General Description (Positive Crankcase Ventilation System): Notes
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2005 Dodge Stratus and 2005 Chrysler Sebring. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
The positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system prevents the escape of blow-by gases from inside the crankcase into the atmosphere.
Fresh air is sent from the air cleaner into the crankcase through the breather hose to be mixed with the blow-by gas inside the crankcase.
The blow-by gas inside the crankcase is drawn into the intake manifold through the PCV valve.
The PCV valve is designed to lift the plunger according to the intake manifold vacuum so as to regulate the flow of blow-by gas properly.
In other words, the blow-by gas flow is regulated during low load engine operation to maintain engine stability, while the flow is increased during high load operation to improve the ventilation performance.