Made a 3 hour job into a 15 minute job . I also added a small O ring on the screw and tighten it very gently. At 50k miles and a 2017 model and living in Florida mine was clear of any debris but I am glad to know it is OK. Backyard mechanics are the best. Thanks for the video.

Nice trick. I just did this and only took about 8 minutes. I drilled a 1/8 hole very slowly and only took like 4 seconds to get through. Then I used a paper clip to go inside and clear the inner hole. Three tips for anyone who want's to do this. - 1. find some short crews you think might fit before you drill. 2. Don't remove the cardboard paper shield on the intake, just slice down the middle with a knife where you need to drill and fold it out of the way. 3. Don't over tighten the screw you put back in, when it gets snug stop turning so you don't strip it out.

Your a genius!!!! Thanks for sharing. Give this man the automotive modification trick of the year award! I cleaned mine out about 3 months ago after trying to get my Chevy dealer to make good on the recall, but he said since it had 84k miles it was outside the warranty and thus not his problem. He then offered to do the fix for around $500. I watched a video that saves a lot of work by not removing the manifold but just breaking away from the head then using a mirror and 90 deg awl to clear the plugged port. It worked just fine but I cringe at the thought of doing that every 3/4 months. With this mod I can clean it every oil change. Thanks again! This is just another case where the private sector fixes the ills of the highly edumacated engineers.

Just confirming what everyone else said. I got a pan head screw #8 by 3/8. Used a 7/64 bit covered in grease. The plastic is not thick and you drill through it very fast. Used some bail wire to find the hole. The area is all 1” deep except the hole which is 1.75”. So very easy to find. I put a small o ring around the screw head just for kicks and screwed it in. Took maybe 30 minutes total but I went real slow. Easy preventative maintenance.

For an 11 year old Chevy Equinox with 180 thousand miles, this saves me a lot of time and money to keep it running. Thanks.

This is a fantastic preventative maintenance fix, it worked just as you said. I made a small cut in the protective heatshield cloth-like material to access the spot to drill, and cleaned it off thoroughly. I used a sharp screw just to make a tiny start point in the right location so the drill bit didn't walk. Instead of a drill, I used a battery powered screwdriver with a 1/8" bit for slow, controllable revolutions. I put some thick grease on the end of the 1/8" bit to collect the shavings (that worked perfectly, thank you for that tip). I went slowly, so when the bit broke through, I stopped. I used a fairly big paperclip, bent straight to reach through and clear out the PCV hole inside the intake. You will know you hit the hole if you can sink the straight paperclip in about 1.75". I also sprayed some throttle body cleaner down the hole. A small flanged screw was perfect to seal the hole. This saved hours of labor that could have the potential to damage some other expensive parts. Followup to this great fix, it seems the mild oil consumption issue my car has had has also diminished for some reason. Oil consumption issues are common on the 2.4L ecotech. Again, thank you for this excellent video

This is the kind of stuff that makes utube Great!!! Thanks!!!

I will try your suggestion next time! Thank’s man.

Just read this and 15 minutes later I'm done! I knew there had to be an easier way than removing the manifold. Previously I had drilled a hole in the air intake plenum to spray seafoam in the intake while the engine was running and it seemed to work. But this is a much more sure way to clean it out at every oil change. I think I'll use a squirt of intake cleaner after the paper clip wiggle.

I am laughing because is so simple and so hard to think at the same time!!!! You saved a lot of us a ton of time. Your tip is great and really appreciated. I watched a ton of videos of people spending a big effort as we usually would do to clean up this part. Thanks for sharing your tip!!!!

I did this about a year ago … was sharing it on Facebook and wanted to circle back here to thank you as it has saved me a lot of grief … it’s now so easy to clean. I just pull the screw (I used a self tapping hex headed sheet metal screw) and blast it with some aerosol intake cleaner and it runs great again!

I tried it today. After having removed intake on other ones in the past, I would say this is a much easier process. Tested after and had a slight vacuum gauge reading on dipstick tube. Thanks Andujar Jalepena For the tip.

Thanks so much. Was easy and works, you probably saved me thousands on my two equinoxes

I need to do this to my dad's 2012 GMC terrain. Thanks for the great information

Thanks man that was a huge time saver in a pinch. Not hard chevy is dumb not making that call lol. I usually don't believe videos like this.

Thanks, I like this! I will have to try it. I'm a former Tech, retired now and always look for a easier way to do things

AJ I was thinking that. Now I know. Thanks for crossing the barrier for me.

