Help needed finding this leak - all in a panic ! - SOLVED

Garp · Post by **Garp** » Sun Feb 07, 16 2:00 pm

Whether it was the thicker gasket or simply adding the missing breather to counter the PCV valve - the problem is solved and I love you all !
Sun is out, no more oil in the engine bay - off for a cruise !
Happy as Larry

MilesnMiles · Post by **MilesnMiles** » Sun Feb 07, 16 2:32 pm

Is there a breather from the rocker going into the air filter? This could be sucking oil especially if you have a bad pcv valve.
If oil is on the air filter it can't be coming from the rocker cover I wouldn't have thought.
If there is a hose going from rocker to the filter, pull it off the filter housing and run the car: tell us what happens then-see if it's pulling air. At 50 mph cruise you have lots of vacuum sucking so check this area first and post back. Post an overview of the air filter and each rocker and what hoses come from each side.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Sun Feb 07, 16 2:40 pm

My initial thought was Dipstick - either out of the tube where it goes into the Block or out of the top where the stick inserts into the tube.

Garp · Post by **Garp** » Sun Feb 07, 16 2:57 pm

MilesnMiles wrote:Is there a breather from the rocker going into the air filter? This could be sucking oil especially if you have a bad pcv valve.
If oil is on the air filter it can't be coming from the rocker cover I wouldn't have thought.
If there is a hose going from rocker to the filter, pull it off the filter housing and run the car: tell us what happens then-see if it's pulling air. At 50 mph cruise you have lots of vacuum sucking so check this area first and post back. Post an overview of the air filter and each rocker and what hoses come from each side.

Funnily, this has been on my mind. There is breather going from front left rocker cover to the base of the carb'.
I have a PCV valve in a grommet which i think is good, it rattles when shook - apparently means it not seized, ... what's your view ?
So, if I pull the line at the carb end whilst engine is running, am i looking to feel "sucking" on this hose ....... if so, good or not ?
thanks for the help ...
garp

Garp · Post by **Garp** » Sun Feb 07, 16 3:02 pm

Pete wrote:My initial thought was Dipstick - either out of the tube where it goes into the Block or out of the top where the stick inserts into the tube.

Pete,
That was my initial thought, but, in an effort to rule this out, I masking-taped the top of the tube - not enough oil-trace here to think so, hadn't thought to check where the dipstick housing tube meets the block, but isn't that too deep to make oil appear on top of the block ?
Thanks
Garp

MilesnMiles · Post by **MilesnMiles** » Sun Feb 07, 16 3:07 pm

Garp, Petes idea does not checking too. I meant is there a hose from the passenger side rocker that goes into the air filter.

68Runner · Post by **68Runner** » Sun Feb 07, 16 3:12 pm

Have you checked for any cracks in your valve covers

Garp · Post by **Garp** » Sun Feb 07, 16 3:13 pm

MilesnMiles wrote:Garp, Petes idea does not checking too. I meant is there a hose from the passenger side rocker that goes into the air filter.

Nope nothing direct to the air filter - passenger side has PCV to Carb' hose in front, cap on rear, other rocker, cap only

Garp · Post by **Garp** » Sun Feb 07, 16 3:16 pm

68Runner wrote:Have you checked for any cracks in your valve covers

Have looked them over - both look clean and serene - guessing that a crack seeping oil would be easy enough to spot ......

MilesnMiles · Post by **MilesnMiles** » Sun Feb 07, 16 3:26 pm

Is there not a breather on the rocker cover that doesn't have a pcv valve?
Also, check Petes idea. Put the carb on fast ideal. Run the motor and see if the here is oil coming up past the dipstick. Give it a few revs and see if oil mist is evident at the top of e dipstick area. Keep clear of the fan when looking!

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Sun Feb 07, 16 3:33 pm

A problem I have found with cast covers on small blocks is they often hit the intake manifold and therefore don't seal correctly. Have a close look at where they pass the intake runners. if you can't see a definite gap then chances are there's no clearance. If the intake was coming off you could grind that for clearance, otherwise grind the covers or double up the gaskets by evo sticking 2 together before you fit them. I had this problem on both my 318 and 408 with 3 different makes of cast cover and 4 different intakes so it's clearly commonplace.

Garp · Post by **Garp** » Sun Feb 07, 16 3:36 pm

MilesnMiles wrote:Is there not a breather on the rocker cover that doesn't have a pcv valve?
Also, check Petes idea. Put the carb on fast ideal. Run the motor and see if the here is oil coming up past the dipstick. Give it a few revs and see if oil mist is evident at the top of e dipstick area. Keep clear of the fan when looking!

Milesn'
No second breather - should I have one ??? I'm now questioning the hose that runs from the PCV to the carb' - is this correct ?
I shall reexamine the dipstick seals on both the dipstick itself and the housing - if looking into the engine bay, the majority of oil and the soil on the filter ARE on the dipstick side, so the oil-mist theory sounds plausible (and cheaper to mend) !
Dipstick level is good and not over filled - does this again indicate that the PCV is not venting pressure when it should and that pressure is releasing up the dipstick tube ? - I may be talking utter Bananarama! here, so please educate me in the Jedi ways of MOPAR - sadly stuff happeninmg under the bonnet before I've totally understood the nature of the beast "?
Sadly, a search on google points to broken rings and "blow by" that the PCV cannot cope with - please say it's not so !!!
garp

Garp · Post by **Garp** » Sun Feb 07, 16 4:46 pm

Blue wrote:A problem I have found with cast covers on small blocks is they often hit the intake manifold and therefore don't seal correctly. Have a close look at where they pass the intake runners. if you can't see a definite gap then chances are there's no clearance. If the intake was coming off you could grind that for clearance, otherwise grind the covers or double up the gaskets by evo sticking 2 together before you fit them. I had this problem on both my 318 and 408 with 3 different makes of cast cover and 4 different intakes so it's clearly commonplace.

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ......?

Had to read this more than once to gather what you are saying, but I get it - will check - very clever that NO gap = potential leak ....

MilesnMiles · Post by **MilesnMiles** » Sun Feb 07, 16 4:56 pm

Garp, don't panic. Listen to Blue he's experienced just about everything with these cars.

In the grand scheme of things it's not likely to be anything major.

As for breathers, I have PCV to carb (like you) and on my passenger side rocker I have a breathe

Garp · Post by **Garp** » Sun Feb 07, 16 5:12 pm

....so, lots of info there folks. Many Thanks.
Thankfully, nobody is going "engine's toast mate, get another ...."

I'm guessing the best port of call would be to primarily eliminate the PCV and make sure it functions correctly - would I be right to assume this is a one-way valve ? Therefore, if I blow into it (towards the rocker) I shouldn't be able to get air through, and if I suck (towards carb' end) I should be able to get air - indicating it is working as a pressure release ??
PCV working would in-turn eliminate "dip-stick mist" as there would be no reason for pressure to release up the dipstick tube.
I shall then obviously check the dipstick housing to engine body fit.
Failing that, check the rocker cover seals as per Blues' instructions - although I'm guessing that whoever fitted these did so the same on both sides of the "V", so more oil on the passenger side would be odd and I'd expect the oil pattern to be uniform across the engine bay.

Should I install a breather on the drivers side rocker ? Currently, it only has a filler cap and the passenger side has PCV to Carb and a filler - this I assume would not fix the problem, but would lower any rise in case pressure by venting air ..... just a thought ?
So very appreciative of all the help and suggestions - ' last thing you want to see is oil smeared all over a pretty V8, just put the fright up you something silly .......
thanks once again folks ..... nice to have company to share this with....
G'