BOTTLEDZ28

iTrader: (9)

I think have either a blown oil pan gasket or a blown rear main seal cuz I am leaking oil all over the place. I am also blowing oil out the dip stick and its leaking down the tube onto the plug boot and burning. This engine is brand new. it has about 1,000 miles on at the most. You think somethings a miss in the engine like broken rings or something?

TJBaker

Hows the PCV Valve/system??

BOTTLEDZ28

iTrader: (9)

everything is new. new PCV valve and all new hoses. it just tickes me off that i spent so much money on this engine and now it all seems ruined now that Ihave a pretty bad oil leak. Its already made a mess of the underside of my car.
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I even had the machine shop install a stock replacment oil pump. I dont have one of those high volume or high flow ones. Just a standard SBC pump. my oil pressure on start up is about 85 at idle. Even after running the car for an hour in traffic and highway driving, it still reads just about 65. I know its a new engine and all but that seems really high. I have a mechanical oil pressure gauge tapped into the top of the block on the rear. If I had a stock gauge it would be off the map.

ljnowell

Check the pcv valve just to make sure. Does the car ever smoke?

ZimGTA

Excessive blowby?

CrazyHawaiian

If you suspect something like rings I would do a compression/leakdown test and make sure that isnt the problem. Other than that, I would really clean everything up so you can pinpoint all the leak locations and do whatever you can to re-do the seals/gaskets. Maybe also experiment with breathers where the PCV valves go, seems like you have alot of pressure in there if the oil is leaking out that much (and no seals/gaskets have failed).

Dialed_In

iTrader: (3)

Definitely sounds like a problem with the PCV system. Did you break it in properly to seat the rings? The rings may not be seated yet.

GuitarJunki17

iTrader: (1)

Wow, 85 is really up there. You said it was a stock pump they put in...

How much oil was put in? What viscosity? You may have way too much oil in it, or are running a viscosity that is wayyy to high. On a new engine, you should be running something like 10-30.

Did you build this engine yourself or is it a crate motor? You might have the wrong oil pain for your application, something with trap doors and baffles and whatnot, it might not be right for you.

I would also call up the machine shop and ask them what they think, since they installed the oil pump for you.

_Clark

ZZ28ZZ

Do a compression test.

My freshly rebuilt eng blew oil out dipstick tube when I got on it. Compression test revealed a low cyl (100 psi compared to 195 psi on other cyls). Broke down eng and found a piston with cracked lands.

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Who built the motor?

Were you there?

What did you see as it went together? Have trouble getting any pistons into the bores, out of the ring compressor?

If you paid somebody else to build it, sounds like you need to contact them RIGHT AWAY.

D's89IROCZ

Sounds like a spun bearing . Mine did exactely this with my 305 before she spun a bearing.

BOTTLEDZ28

iTrader: (9)

I will check on the compression test this weekend as well as the PCV system. I hgad thi sengine built by a locval engine builder and I will also be stopping by there after I do the compression test.
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also, my oil pan is the stock one without the windage tray in it. I could fit the tray without having to cut it all up. Plus I used ARP bolts on this engine and there was no ARP stud that is used to hold the tray down like the GM bolt anmd I wasnt going to mis match bolts and stuff so I just ditched the tray. I was told it wasnt a big deal so I went with it. It may be part of my problem but Im not sure right now. Im just ticked off thsat my new engine leaks oil everywhere.

oh and I am using regular 10W 30 mobil 1 oil.

Dialed_In

iTrader: (3)

The windage tray has nothing to do with pressure building up in the crankcase. It's not a spun bering either, then he would have low oil pressure and a very audible knock.

You're building pressure in the crankcase somehow;

a.) Blowby. Either rings aren't seated yet, rings are cracked, rings are missing , the wrong rings were put it, the rings were washed out during break in and the cylinders are glazed, improperly installed oil control ring or broken piston.

b.) It's your PCV sytem. Without a properly functioning PCV the motor WILL build pressure in the crankcase. The easist way to get rid of the pressure is with a breather in one valve cover and a PCV valve hooked to manifold vacuum in the other.

Make sure you have all your ducks in a row and be certain that everything on your end is right before you call the machine shop unless you're asking them what they think the problem could be.

BOTTLEDZ28

iTrader: (9)

Dialed -In, thanks for the input. Everything you said is basicaly what I have been thinking as well. Im not gonna go to the machine shop that did the work until I get a compression test done on the engine because Im sure they are going to ask me if I did one first. I sure hope its not the rings being bad. I had a few hundreds easymiles on the engine and then took it to the dyno to be be tuned with the new FAST setup I have. I hope that was enough time to break the engine in. If not then I guess I will have to live with this for this summer and deal with it over the winter.

