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kicking oil out the dipstick?

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Old Feb 27, 2010 | 08:50 PM
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From: Runnin' from the Reaper
Car: 91 B4C/91 RS 305
Engine: L98 and L03
Transmission: 2xTH700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 LSD/2.73 Open
kicking oil out the dipstick?

So I have a 91 b4c and it is kicking oil out of the dipstick tube all over my ps header and valve cover. If i put a quart in the pressure goes way up past the black lines then as I drive it the ps engine compartment starts smoking. I pop the hood and my ps valve cover and header are covered in oil. The feed tube is just dripping with oil all over the outside too. This phenomenon will stop after a while but when it does my oil pressure never gets past half way on the gauge and makes me feel like it is starving. Oil pressure drops to the red line under stopping and cornering conditions, sometimes even at idle. Also my dipstick feed tube is loose in the block and I can move it any which way I please for about 2-3 inches. Any ideas what is causing this or how to remedy it? As a side note the car shakes at idle and part throttle but i can't seem to find a consistent time when it shakes. Tach is dead too so don't ask RPMs involved unless you want an estimate that may be way off.

Last edited by darkhorse91; Feb 28, 2010 at 12:06 AM. Reason: clarifying situation
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Old Feb 28, 2010 | 12:07 AM
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From: Runnin' from the Reaper
Car: 91 B4C/91 RS 305
Engine: L98 and L03
Transmission: 2xTH700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 LSD/2.73 Open
Re: kicking oil out the dipstick?

Please help i lost almost a quart of oil today and it's all burning off my header.
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Old Feb 28, 2010 | 01:05 AM
  #3  
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From: Houston, Texas
Car: 88' IROCZ
Engine: 388 TPI Motown 350 Race block
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.77
Re: kicking oil out the dipstick?

Replace oil filter, change oil if needed.
Check PCV valve and passenger valve cover sealed breather.
Do a leak down test on each cylinder.
Replace dip stick tube.
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Old Feb 28, 2010 | 06:47 AM
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From: N. Illinois
Car: 92 GTA/ 00 TA
Engine: 383/350
Transmission: 700R4/T-56
Re: kicking oil out the dipstick?

If you don't have access to a leakdown tester do a compression test.
Sounds like either your PCV system is really plugged or you're pressurizing your crankcase.
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Old Feb 28, 2010 | 05:26 PM
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From: Runnin' from the Reaper
Car: 91 B4C/91 RS 305
Engine: L98 and L03
Transmission: 2xTH700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 LSD/2.73 Open
Re: kicking oil out the dipstick?

so i added some oil and replaced both of the pcv valves today. It hasn't spiked the oil gauge like it was before yet. I found a vacuum leak while I was in there (retard had the pcv hooked up to the wrong size fitting from the throttle body and it wasn't even sealing and had a spark plug boot with a cap on it coming from the correct fitting) and solving that has helped my idle a little. I'm still worried because my oil pressure is still dropping to redline when I come to a stop and the car settles, but it kicks back up to about half shortly after. Next thing on the list is sourcing a dipstick tube, floor jack (damned dirty thief ex-roommate,) and compression tester.
thanks guys

Last edited by darkhorse91; Feb 28, 2010 at 05:31 PM. Reason: left out info
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Old Feb 28, 2010 | 05:30 PM
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From: N. Illinois
Car: 92 GTA/ 00 TA
Engine: 383/350
Transmission: 700R4/T-56
Re: kicking oil out the dipstick?

BOTH PCV's? These cars only had 1.
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Old Mar 1, 2010 | 02:27 AM
  #7  
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From: Runnin' from the Reaper
Car: 91 B4C/91 RS 305
Engine: L98 and L03
Transmission: 2xTH700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 LSD/2.73 Open
Re: kicking oil out the dipstick?

Originally Posted by Viprklr
BOTH PCV's? These cars only had 1.
you're talking about this thing right? that's what they gave me when I asked which pcv valve I needed at schmucks. I have one in each valve cover. But I have aluminum valve covers too so that may be why. or maybe b4cs got 2... idunno you got me confused now. either way it cost me a whopping $4 so i'm not too worried

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Old Mar 1, 2010 | 02:38 AM
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From: Runnin' from the Reaper
Car: 91 B4C/91 RS 305
Engine: L98 and L03
Transmission: 2xTH700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 LSD/2.73 Open
Re: kicking oil out the dipstick?

