I decided to change my PCV vale while changing my oil today. I have never changed one before. It was a pain to get to on my old car and I just hadn't done it on the Bonniville yet. Anyway...when I took it out it had oil all over it. Is that normal?

yep, well at least I thought so, since mine always have been oily.


what happens when you shake it?

The thing inside it moves.

It is perfectally for the PVC to look really crappy and oily, when it is removed

the only time its in dire need of replacing is when the thing inside does not rattle, thusly, its all gunked up.
Positive Crankcase Ventalation, speaks for itself hehe

If it rattles......it'* good

The amount of oil in/on the PCV valve is determined by the amount of blowby your rings have. More blowby means higher crankcase pressures. That pressure gets vented through the PCV backinto your intake, carrying oil vapors with it. All cars have oil in there, some have more. If you're not losing a significant amount of oil between changes, you have nothing to worry about.

There'* no end to the good info a person can get here! I was just asking a co-worker the same question today.