Lo-tec

Did this start leaking oil from day one or after you started hammering on it?

BOTTLEDZ28

iTrader: (9)

it started leaking after I started driving it to work last week. The engine was tuned and dynoed last summer and since then I have only driven it around the neighborhood and never getting out of 3rd gear. I just put it back on the road last week and I have been driving it everyday to and from work. about 40 miles round trip. I have not been hammering on it like crazy either. The dipstick and PCV system does not smoke at all. The oil just slightly comes out the tube but its enough to where it leaks down the tube and soaks into the fire sleeve I have on the plug wire. its getting to the point now where the sleeve is starting to smoke from the heat coming off the headers and it stinks like burnt oil. The dipstick will not push up out of the tube and it does feel loose when I push it down. It doesnt snap into place or anything and I am not even sure it is suppose to but I was thinking of wrapping electrical tape around the top of the tube a few times so that the stick seals a little better and maybe it will stop the oil from coming out as much as it does. My biggest complaint though is the pretty good size leak coming from ther back of the block somehwere. Ive got to get in there and see exactly where it is coming from. Its either the rear main or the oil pan. All I know is that the oil filter, flywheel cover and the bottom of the bellhousing are soaked.

DENN_SHAH

iTrader: (1)

look closely at the breather side of the PCV. a clogged breather hose or filter will cause the symptoms you describe. when you have no engine vacuum the blowby has to have somewhere to go, it won't flow through the PCV valve because of the check valve in it.
with it having sat up there is a good possibility that some rodents got into nest building.

BOTTLEDZ28

iTrader: (9)

theres no rodents in my engine. I stsrted that engine alomst everyday throughout the winter last year to keep the fluids flowing. I will recheck the system though.

Untamed Z

Pull off the breather on your valve cover.....I'm assuming you have one. If the smoke is rythmic ( showing a consistent pattern ), you probably have some serious issues, possibly a hung ring. If there is no rythmic pattern, I would concur that it may be a PCV issue. Hopefully your problem is the latter.

BOTTLEDZ28

iTrader: (9)

well I pulled the PCV and there is a constant smoke coming from the cover. The PCV does have a good amount of suction to it too which I know is a good thing.

I also stopped by the machjine shop that built it for me and they told me that I need ot check the check valve inside the oil filter adapter. They said it might be hung up or something. I kept mentioning the rings deal and he said that it wasnt likely that the rings are at fault here. He also said something about a possiblity that I have a hole in a piston. Ya ok whatever. This engine was dialed in right from the beginning with a FAST setup and I know it was done right. I am definitly going to do a compression check tomorrow morning and trhen stop by the shop with the results. the test wont lie if there is a problem with the rings.

Lo-tec

Compression test won't lie. My buddies engine that puffed like that lifted the ring lands on a piston

BOTTLEDZ28

iTrader: (9)

well at the worst, could a ring make some deep scratches on the cylinder wall? Im hoping that if it is indeed a ring or rings, that all I will end up having to buy is new rings and gaskets and then have the engine put back togheter.

Lo-tec

I would do the test first and worry about the what if's after you see the results.

Dialed_In

iTrader: (3)

the valve in the oil filter adapter has nothing to do with the smoke.

BOTTLEDZ28

iTrader: (9)

ya I know but the answer I got from the guy at the shop was that it was cold outside and that would happen on any car when its cold out. I just shrugged it off cuz I knew it was BS. It was 45 degrees out this afternoon.

Lo-tec

Do the test, post the results, and let an unbiased group evaluate the data. It's still early, you should be doing it now!!

BOTTLEDZ28

iTrader: (9)

I did the test this morning and all 8 cylinders showed between 180 and 185. So, I guess that means that my rings are good. Now, I just got to figure out what is causing my blowby. I also notcied this morning that smoke was coming out of the TB after I pulled the plastic air inlet thing off. My next place to look s that little check valve that is on the adapter where the oil cooler is attached to. The machine shop said I might have a piece of debis in there and its hanging the valve open. If thats not the problem then I will try and triple check my PCV system. I should just replace the hoses and PCV anyway.

Lo-tec

Did you have any luck finding the oil leak? Did you check the rear china wall seal? That will look like a rear main and make a big mess.

Also, what's up with "smoke" coming out of the TB? Is this with the car running?

Also, how is your PCV system setup? Hoses, external filter, etc? I had a problem with my engine pulling too much vacuum at cruise that it sucked oil into the TB...ended up using a filter between the pcv valve and the tb to catch the oil.