Originally Posted by darkhorse91
I'm still worried because my oil pressure is still dropping to redline when I come to a stop and the car settles, but it kicks back up to about half shortly after.
while driving to work after posting this it started doing the same pressure drop at idle while in gear, but then the car just completely stalled out and shut off. I had to give it some gas just to keep it from dying at stop lights or while sitting. the idle seems to get really low (god I wish my tach worked right now) then the oil pressure drops, voltage drops, and car dies. Does this sound like my idle is just too low now that i fixed the vacuum leak? it's not as surgey or shakey anymore it just slows to a halt now, and I wouldn't be surprised if the last owner adjusted the idle to make up for the leak. plus i know the engine has been rebuilt so that may have affected something

sorry for the double post but want to make sure my thoughts are semi-organized as I had a long day at work and feel fairly scatterbrained.
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Old Mar 1, 2010 | 09:30 AM
  #9  
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From: Cordova, TN
Car: 1989 Pontiac Formula 350
Engine: 350 tpi
Transmission: 700
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: kicking oil out the dipstick?

I made the same mistake on my engine. The driver's side cover gets the pcv and the passenger side gets a ccv. It just lets clean air get into te crankcase from the throttle body. If you do like I did and have pcv's on both you are not letting ay air in.
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Old Mar 1, 2010 | 11:34 AM
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From: Runnin' from the Reaper
Car: 91 B4C/91 RS 305
Engine: L98 and L03
Transmission: 2xTH700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 LSD/2.73 Open
Re: kicking oil out the dipstick?

Originally Posted by megtom2
I made the same mistake on my engine. The driver's side cover gets the pcv and the passenger side gets a ccv. It just lets clean air get into te crankcase from the throttle body. If you do like I did and have pcv's on both you are not letting ay air in.
where do you get a ccv? I tried looking for one online and there isn't even any for sale on google shopping. part # maybe? Also the car had 2 of the pcv in it already so maybe that was part of the problem
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Old Mar 1, 2010 | 12:44 PM
  #11  
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From: Cordova, TN
Car: 1989 Pontiac Formula 350
Engine: 350 tpi
Transmission: 700
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: kicking oil out the dipstick?

What you need is a 90 degree elbow that will fir snug in the grommets in the cover and the other end fit snug to the tube from the throttle body. I have not had luck so far but I have only checked out one place so far. Maybe someone else has a gm number. I have been thinking of just putting a breather in it for now and capping the throttle body opening.
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Old Mar 1, 2010 | 02:06 PM
  #12  
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From: Cordova, TN
Car: 1989 Pontiac Formula 350
Engine: 350 tpi
Transmission: 700
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: kicking oil out the dipstick?

Check thgis part # out at autozone. #4279
I think I am going to pick one up and I'll let you know if it works.
Nevermind. Wrong size

Last edited by megtom2; Mar 1, 2010 at 02:35 PM.
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Old Mar 1, 2010 | 03:11 PM
  #13  
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From: Cordova, TN
Car: 1989 Pontiac Formula 350
Engine: 350 tpi
Transmission: 700
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: kicking oil out the dipstick?

Does anybody have a part number for a CCV or plastic elbow that will work. Wish I could drill out a PCV.
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Old Mar 1, 2010 | 03:47 PM
  #14  
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From: Runnin' from the Reaper
Car: 91 B4C/91 RS 305
Engine: L98 and L03
Transmission: 2xTH700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 LSD/2.73 Open
Re: kicking oil out the dipstick?

so my car is at the dealership right now, they're charging $35 to diagnose the issue so i figured i'd rather have a professional take a look at it then pull my hair out trying to figure it out. When I went in they told my the ccv was only used on the california cars for this particular engine and there was 2 pcvs.

Also I noticed when I pulled the pcv on the ps where all of the oil is that there is a milkiness to the oil that is on the pcv but the rest of the oil looks fine, dipstick oil looks brand new, and coolant levels haven't changed at all. I thought milky oil was a coolant leak isn't it?

I did adjust the minimum air today because after fixing the vacuum leak idle was lower than any car i had ever heard and usually died 10-30 seconds after starting. I'm pretty sure the previous owner had changed it considering the painfully hard to get off cap was missing already. turned the screw in about 1/2 turn and now it idles like a mild v8 should.
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Old Mar 1, 2010 | 05:49 PM
  #15  
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From: N. Illinois
Car: 92 GTA/ 00 TA
Engine: 383/350
Transmission: 700R4/T-56
Re: kicking oil out the dipstick?

