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PCV Valve Need Replacing? Whistling at high RPMs, loosing torque at higher RPMs

928 Views 16 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  Tazio Nuvolari
Hello community, this is my first time posting on the forums. I have a issue I need help solving.

So my family owns a 2020 RAV4 TRD Off-Road, and we've had it for about two years. But a issue that has been developing over the past year is some odd engine behavior, where shifts aren't quite smooth, power isn't delivered well across the entire RPM range, and strange whistling at high RPMs above 5000.

Something I think that is connected to the issue is that we've been overfilling the oil by 0.2 quarts, almost every oil change, since the bottles we get are 5 quarts and we use the whole bottle. Then several months ago, we took the vehicle to a mobile1 shop to get the oil change, and the person there way overfilled the oil, more than 0.2 quarts. (obvious we're never going there again LOL)

To experiment, I have been draining the oil below the rated 4.8 quarts it takes recently, but the behavior is the same so i think the damage is already done. I've been doing a lot of research over the past year, and this seems to be related to the PCV valve. I suspect its clogged with oil, to the point where it barely opens or closes.

If anyone can assist, that would be great. Its become far worse now, to the point where there's a very noticeable surge of torque at low RPMs (which is good), but if i get into the mid-band or upper range of the RPM range, the torque noticeably goes down.

If i do several acceleration runs to max RPM, then torque at high RPMs returns, but some of my lower torque at low RPM dies off lol. My gas mileage also takes a noticable hit when doing this. If I leave RPMs low for over a week, the engine goes back to the previous behavior.

I suspect this is the PCV valve opening and closing at a very slow rate LOL, based on intake pressure from the engine.
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Hello community, this is my first time posting on the forums. I have a issue I need help solving.

So my family owns a 2020 RAV4 TRD Off-Road, and we've had it for about two years. But a issue that has been developing over the past year is some odd engine behavior, where shifts aren't quite smooth, power isn't delivered well across the entire RPM range, and strange whistling at high RPMs above 5000.

Something I think that is connected to the issue is that we've been overfilling the oil by 0.2 quarts, almost every oil change, since the bottles we get are 5 quarts and we use the whole bottle. Then several months ago, we took the vehicle to a mobile1 shop to get the oil change, and the person there way overfilled the oil, more than 0.2 quarts. (obvious we're never going there again LOL)

To experiment, I have been draining the oil below the rated 4.8 quarts it takes recently, but the behavior is the same so i think the damage is already done. I've been doing a lot of research over the past year, and this seems to be related to the PCV valve. I suspect its clogged with oil, to the point where it barely opens or closes.

If anyone can assist, that would be great. Its become far worse now, to the point where there's a very noticeable surge of torque at low RPMs (which is good), but if i get into the mid-band or upper range of the RPM range, the torque noticeably goes down.

If i do several acceleration runs to max RPM, then torque at high RPMs returns, but some of my lower torque at low RPM dies off lol. My gas mileage also takes a noticable hit when doing this. If I leave RPMs low for over a week, the engine goes back to the previous behavior.

I suspect this is the PCV valve opening and closing at a very slow rate LOL, based on intake pressure from the engine.
If there is a problem with the PCV valve, I'm sure the computer would throw a code. Get an OBD II code reader (or take it to your local auto parts store for a free code reading) and see if you have a code. That would be the first thing to do.

Over filling just 0.2 quarts is not going to cause this problem.
I haven't had to deal with a PCV on my Rav4 yet (6 months old, 5k miles), but on other cars I have had this has been a fairly cheap part and not difficult to change. And is often considered routine maintenance, meaning just change it every X thousand miles and don't worry about it. One symptom of it being clogged is burning oil. Go ahead and get one and change it as a starting point.

My naive reaction to your symptoms is a vacuum leak. Change the PCV valve and test for vacuum leaks (many videos to show you how).
There are some spec.
Page 33 position 11 for PCV valve