BOTTLEDZ28

iTrader: (9)

I never really looked for the point of the leaking oil. its pretty damp out here today and I dont feel like laying on my back again.

My PCV system goes as follows, I have a hose going from the back of the passenger valve cover to the side of the TB. I then have a hose going from the bottom of my HSR plenum to the fron driver side valve cover where my PCV is located. And now that im thinking about it, I wonder if my valve covers are contributing to this. I dont remember is there where baffles in place under the grommets where the PCV and 90 degree plastic fitting are on the covers. If there was no baffle under the hose on the passenger side then could that be why there is a light smoke coming from the TB. I only notcied the smoke after Ishut the car off and pulled the air inlet tract off and opened the throttle plates. Oh an there isno external filters at all. I have my PCV setup the same way it was when it was stock.

Lo-tec

You have to at least have baffles. I would look at where the hose from the pcv valve goes to the tb and see if there is a trail of oil in there. If so, time to add a filter of some sort.

If you could post a couple of pics of your setup, it would help the visually challenged!!

BOTTLEDZ28

iTrader: (9)

getting pics will be a challange as I dont have access to digital camera right now. Ill see what I can do though.

BOTTLEDZ28

iTrader: (9)

heres the results from my leakdown test.

Cyl 1 38%
Cyl 8 60%
Cyl 4 38%
Cyl 3 38%
Cyl 6 33%
Cyl 5 40%
Cyl 7 38%
Cyl 2 35%

So, it seems like i have a problem with the number 8 cylinder. air did come out of the dipstick tube on all 8 cylinders but the sound of rushing air was so much louder while doing the number 8 cylinder. There was a little bit more air blowing out the tube but I could hear it so much more coming from inside the engine near the plug area. I thought maybe I did it wrong but got the same recults 4 times on that cylinder. THis engine has abuot 1K miles on it. I then redid a compression check and all 8 cylinder where with 10psi of wach other. The number 8 was the lowest at 180. The rest where 185 and 190. I added oil to the number 8 and it jumped to 210. It almost seems like the compression test didnt prove anything useful to me. Im gonna have to see what the machine shop says about this. They swear up and down that I have an intake gasket leak. If that was the case then wouldnt the head gasket have to be bad too in order for air to get into the cylinder?

BOTTLEDZ28

iTrader: (9)

I went BACK to the machine shop today and told them the results of my leakdown test and the guy says that he has no explanation for it. He says "if your rings where bad then the compresion test would have showed it". He swears up and down that I have a bad intake gasket and that air is getting sucked into the lifter valley area of the engine through the intake gasket. I cant argue with him there because I dont know for sure if that can happen or not. All he keeps telling me to to change out the gaskets and see what happens. Can a badintake gasket cause blowby?


PS I know Ihave another post going with the same info but different peaople view dfferent threads and different people ar eposting in both.

chads89ta

iTrader: (6)

while have never done a leakdown test, just yesterday i had watched two guys garage. they did a test on a smallblock chevy, a 10-15 % was acceptable more than that was not, this may or maynot help,

Dialed_In

iTrader: (3)

Check your other thread. I posted a reply.

astron

so I know this is a really old thread, but I have a similar problem, so what did you ever find out about your blow by problem? and how did you fix it, it seem like the thread just ended with no results, any help would be great, thanks.

BOTTLEDZ28

iTrader: (9)

I ended up pulling the engine and dropping it back off at the machine shop. The rings and cylinder walls were fuel washed from me trying to start the car over and over again with a bad distributor. MSD repaired a Pro Billet distributor for me and never reinstalled the roll pin for the gear on the bottom They just jammed it on there. I didnt notice it and just installed it. Cranking the engine did nothing since the distributor wouldnt turn. It took me a week to find that problem too. I have no idea how that gear managed to stay attached to the distributor shaft after repeated times of pulling it out. I only caught it when I put the stock dizzy back in and the car fired right up.

I ended up fuel washing the cylinders from trying to start it so many times and it ruined the rings. so, I had to have it rebuilt again,

tom1985

this has to be the most "confusing" thread I have ever seen-would fuel washed cylinder walls 11 years later cause 85psi oil pressure and all the other original symtoms ?
no need to reply-just a comment cause I wasted time reading thru this

tealman92

No. He said he pulled the engine and had it rebuilt again but that was back in 2006 not this year.

RBob

iTrader: (1)

Can't happen, without a rotating distributor the ECM won't inject fuel... Otherwise the engine would just flood at key-on, engine-off.

RBob.

Ja85z28

OP,

Please replace your $10 PCV valve before you breakout the cherry picker.

Good Luck

bk2life

dude, this was back in 2006...