I have an 89 camaro with a 305 tpi motor. The motor has a fresh build with .30 over pistons in it. The heads have also just recieved a valve job. Im trying to figure out why oil comes up the dipstick and onto the headers. This only happens when I do a big burnout or some crazy donuts, when im up around 5500 rpm. Any ideas?

 

Excessive crankcase pressure. Are you using a PCV valve or open breathers?

 

Im using the stock system on the tpi.

 

How fresh is the build? rings need to seat yet?

Is the PCV working properly? You may need more ventilation from extra valve breathers

 

Something an old machinist and race engine builder told me when I was chasing an identical problem was answered in the following way regarding ring seating

"Did you start it?"
Yes.
"They're seated"

Check your PCV system, make sure its working right.

 

PCV system was working properly. I added a breather (today) on the passenger side where the hose went into the throttle body. Maybe that will allow it to breath easier.. It seemed to all start when I installed the new valve covers with new roller rockers. Im not sure if that had anything to do with it.

 

PCV system was working properly. I added a breather (today) on the passenger side where the hose went into the throttle body. Maybe that will allow it to breath easier.. It seemed to all start when I installed the new valve covers with new roller rockers. Im not sure if that had anything to do with it.

 

... i added the breather where the hose come out of the valve cover and into the throttle body. Removed the hose completely.. Just to clarify....

 

Engine break in, what's that? With a roller cam and especially with a race engine, start the engine, get it to operating temperature. Everything is now broken in.

You can pull the heads off a multi thousand mile engine and still see cross hatching in the cylinder walls. Just when would you consider the rings to be broken in? They're cast iron and usually have a chromium coating. They'll never seal any better than the first few minutes of run time. Incorrectly or broken during installation rings or improperly gaped will cause more problems than an excuse that the "rings haven't seated".

When in doubt do a compression and leakdown test. Just because it has a "fresh build" doesn't mean it was done correctly.

 

You beat me to it.

I found a melted piston caused the same problem for me.

 

Compression test and go from there.

Dan

 

Also, what happens if you take the oil cap off with the car idling?

Do you get tons of blowby like this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEwqpc0GYn4