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Thanks for the engine details that helps, but where's the PCV hose that's connected to the valve? I'm not able to get a good look at everything.
Thanks for the engine details that helps, but where's the PCV hose that's connected to the valve? I'm not able to get a good look at everything.
If I remember correctly Car Care Nut mentioned that there is no hose. That's why valve is located under intake manifold.
There are some spec.
Page 33 position 11 for PCV valve
Thanks for posting--great pdf!
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Thanks for the engine details that helps, but where's the PCV hose that's connected to the valve? I'm not able to get a good look at everything.
The PCV valve on the 5th gen RAV is NOT a simple DIY job. You have to remove the intake manifold and unscrew the valve from the cylinder head. As other posters said--if that PCV was screwing up your air/fuel mixture or otherwise causing your engine problems it would be throwing codes. Most likely O2 sensor related DTCs. You need a OBD2 scan. Not all DTCs will set an MIL engine trouble light or a warning on the MID. The PCV on our RAV does NOT cause an audible whistle since it is inside the engine with no hoses to leak. Your whistling may be due to a loose or damaged vacuum hose--and it may not even be in the engine compartment (EVAP canister/purge valve)--it just sounds like it is. However any vacuum leak would likely set an O2 code for fuel mixture or an EVAP code. Photograph Font Screenshot Software Multimedia
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The PCV valve on the 5th gen RAV is NOT a simple DIY job. You have to remove the intake manifold and unscrew the valve from the cylinder head. As other posters said--if that PCV was screwing up your air/fuel mixture or otherwise causing your engine problems it would be throwing codes. Most likely O2 sensor related DTCs. You need a OBD2 scan. Not all DTCs will set an MIL engine trouble light or a warning on the MID. The PCV on our RAV does NOT cause an audible whistle since it is inside the engine with no hoses to leak. Your whistling may be due to a loose or damaged vacuum hose--and it may not even be in the engine compartment (EVAP canister/purge valve)--it just sounds like it is. However any vacuum leak would likely set an O2 code for fuel mixture or an EVAP code. View attachment 192840 View attachment 192841
Ok thank you, this helps a TON! I'll get a OBD2 reader tomorrow, and check.

Is there a specific "tier" i should get? I know cheaper OBD2 readers don't show you all the codes...
Is there a specific "tier" i should get? I know cheaper OBD2 readers don't show you all the codes...
Even the cheapest OBD2 code readers will show all ENGINE DTC codes. More expensive scanners show codes for other parts of the car like the transmission. Only expensive scanners will show Toyota proprietary codes. There are all manner of gizmos and software downloads you can use on a smart phone (if you are computer savvy) to use Toyota Techstream which is what the dealerships use. You can go to most car parts stores for a free OBD2 scan on a middle tier or better scanner (Advance, O'reillys, Napa.)--you can write down any DTCs and look them up online when you get home. I'd advise you to get a free scan. Make sure any codes are NOT erased or deleted--so you can go to a dealer for repairs if you have to and they can see the codes. Any basic, cheap code reader will tell you if there are any serious problems with your engine like an A/F imbalance, O2 sensor failures, or EVAP leaks.
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Hello Skinny Guy
Can you tell me if the diagrams you posted are valid for a RAV4 2019 XLE.
If so, I will keep a copy in my archives. I tinker a lot with the mechanics of my Toyota and I'm always looking for diagrams on the internet.
Thanks
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So, you guys aren't gonna believe this.

So I was retracing my steps, trying to remember when it first really started to become problematic, and ironically, it was when I changed the air filter for the engine like a year ago. So I went in, reseated the air filter, cover, and re-seated the hose connected to the cover - as well as the airflow sensor plug on top. Now the engine is fine.

LOL idk what happened. Everything was installed correctly. Not sure if the airflow sensor plug wasn't in all the way or perhaps the air filter snagged on some part of the cover.

Anyways, issue is fixed LOL.
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Hello Skinny Guy
Can you tell me if the diagrams you posted are valid for a RAV4 2019 XLE.
If so, I will keep a copy in my archives. I tinker a lot with the mechanics of my Toyota and I'm always looking for diagrams on the internet.
Thanks
ALL the 5th generation RAV4 ICE engines (both in gas models and hybrids) are basically the same in most ways and for all intents and purposes. There was no change at all to the engines in the various model years. They have the same sensors, water and oil pumps, fuel injectors, VVT and so on. I believe there may be very slight internal differences in the pistons, cam profiles and maybe other small things because the hybrids are supposed to be Atkinson cycle and the gas models are standard Otto cycle but I have not really seen any details or proof of this. Here are two more very good pdfs with complete diagrams and explanations of the ICE engine in our RAV4s for your archives.

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Hello Skinny Guy
Can you tell me if the diagrams you posted are valid for a RAV4 2019 XLE.
No I can't.
That is Tecnical instruction for 2020 Toyota Camry (safety recall 20TA04).

However for PCV valve and most engine parts it is the same for RAV4 and Camry.
Good to learn that the PCV valve is inside the intake manifold. Anyone know what the recommended replacement interval is on this? I am used to changing the external PCV valve at 15-20k just because on an older Subaru and Toyota Matrix. Cheap and easy to do.
Good to learn that the PCV valve is inside the intake manifold. Anyone know what the recommended replacement interval is on this?
There is NO service interval. PCV on 5th gen is replaced as needed when it clogs. It's a big job. That's another reason why it's important to do regular oil and filter changes--you don't want to gum up that PCV.
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