# ATTN: Car People!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 3, 2001, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-car-people/60663 "2001-04-03T18:11:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2001, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-car-people/60663/1 "2001-04-03T18:11:22Z")
I have a 94 Chevy Camaro. There is a hose thingy going from my air intake conduit to (what I think is) one of the the valve covers. What is this thing? What does it do? If it is not securely connected to the valve cover, what can/will go wrong. Also, hypothetically speaking, what would happen if the thingy was not connected to the valve cover (exposing a hole in the cover) and I… errrr… I mean Someone, sprayed down his engine with a hose to clean it. If water got in there, is this bad? Would the water evaporate out of the oil?? Am I … I mean, Is a person screwed if this happens? How important is it to have this thing properly connected to the valve cover? Thanks in advance!! ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2001, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-car-people/60663/2 "2001-04-03T18:44:30Z")
Until one of the real motorheads arrives, and possibly overrules me, I’m going to suggest that it’s the hose to the PCV valve: [http://www.acdelco.com/parts/tech/1515j.htm](http://www.acdelco.com/parts/tech/1515j.htm) ---
**Author:** ![brad\_d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@brad\_d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brad_d)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2001, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-car-people/60663/3 "2001-04-03T19:06:21Z")
Damn, **Yabob** , you beat me to it. I agree. ::Waits for somebody knowledgeable to come and skewer us both:: ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2001, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-car-people/60663/4 "2001-04-03T22:09:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bear\_Nenno \* > **What is this thing? What does it do? If it is not securely connected to the valve cover, what can/will go wrong.** It sounds like the PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventilation) valve, as the others have suggested. Its purpose is pretty much to suck oil vapors and blowby combustion gases (gases that escape past your piston rings) from your crankcase and reburn them in the engine. > [@](#): > > **Also, hypothetically speaking, what would happen if the thingy was not connected to the valve cover (exposing a hole in the cover) and I… errrr… I mean Someone, sprayed down his engine with a hose to clean it. > If water got in there, is this bad? Would the water evaporate out of the oil?? Am I … I mean, Is a person screwed if this happens?** No, don’t worry. Change your oil and filter, and all will be forgiven - provided it wasn’t driven this way for a long time. > [@](#): > > **How important is it to have this thing properly connected to the valve cover?** Pretty important for keeping dirt, water, locusts, etc. out of your engine. And for keeping oil vapors and gases from spewing out and dirtying your engine compartment - and the environment. ---
**Author:** ![donkeyoatey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@donkeyoatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/donkeyoatey)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2001, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-car-people/60663/5 "2001-04-03T22:15:15Z")
Either that or it could be an air intake hose which comes comes off of a jacket around the exhaust manifold. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2001, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-car-people/60663/6 "2001-04-03T22:21:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bear\_Nenno \* > **What is this thing? What does it do? If it is not securely connected to the valve cover, what can/will go wrong.** It sounds like the PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventilation) valve, as the others have suggested. Its purpose is pretty much to suck oil vapors and blowby combustion gases (gases that escape past your piston rings) from your crankcase and reburn them in the engine. > [@](#): > > **Also, hypothetically speaking, what would happen if the thingy was not connected to the valve cover (exposing a hole in the cover) and I… errrr… I mean Someone, sprayed down his engine with a hose to clean it. > If water got in there, is this bad? Would the water evaporate out of the oil?? Am I … I mean, Is a person screwed if this happens?** No, don’t worry. Change your oil and filter, and all will be forgiven - provided it wasn’t driven this way for a long time. > [@](#): > > **How important is it to have this thing properly connected to the valve cover?** Pretty important for keeping dirt, water, locusts, etc. out of your engine. And for keeping oil vapors and gases from spewing out and dirtying your engine compartment - and the environment.