PCV valve

[Honus]

Got a new PCV valve for the 1998 Honda. How do I know whether it's any good? The one in the engine allows air to pass one direction but not the other, which is what I think it's supposed to do. The new one allows air to go either way, which doesn't seem right to me.

Any way of checking it?

[PaulC]

Typically, you should be able to shake a functioning valve and hear it rattle; the sound coming from the movable check valve. When a PCV gunks up, the check valve cannot slide up-and-down and is therefore silent during the shake test.