the valve cover and get in there. IDK, personally, I may be OK with it for a few days but then the paranoia would grow.

I wonder if it could clog anything up? We'll need someone with more experience inside the 2UZ than I have.

 

[AlpineAccess]

How do your valve cover gaskets look? You might consider pulling that side. It doesn't not take a long time.

 

[JohnMed]

Gaskets looks good, no leaks. I feel I am in a bit of a pickle because my family is set to do a small camping trip in a couple of day (about 60 miles away). I don't have the time to replace the gaskets and completely re-do but I am concerned about this damn little piece of rubber. I wouldn't drive indefinitely with it in there, just this one trip and then re-do valve covers.

Everyone says if the valve covers come off, you need to replace with new ones and I don't have time before and I don't have them on hand. And that seems like its own risk/worry to re-use gasket. Maybe I am overblowing that concern?

 

[Bisho]

There is a baffle in there. You’re OK.

 

[shtbrwn86]

There is a baffle in there. You’re OK.

Yep, you are fine. I had a piece fall into mine as well. 15,000 miles later I have many issues with my LX but that broken PVC gasket is not one of them.

 

[JohnMed]

Thank you all for the information!