'97 Chrysler T&C LX, 3.8L I want to replace the PCV valve. I live midway between two Chrysler dealers. I called the parts department at one and they charge $18. I called the other and they charge $15. I called three independent parts places and they were all $3.
Is there a downside to using an aftermarket PCV valve? I know that dealers always charge more, but 5x-6x more? Why?
Their flow characteristics are not as reliably accurate as an OEM valve. That said, $15 is absurd. See what price comes up if you use one of the online Mopar parts places like onlinemoparparts.com
Half of the extra price is because it is he exact right part for your car, and probably the best made valve at any price on the market. The other half is that dealers have always made a killing on parts and they're not about to stop anytime soon. The extra $3 from the one dealer is because dealers can set their own prices above or below Chrysler's suggested list price. Typically your receipt will show whatever you paid as "list", but technically its not.
I'm going out on a limb here, but I would guess that the worst case scenario of using the not quite exact PCV valve would be that its different orifice size could cause your computer to compensate fuel delivery more than normal at idle/high idle speeds. I don't think it would be made so wrong as to seriously affect crankcase venting or run your fuel trim limits to the max.
Toyota MDT in MO
I haven't bought an aftermarket PCV valve in a few yeras, but I know the last time I looked at some in the store, they were crap (the machining finish on the poppet was atrocious and would he let a truck thru in the "closed" mode - even the name-brand ones like Purolator. Also, when I used to hang out on Subaru forums about that same time, it was generally agreed that the aftermarket PCV valves didn;t wiork very well when new - an item recommended to be gotten from the dealer (and once dealers become aware of these public perceptions, they are sure to take advantage of it).
Bill Putney (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my adddress with the letter 'x')
Back when we had a dealer in town with a parts department that understood volume, they sold their parts to me at what they called "garage prices", which was always very close to the price at NAPA. Now they charge me what they call list, so I buy my parts from NAPA or from various Chrysler dealers I find on the web.
Thanks for your responses. It appears that most of the $3 PCV valves are made by Fram. One additional data point: I called a NAPA dealer and theirs is $4. He said that it's not Fram.
I visited one of the Chrysler dealers I mentioned previously, took a look at the OEM PCV valve, and learned a few things.
1) It's made of plastic like the Fram. I was hoping that for $18 it would be metal like the old days. 2) Their _cost_ is $9! Is the dollar so weak that Daimler wants a wheelbarrow full of American dollars for tiny plastic parts?Thanks for the onlinemoparparts.com reference. Mot only does it show that MSRP for my 3.8L PCV value is $15, but MSRP for the
3.0L (was that the Mitsubishi?) is $35! What's up with that?Gotta pay the boat fuel from China.....
show that MSRP for my 3.8L PCV value is $15, but MSRP for the
3.0L (was that the Mitsubishi?) is $35! What's up with that?
The "old days" ended in 1969 for PCV valves. There's nothing wrong with plastic PCV valves as long as they're made of the right kinds of plastic.
The 3.8 is an entirely American design. Daimler had nothing to do with the design of the PCV valve.
You pay more for superior (cough!) Japanese quality (cough!).
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