Milkiness in the valve cover can just be moisture from the atmosphere. I wouldn't worry if your oil and coolant looks fine.
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Old Mar 1, 2010 | 10:24 PM
  #16  
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From: Cordova, TN
Car: 1989 Pontiac Formula 350
Engine: 350 tpi
Transmission: 700
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: kicking oil out the dipstick?

Dealer is full of it. They only have one PCV. My wife's 86 Corvette has never seen California and it has the PCV on the driver's side and CCV on the passneger side. That is exacty how the FSM shows the fbody tpi cars in the diagram.
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Old Mar 1, 2010 | 11:43 PM
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From: Runnin' from the Reaper
Car: 91 B4C/91 RS 305
Engine: L98 and L03
Transmission: 2xTH700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 LSD/2.73 Open
Re: kicking oil out the dipstick?

is this what the ccv is supposed to look like? it's the closest thing I can find when looking for crank case ventilator. if not it says it should fit the valve covers so should I just get one?



also I spoke with the dealership again and there is no oil registering on the dipstick and I put 2 quarts in over the past 2 days and oil level seemed ok before that when I checked on wednesday. Now i feel like my car is going to die while i'm getting raped by a dealership. AHHHHHH FML!
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Old Mar 2, 2010 | 04:37 PM
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From: Runnin' from the Reaper
Car: 91 B4C/91 RS 305
Engine: L98 and L03
Transmission: 2xTH700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 LSD/2.73 Open
Re: kicking oil out the dipstick?

UPDATE: Spoke with the actual technician working on my car and he confirmed the pcv ccv set up but GM has discontinued the ventilator. Also the valve cover gaskets blew because of too much positive crank pressure and that was part of the issue as well. Now we both get to look for the ventilators at different scrap yards around town. I'm half tempted to just throw a spark plug boot in the and attach some vacuum lines to that via connectors. Does that sound like it would fudge anything up? I know it's not the greatest set up but it will keep my engine from starving wouldn't it.
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Old Mar 2, 2010 | 04:58 PM
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From: Cordova, TN
Car: 1989 Pontiac Formula 350
Engine: 350 tpi
Transmission: 700
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: kicking oil out the dipstick?

Just got to find something with the same sizes as a PCV.
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Old Mar 2, 2010 | 05:29 PM
  #20  
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From: N. Illinois
Car: 92 GTA/ 00 TA
Engine: 383/350
Transmission: 700R4/T-56
Re: kicking oil out the dipstick?

HELP section at advance auto, autozone, napa, pep boys.
You're just looking for a vacuum elbow.
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Old Mar 2, 2010 | 09:34 PM
  #21  
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From: Houston, Texas
Car: 88' IROCZ
Engine: 388 TPI Motown 350 Race block
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.77
Re: kicking oil out the dipstick?

Originally Posted by darkhorse91
y...But I have aluminum valve covers too so that may be why. or maybe b4cs got 2... idunno you got me confused now...
The CCV in the picture is for carbs it goes inside of the air filter cleaner and connects to the passenger side
valve cover.
The TPI passenger side valve is connected the same way just directly to TB.

Here's how mine is connected. My stock cover just had a hose without the breather filter.
kicking oil out the dipstick?-breather-cap.jpg
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Old Mar 3, 2010 | 03:35 AM
  #22  
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From: Runnin' from the Reaper
Car: 91 B4C/91 RS 305
Engine: L98 and L03
Transmission: 2xTH700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 LSD/2.73 Open
Re: kicking oil out the dipstick?

Originally Posted by rgarcia63
Here's how mine is connected. My stock cover just had a hose without the breather filter.
Attachment 194213
where did you get that breather? I need something like that. Also I was wondering if this would work to solve the issue of 2 pcvs on the car if i just blocked off the vacuum line. I feel retarded for putting 2 pcvs in there but that is what I pulled out. 2 identical pcvs. oh and the pic is the pcv for my car.
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Old Mar 3, 2010 | 09:23 AM
  #23  
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From: Cordova, TN
Car: 1989 Pontiac Formula 350
Engine: 350 tpi
Transmission: 700
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: kicking oil out the dipstick?

