Positive crankcase ventilation valve performance evaluation

A positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve performance evaluation system comprising:

• an optical sensor coupled to a positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve, the optical sensor configured to collect baseline valve position data during a calibration phase and to collect operational valve position data during an operational phase, the baseline valve position data representing satisfactory PCV valve performance;
• and
• an engine control module (ECM) communicatively coupled to the optical sensor, the ECM configured to determine whether a deviation of the operational valve position data from the baseline valve position data satisfies a performance threshold associated with unsatisfactory PCV valve performance.

A crankcase ventilation system comprising:

• a positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve;
• and
• an optical sensor coupled to the PCV valve, the optical sensor configured to collect valve position data based on visually identifiable indicators associated with the PCV valve the optical sensor configured to collect baseline valve position data during a calibration phase and to collect operational valve position data during an operational phase, the baseline valve position data representing satisfactory PCV valve performance.