Did this today on a 2010 Malibu. Thank you so much. Great idea

Great idea there Sir I also took an and drilled mine out another 16th of an inch so that basically to compensate for the age of the vehicle it gets a little more PCV and it doesn't seem to affect the idle control at all or set any codes so as your engine gets older it makes more contaminants so I thought that was a good idea you don't have to do it but that's what I did

bought a '14 terrain recently, this is good to know. Doin a tune up on it tomorrow, im gona add this to the to do list while im under the hood. Thanks for the info! had no idea this was an issue.

I just did this, sure saves a lot of time and is handy for the next time it needs cleaning.

WOW Thanks a 5 minute job, other than looking for a screw, just did it, ran bailing wire and mine was plugged, been running with oil cap loose, GM should be telling everyone this

I'm gonna try this, better then a rear main blowing out or removing the intake. I'm also adding an oil catch can. thanks for sharing

Definitely Works 100%. Thansk

Make sure the screw isn't too long or it will go right into the hole and plug it up. Guess I should have pointed that out.

You are the man! Thanks worked great! See if it slows the oil burning.

This is a clever fix

Thank you, brilliant ❤

🎉holy cannolie so easy , took longer to get the drill , bit and a screw ! I used a large torch tip cleaner and BINGO ! I have vacuum at the pcv hose spigot again

I will do its.Just take a more or less in between up screw positiion by outside and open small hole , aply cleaner and can use injection nedlee unlock internal hole .. so very easy Tks in advance

I saw a video yesterday where a guy put 5ounces of seafoam in his crankcase then drove for about 300 miles drained the oil and refilled and drove another 300 and checked his oil level.He was losing alot of oil every fillup ,and this helped alot and is very easy to do,and a cheap fix if it helps other people.

I knew it was a simpler way to resolve this problem

I would coat the threads of the screw with black gasket maker to 1.) seal any air leaks and 2.) prevent the screw from backing out due to vibration.

Thanks for the video, good idea. But to make this hole you still need to remove your manifold. Good thing is that you need to do it once. I don't think to try to guess the right place and drilling from the outside is the good idea

Problem is just because that port isn't clogged the pcv porting inside the intake manifold can be clogged down stream . The pcv is ported to each of the four intake runners. If you spray carb cleaner in the center PCV port you should see it exit into each of the four intakes . Then you will know the pcv system is free of any obstructions

good to know thanks

Did it. Cranked it up n spint it round da block QUIETLY. I was like timing chain, take off valve cover and clean the lil oil port then take off the oil pan n clean the oil pick up screen.

TSB:19-NA-021 also involves removal of the valve cover which I'm pretty sure involves cleaning out coked up vertical passage up through the head and into the valve cover. Maybe be a good idea to pull the oil cap and blow some regulated air pressure or smoke through that horizontal hole passage to hear or see it come out the valve cover, other wise you need to remove the valve cover and de- crud that passage too😂

Thanks! Just did my access hole, super easy. Think I have the gummed up/stuck rings also (I removed the manifold 4 months ago and cleaned the PCV hole). If this doesn’t help, probably will have to do the Valvoline restore and protect, too, as mine is gobbling a quart of oil per gas tank at this point). Let me know if valvoline starts helping or not!?

Una pregunta se puede hacer el a bujero por fuera del vehículo no abra problema alguno con la rebava qe sale

At 1:49 you refer to a port. Is that the PCV outlet? Is that what’s plugging the hole with blow by gasses?

Great Video! Is it possible to get a measurement....instead of "approximately halfway in between".....? Thanks!

After doing this,would spraying carb cleaner into the hole ,clean the orifices between the passages,I hear they can plug up also

I did this Saturday 😏

How do u clean the orfices going to the chambers?? Wouldnt throttle body cleaner just go in the intake not cleaning the other pathways? Please advise thanks!

This is brilliant. If after running a wire through the orifice if it would cause any problems to use an air compressor to blow out that cavity.

Thanks for this I'll give it a try!! Is the cavity pretty large behind the hole? Is it dead center or slightly to the right when looking at it form the front of the car?

You could have someone hold a shopvac near the drill to suck up anything that can get in the hole.

Your video helped me immensely. Thank you!! We have a 2015 Equinox with 185K miles and most of its life has been in Arizona which maybe saved us from the disasters others in cold climates experienced. I performed this o day and it worked out just fine. But when removing the oil cap while idling, there still is t suction from the hole, it’s still pushing out air as well as some oil vapor I. The form of faint smoke. It’s slight though. Any suggestions as to where I can begin looking to troubleshoot the lack of suction?

Brilliant !! Hey we’re can I get those oil catch cans??

Do you have to remove throttle body,to drill at the angle needed,and will I need a long bit to do it?

So, What size drill bit I can use for make this hole?? Thanks.

no vacuum leaks?