That is not going to fit into the stock valve cover same as the one at Autozone didn't fit. If we couldfind a filtered breather that fit into the stock hole all we would have to do then is cap the throttle body hole. Someone once posted about all incoming air having to be monitored by the MFP but with this going into the crankcase and not the combustion process it should work. Finding one that fits is the problem.
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Old Mar 3, 2010 | 12:25 PM
  #24  
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From: Runnin' from the Reaper
Car: 91 B4C/91 RS 305
Engine: L98 and L03
Transmission: 2xTH700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 LSD/2.73 Open
Re: kicking oil out the dipstick?

that filter is designed to fit the OEM l98 valve cover, and doesn't fit most aftermarket covers. It looks to me like a standard valve cover breather and a screw in adapter, but the tech working on my car found a ccv and threw it in there.
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Old Mar 3, 2010 | 12:33 PM
  #25  
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From: San Diego, California
Car: Trailblazer EXT 4.2 (Firebird Form)
Engine: 5.1 4bbl
Transmission: 700R4 Mega Raptor Level 4
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: kicking oil out the dipstick?

Originally Posted by darkhorse91
So I have a 91 b4c and it is kicking oil out of the dipstick tube all over my ps header and valve cover. If i put a quart in the pressure goes way up past the black lines then as I drive it the ps engine compartment starts smoking. I pop the hood and my ps valve cover and header are covered in oil. The feed tube is just dripping with oil all over the outside too. This phenomenon will stop after a while but when it does my oil pressure never gets past half way on the gauge and makes me feel like it is starving. Oil pressure drops to the red line under stopping and cornering conditions, sometimes even at idle. Also my dipstick feed tube is loose in the block and I can move it any which way I please for about 2-3 inches. Any ideas what is causing this or how to remedy it? As a side note the car shakes at idle and part throttle but i can't seem to find a consistent time when it shakes. Tach is dead too so don't ask RPMs involved unless you want an estimate that may be way off.

HEMORRHAGING, I would say you need a rebuilt, but then again could it be a clogged oil valley?... or whatever they're called ... do you perform regular oil changes? How are your breather tubes and PCV valve?


this is what my car with a Carb has on the passenger side...



Last edited by KNBlazer; Mar 3, 2010 at 12:43 PM.
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Old Mar 3, 2010 | 10:19 PM
  #26  
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From: Houston, Texas
Car: 88' IROCZ
Engine: 388 TPI Motown 350 Race block
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.77
Re: kicking oil out the dipstick?

Originally Posted by KNBlazer
...this is what my car with a Carb has on the passenger side...
That just like my 86' Silverado.
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Old Mar 4, 2010 | 03:20 AM
  #27  
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From: Runnin' from the Reaper
Car: 91 B4C/91 RS 305
Engine: L98 and L03
Transmission: 2xTH700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 LSD/2.73 Open
Re: kicking oil out the dipstick?

Originally Posted by KNBlazer
HEMORRHAGING, I would say you need a rebuilt, but then again could it be a clogged oil valley?... or whatever they're called ... do you perform regular oil changes? How are your breather tubes and PCV valve?


this is what my car with a Carb has on the passenger side...


the car had 2 pcv's on it when i got it and that blew the valve cover gaskets and was pressurizing the crank enough to blow it out the stick. My stupid *** just replaced both of them when someone mentioned the pcv valve. Everything (in this thread) has been fixed as of now and I want to thank everyone for helping me finger that one out. Now to the rest of the car......
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Old Mar 4, 2010 | 12:32 PM
  #28  
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From: Cordova, TN
Car: 1989 Pontiac Formula 350
Engine: 350 tpi
Transmission: 700
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: kicking oil out the dipstick?

For anybody looking through this thread later I finally found an elbow that fits into the grommet and also the tube from the throttle body.
Dorman 47028
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Old Jan 31, 2012 | 11:38 AM
  #29  
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From: Duncannon
Car: 89 formula firebird
Engine: modified 305 tpi
Transmission: 5 speed manual
Axle/Gears: 3.45 borg warner rear end
Re: kicking oil out the dipstick?

i have that same issue of the oil comming out of that hole, my car overheated to the max and spewed oil out of there, doing a tune up this weeked to see if that fixes the problem if not the breather should work? i havent seen any of you say it actually stopped the oil, engine was rebuilt 3 years ago, oil in it is black probably never been changed
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