Helpppppp loosing bhps??

If it is freely rattling when you shake it. With the amount of buildup you had, even at $40 to replace it, I would have splurged and taken it out of the equation.

Is that the original oil cap on the engine? Mine has the 0W-20 stamp on it. Something happen to yours in the past?

Might be worth a compression test as the seals and rings maybe letting too much through.

 

Did the dealer find anything wrong or did you resolve your battery issues? Has the code returned?

 

How long do you have until you have to pass the inspection? I would focus on logging the 400 miles and ensuring the permanent code clears to get the inspection pass. Or has the code returned and that is the reason for the current investigation?

 

The PCV valve is a one-way valve, so you test by blowing air through it and it should open and pass air in one direction and not the other. It should also rattle if you hold it in your hand and shake it.

 

It may be that your rings are going bad. You might want to try a compression test. I'd clean out the PCV and EGR, but if your EGR is also very oily, the clean out is somewhat temporary because the failing rings will continue to fail. A compression test should let you assess the quality of your rings and valves. In this test, you screw a meter into each spark plug hole and measure the compressed pressure when you crank the engine. One school of thought is repair the bad rings or valves, the other school of thought is clean the PCV/EGR until the engine completely dies, then replace it with a used motor.

I'm only speculating and I'm a home mechanic with limited experience, so don't get all excited and buy a new car or a new engine just because of what some guy on the Internet said. Cars with bad rings/valves can often last another 40,000 mi or more.