I ordered a PCV valve from Autozone. When the part came in I realized it was not a PCV valve. It is simply a metal tube whit two different diameters at the ends. it has a small hole at one end but no ball which rattles. I can see thru the metal tube. Went back to autozone and they looked it up again and it shows as the PCV. A clerk sent me to a local shop with knowledge of the LS.
The guy tells me the PCV is built into the rocker arm cover on the drivers side. He suggests I get a drivers side rocker arm cover from a different year LS which will take a replacement PCV as is normal. The other option is to buy a new rocker arm cover as the PCV bits are built in.
My question being what model year and engine size will match my 2004 4.8 V8 engine.
EDIT- I guess I can buy a new rocker arm cover each time I want to change the PCV but the guy at the shop claims a used rocker arm cover will fit and i can use an over-the-counter PCV valve as in a normal car. One thing I need is some information as to which used rocker cover to look for.

 

Hello; I see several have looked at my post. Let me restate the question a bit. This PCV valve issue is new to me. Perhaps new to most of you. I have replaced PCV valves many times over the years. This has me stumped a bit. Not exactly a surprise the GM engineers would make something simple like a PCV and make it built into the more expensive and harder to replace valve/rocker am cover.
I can change out a valve cover if I know which one to look for. The guy at the shop tells me he has done the job and no check engine lights. While his explanation makes a sort of sense, I hoped someone on here would know of the issue and either confirm his take or have s different suggestion.

 

 

Hello; I bought a used rocker arm cover and a new PCV valve. I have been cleaning it up. Not yet tried to install. The guy at the shop thinks maybe 1999 to 2000 V8's had the easy to replace type. My 2004 has the PCV built into the rocker cover. This guy lives and breathes LS engines. Claims I will have trouble and the only other way to deal with this is to buy a new rocker arm cover each time i want to change the PVC.
I get the need to change a PCV from time to time. I do not quite understand why GM did what they seem to have done by making what normally is a cheap maintaince item be a part of an expensive assembly which is much harder to change.
I see no one has commented yet. This is a new to me situation. Bought my Silverado new in 2004. just now hitting 70K miles. Thought it was time to replace the PCV and wound up with a used part.

 

I've got a 2006 Silverado with the 4.8L and the same mileage (138K), but have never needed to replace the PCV valve. All I know about the subject is in the guidance shown here in the HOWTO section of the forum website:

Chevrolet Silverado 1999-2006: How to Replace PCV Valve | Chevroletforum


HOWEVER, it is important to note the HOWTO above covers the 1999-2006 model years. Based on something I read on another forum, here, it appears that the PCV valve may in fact be a simple orifice with no moving ball like you are looking for in the 2004 year model and later:

2004 pcv valve replacement | GMC Truck Forum

I guess the real question is, what led to the diagnosis of needing to replace the PCV valve? Are you getting codes for it, or just doing it as routine maintenance?

For what its worth, my Haynes manual for the 1999-2006 year models says NOTHING about it not being replaceable on the 2004-2006, and recommends replacing every 60,000 miles...

 

Hello; Thanks for the reply. i will look at the links later. My truck has just turner over 70,000 miles. I thought it was time to change as a matter of routine. Did not occur o me there would be a difference in the PCV valve setup until I got the part from AutoZone. When the part turned out to be a simple tube with a small hole on oe end I was stumped. I am use to the sort that rattle. I could see thru the inside of the part.
The guy at the local shop knew right away what I was talking about. He says I will have problems eventually.and suggested I get a replacement valve cover shown in the pictures. What he suggests makes a sort of sense, but I confess to not understanding why GM did way with a "normal" PCV valve. One reason Iposted on here is the situation seems strange. I figured ome of you may know more than I do.

I have not done the change yet..

 

Well, I am at higher mileage than you, and I would advise leaving it alone. Just change that fixed orifice tube if you want, but I would not change the valve cover just to change it for this reason. I think this statement over at gmfullsize.com is key:

And:

From those threads, apparently there was an excessive oil consumption issue with the 1999-2002 GMT800 engines, and a design change was made, including to the fixed orifice PCV (that does not need replacement) in order to address the problem. I would just leave it alone, and keep the parts GM designed for it in there. The GMT800 is a pretty solid platform, as was the GMT400 that came before it. I can't say as much for more recent generations...

 

Hello; Still have not done the switch. I will not get around to it any time soon. One of the reasons i posted about this on here is to get more information. I will keep an eye on things such as oil consumption.
I am tempted to try an oil catch can.
Thanks