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Distributor oil leak need help!!

Frank,
You have the correct style PCV valve on your car. What goes into the rear hole in the valve cover on the passenger side? Is it a breather of some sort? Could you show a picture of the full valve cover on the driver's side so that we can see what type of breather you're using there?
 
hey frank, the pcv valve in the pic is just a general pic, not app specific, just go to napa or wherever, and order the correct one for your car. I just grabbed the pic off the net for quick reference.
 
I think it's time for a compression test. If you've never done it, it's not to bad. Warm it up, remove all plugs, remove coil wire off distributor and ground it OR remove 12V wire to coil don't ground that one, crank it 2-3 up to 5 times until you get max reading, then repeat each cylinder. A good gauge with a check valve that holds the pressure is best then you can do it by yourself. The only other idea I've got is remove valve covers to see if they are sludged up.
 
hecked all the plugs none have oil on them and they look as though there burning fine. The other day I drove it for about 6 miles and the PCV poped out. Did someone want me to send a photo of the volve cover??? Still looking for help..........
 
I took the car out yesterday and the PCV popped out, looks like I still have the problem. I pulled the sparkplugs today and there all burning clean no oil showing on any of the tips. I cleaned the oil ventilation cap no issues there. The crankcase presser is still not getting ventilated. Any ideas….
 
frank said:
hecked all the plugs none have oil on them and they look as though there burning fine. The other day I drove it for about 6 miles and the PCV poped out. Did someone want me to send a photo of the volve cover??? Still looking for help..........
Click to expand...

Yes, I'd like to see what type of breather you have in the other valve cover. It looks to me like you may have a solid plug in the opening where you need a breather cap. If the PCV is popping out that quickly, it sure sounds like you're building up pressure inside the crankcase.
 
Also these are known too leak at the corner of the valley pan, some builders dont put rtv in the corners when they assemble the motor,
it would be right in the area where you are talking about,, right next too the dist, been down this road before, its not that hard of a job, now if thats not it,
also i see your running a older dist, could be the surface of it is not flat
warped whatever, not hollaring keyboard is toast, also good points on the crank vent opinions, just keep it simple
 
It looks like you have a solid plug on the passenger valve cover. Try one of these in there, you can run a hose from it to the bottom side of your air cleaner. Make sure the PCV is working, if you shake it does it rattle? You sure have classic symptoms of too much crankcase pressure. You will also need a rubber grommet to put this in.
 

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If your air cleaner doesn't have a hose connection to run to this type of breather, there are several style of breathers available with an open type of element that will work just fine.
 
more photos

I have 2 photos one of each valve cover; 1 w/the PCV the other of the chrome oil cap.
 

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You have a Prestolite distributor and those take the flat gasket. If the gasket is compressing when you tighten it then should be no problem. My guess, like others said, is the corner of the valley pan may be the culprit, and if you are building crankcase pressure then the problem just gets worse. What you show in the pic above looks 100% correct and if you indeed have two holes in your valve covers then you can't have any crankcase pressure! Check those aftermarket grommets and make sure the bottoms are cut open to allow the gases to come out. Some of them come sealed but the PCV and breather will still plug in.
 
Replay to Meep-Meep 2-June 11

In reference to the Prestolite Distribute, I do have a flat gasket installed. I’ve tightened down the Distribute bracket as tight as I could; under normal driving I have a small amount of oil coming out. If I accelerate hard the PCV, oil dipstick and the base of the Distribute leak oil.
You mentioned the corner of the valley pan (not sure what that is) may be the culprit….can you provide more on that? The Lg. chrome oil cap that’s in the valve cover; I cleaned it out and it flow’s with no obstruction.
Can you clarify “aftermarket grommets and make sure the bottoms are cut open”
 
If you got oil coming out of oil dipstick, pcv and distributer when you get on it you have a lot of excess crankcase pressure and that pressure is going to find a way out period. I'm surprised your rear main seal isn't leaking as well.

A PCV valve only works when vacuum is present. (idle, crusing) At full throttle there is no vacuum. The chrome breather element, in theory, should be creating enough vacuum from the carb sucking in air at wide open throttle to pull the pressure out of the crankcase and have is sucked into carb as "air". That is adequate for a street car doing the occassional WOT run assuming everything is in tip top shape.

Go to a shop and have a leakdown test and compression test performed if you arent able to do yourself. I suspect the rings on that motor have probably seen better days.
 
you dont need one like that. thinking that was just a example to show you. New PCV valve, and get a breather on the fill side as stated above. Should work. Im wondering, when you at idle..if you remove the PCV valve can you SEE air/oil coming out of that hole???
 
darkhorse said:
you dont need one like that. thinking that was just a example to show you. New PCV valve, and get a breather on the fill side as stated above. Should work. Im wondering, when you at idle..if you remove the PCV valve can you SEE air/oil coming out of that hole???
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Look into the hole in the valve cover where the PCV valve goes. Can you see the rockers or is there a sheet metal looking baffle obstructing your view?

Something else you could try just to see if your whole system is working properly or not...remove the pcv and the breather and just buy some filtered breathers and put them in place of the PCV and breather and use atmospheric venting and see if the issue improves. Of course be prepared for a nice oil misting in the engine compartment when you do this...
 
frank said:
In reference to the Prestolite Distribute, I do have a flat gasket installed. I’ve tightened down the Distribute bracket as tight as I could; under normal driving I have a small amount of oil coming out. If I accelerate hard the PCV, oil dipstick and the base of the Distribute leak oil.
You mentioned the corner of the valley pan (not sure what that is) may be the culprit….can you provide more on that? The Lg. chrome oil cap that’s in the valve cover; I cleaned it out and it flow’s with no obstruction.
Can you clarify “aftermarket grommets and make sure the bottoms are cut open”
Click to expand...


The valley pan is the big tin intake gasket and it's held down on the front and rear of the block by a metal strap with three 1/4-20 bolts. You will notice the intake manifold does not seal to the front of the block like a Chevy or some Fords so something is necessary to close off the crankcase. Where the head joins the block on the intake side there is a little seam that can leak if not sealed up with RTV.

Look at the two grommets. The one on the right has no hole and will act like a plug if you don't cut the bottom out. Or better yet slice a window in the side so it can act like an oil baffle. Because it's longer than a basic grommet it is possible to push the breather in and think all is well. Just something to check.
 

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