@andujarjalepena4405 Drilled mine out today. i might have drilled a little high cause I'm in the cavity, but can't find the PCV orifice with my wire. Any recommendations on how to proceed? how big can i drill this and be safe?

What about the possible clogged tubes that pass between the pcv and the cylinder intakes? If it was this easy a fix you don't think GM would have changed it a decade ago?

I enlarged the hole in the intake manifold to 3/16 in. as suggested by this other dude. But that caused some bad whisling. When you drill to 1/8 in. do you get that whisling?

Should the cleaning process always be done or when there are problems in the car?

What is the port with the plastic tube facing left under the screw for?

Since you removed the intake manifold, instead of drilling this 1/8 hole, can you widen the hole on the manifold with 1/4 in drill bit, so it won't ever clog up?

Thanks a lot for your help 🎉🎉🎉🎉

Im a bit slow here sorry. What exactly did this process help? Im looking up how to replace pcv valve or possibly clean it if possible.

Will this work on a 2014 buick verano. It has the 2.4 ecotec, and it looks like the same manifold

I am replaceing my 2011 buick 2.4 LAF engine with a 2013 LEA. Do you know if the LEA has the ring problem also?

So I did this today and it was super easy .I put a little seafoam in the throttle body to clean that too.I am waiting for the RTV to cure for 24 hours.Of course it was clogged and I have two of these shit cars so I have to do the wifes also.I have two vented oil caps comming in the mail and Im going to use drygas in the winter every other tank of gas to keep the moisture out of the fuel line and the whole system.Its cheap insurance.I also sprayed seafoam in to the port before I put the screw back.This way saved me alot of time and money .How much would this cost if I took this to the dealer?.

If you go all the way threw you destroyed the intake. It is supposed to breath internally with the ports for the airflow the big ports. Dont do it threw. Its not supposed to go threw.

There is a oil cap now to stop it from blowing.

What are some of the symptoms of a PCV valve starting to clog, but not fully clogged?

Fixing to do this to my wife's car that's having oil consumption issues at 100k miles. Nervous about threading a screw into the manifold and it cracking in cold weather since I'm in northern Ohio

Does it work for a 2.2 ecotec engine? 

Holly crap ! Did any one see the classic cars in the background. This guy is good......but someone will fuc*k this up for sure.

Works in 2.4 ecotec, saturn ion 07?

wow

Could someone that has done this share the dimensions? Someone that has removed their intake manifold and drilled through the back, measure where the hole came through on the front of the manifold? That center hole where you would screw the manifold back on to the engine would be ideal!

A video of how to take it off??

*** How can we spray cleaner into our drilled hole, ensuring it sprays into the two arcs that lead to the 4 intake runners? From the plastic orifice baffle area built into the intake (the plastic block that leads to the orifice), where are the inlets for the two arcs that we would want to direct the spray straw?? MORE DETAIL - By removing the intake, one can easily spray cleaner into the the orifice and see it spray out of the 4 intake runners (if they are clear). Some have reported these passages to the 4 runners were blocked, so the passages might be worth cleaning. However, by not removing the intake and spraying cleaner into our drilled hole, I doubt much spray will migrate to the 4 runners (the cleaner just might help clean the orifice, the plastic orifice baffle area, and maybe some of the engine block passages). How are the passages plumbed? It seems there is one passage that goes from the orifice block up the intake in an arc leftwards to ONE space between runners 1 & 2 (so "spray" from the orifice exits from the left and right of runners 1 & 2, respectively. And a second arc that does the same on the right side (between runners 3 & 4). BTW - If we look carefully at the intake mounted on the car, maybe we can see hints in the plastic of where the two arcs are running.

That open chamber feeds orifices in each intake runner. Those orifices will also clog up, so just remove the intake, and do it right. Under worst condition and poor maintenance, it will clog. I have 100k, no carbon. Use premium oil/filters, premium fuel, and change every 4k miles. It's poor maintenance that is clogging up the PCV system.

just did this on my 2016 Terrain. at 80k mine was still clean but I thought it was plugged because of blowby when I opened the oil filler cap. does anybody know why it feels like you have a little blowby escaping from the oil filler cap. then, when you place the cap on it feels like it's getting sucked down like it is under vacuum.

So I went out and stated today and everything is the same .How do I know that I did anything to this engine?.

ATTENTION-----ATTENTION- THESE WERE ALL MY SYMPTOMS AND THE THINGS I REPLACED ON THE CAR BEFORE I SEEN THIS VIDEO AND SOLVED MY PROBLEMS. I HAVE A 2012 2.4L ENGINE CHEVY EQUINOX EXACT ENGINE AS THIS ONE. MY VEHICLE WAS WAS SHAKING AND ROCKING AT A COMPLETE STOP AT THE RED LIGHT, ITS WAS JERKING SO BAD AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE THAT I HAD TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL EVERY TIME A CAME TO A RED LIGHT. I REPLACED THE FOLLOWING THINGS: UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM O2 SENSORS----PURGE VALVE----AIR INTAKE SENSOR- REPLACED THE LITTLE U PLASTIC TUBE GOING TO THE AIR BOX, THE ONE THATS FILLED WITH WATER SOMETIMES. I REPLACE THE THE THROTTLE BODY WITH SENSOR ON IT--------I REPLACED THE FUEL CAP AND THE OIL CAP--- I USE CAT CLEAN AND OIL ADDITIVES--- I CHANGE THE TWO ENGINE AND INTAKE VALVES THAT SIT ON TOP OF THE ENGINE (GREY AND WHITE ). I DID MUCH MORE BUT WHEN I SEEN THIS VIDEO, I SAID TO MY SELF, ITS NO WAY IN HELL THIS IS MY PROBLEM AT ALL, NO WAY!!!! IT WAS THE FOURTH OF JULY AND IVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 5 MONTHS NOW AND ITS BEING DOING THIS SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I HAD CONVINCED MYSELF THAT IT WAS JUST THE TIMING CHAIN THAT HAD SKIPPED, LIKE THE ONES YOU SEE ON KZfaq, BUT IT WAS THE 4TH OF JULY I WASN'T DOING ANYTHING SO I SAID TO MYSELF, LET ME RUN INSIDE A GET MY DRILL. I GOT THE SMALLEST SCREW I COULD FIND, I FOUND TWO THEN THE LITTLEST DRILL BIT AND I DRILL A HOLE IN THE AREA I SEEN IN THE VIDEO AFTER REMOVING ALL THAT PLASTIC AIR INTAKE CRAP, IT TOOK ME 2 SECONDS BUT I DIDNT FIND THE HOLE, SO I HAD TO DRILL ANOTHER HOLE UNDER THE FIRST I DID CASE IT WAS TO HIGH FROM THE HOLE INSIDE THE ENGINE MANIFOLD. BUT THE SECOND HOLE WAS PERFECT SO I TOOK SOME CARB CLEANER WITH THE STRAW AND SHOT THE CLEANER ALL IN THAT NEWLY DRILLED HOLE, CARB CLEANER SPLASHED EVERYWHERE CAUSE OF THE TWO HOLES I MADE. AFTERWARDS I TOOK A PAPERCLIP AND WENT THROUGH THE DRILLED HOLE TIL I FELT THE OTHER HOLE INSIDE THE MANIFOLD, WIGGLE IT IN AND OUT THEN SPRAYED SOME MORE CARB CLEANER IN IT AND TOOK MY TWO LITTLE SCREWS AND SCREWED THE TWO DRILLED HOLE SHUT. I PUT EVERYTHING BACK TOGETHER AND IT TOOK ME LESS THAN 12 MINS, ENJOYED THE HOLIDAY FOOD AND DIDNT THINK OF IT AT ALL. I JUST WANTED TO SAY I DID EVERYTHING POSSIBLE BEFORE I LET THE DEALER FIX THE TIMING CHAIN. BUT WITH MY AMAZEMENT THE NEXT DAY. I STARTED THE CAR AND I FERLT SOMETHING DIFFERENT, YOU JUST COULD FEEL IT. YUP, GO TO FIND OUT THAT ALL THESE PROBLEMS MY VEHICLE WAS HAVING WAS BECAUSE OF THIS SMALL PIN SIZE HOLE THE ENGINE WAS FIGHTING TO GET AIR FROM. THIS HOLE WAS PLUGGED UP WITH CARBON JUST AS THE VIDEO DESCRIBES . SO THATS MY STORY, I HOPE THAT YOU ALL CAN USE THIS TO SAVE YOU A LOT OF GUESSING AS I DID. THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ MY WALL OF LOUD TEXT, LOL

Is this the v6?

But i saw all the cars in the background and knew it was legit

What size sheet metal screw is recommended? Thank you so much for this idea 💡!!

One important question is do you know JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR PERSONAL LORD AND SAVIOR?

This is dumb Dude!! ,so much can and will go wrong here and you maybe replacing the whole intake manifold or put shavings into your engine, and you sound bearing, NOPE!! The original bulletin fix if you do it right only has to be done once and you do it right on e and be done!!

Hi I have been searching everywhere to find out what the torque is for the intake manifold bolts. Its almost impossible for some reason with google to find info on the verano. Anyone know the torque (ft/lbs&nm)??

theres more than one hole there are also holes just inside intake tubes and the two holes that suck in all the crap in the first place are at top of intake just behind throttlebody

How long was the screw