Pushing oil out the breather, need better crankcase vent system

[RemCharger]

The breathers were 100% there to breath out before widespread usage of pcvs.
Then it changed to breathing in.

 

[beanhead]

The breathers were 100% there to breath out before widespread usage of pcvs.
Then it changed to breathing in.

I don't know, they were used with draft tubes to give an air inlet and they go back pretty dang far before the PCV. Breather use before draft tubes? I've no idea. Didn't they just let their leaky gaskets do the venting

 

[PRHeads]

Draft tubes only work when there’s a draft......what about all those engines not installed in motor vehicles that aren’t subject to emissions standards?
Generators, pumps, tractors, construction equipment.
How long was all that stuff run with nothing but a vent?
I worked at a boat shop in the mid-80’s.
No pcv valves on those things back then.

 

[beanhead]

Draft tubes only work when there’s a draft......what about all those engines not installed in motor vehicles that aren’t subject to emissions standards?
Generators, pumps, tractors, construction equipment.
How long was all that stuff run with nothing but a vent?
I worked at a boat shop in the mid-80’s.
No pcv valves on those things back then.

Ok well now you're just gettin' crazybut you bring up a good point.
To add, I know on our farm tractors 'positive ventilation' or pushing out a little oil was the least of our concerns...they just needed to run. And hell if they didn't run just fine for years! No tubes, PCVs or anything else.
Good to see you checking in over here Dwayne.

 

[moparsaver]

what about all those engines not installed in motor vehicles that aren’t subject to emissions standards?

 

[Charger 770]

This issue is pretty common in big inch stroker wedges and Hemis, even if the engine is in great shape and has no issues.

 

[HAHNAGON]

I'm very late to this party and didn't read everything but thought I'd mention this. Is there a baffle on the valve cover inside, under the breather. I've seen this cause oil to come out.

The 505 makes good power, never been dynoed but pulls like a freight train. I only have oil out the breather after some spirited full throttle fun. Crank case pressure can get pretty high, the tell is my valley pan has been pushed up to the bottom of the intake and finally cracked, making an oily mess. Replacing the valley pan right now, but need to do something to relieve that pressure.

It has a PCV valve in the left valve cover, and a breather in the right valve cover, the breather leaves oily residue on the valve cover.

What are some options to fix this?

I'm very late to this party and didn't read everything but thought I'd mention this. Is there a baffle on the valve cover inside, under the breather. I've seen this cause oil to come out.

 

[DPeltz]

Ballooning the valley pan is not a good sign. I wish you luck bud. As stated, a little confusion between posts on breather status. .028 ring gap not really excessive on a 4.32 bore. Any detonation issues? Again, leak down would be advisable.

 

[1STMP]

No pcv on this one, with only
one breather in passenger
side valve cover. You'll
notice the valve covers are
taller than stock, and the
breather side has baffles.
There is zero oil "mist" on
top of the valve cover. There
is almost no vacuum at hard
acceleration. (the pcv valve
ain't doing a darned thing).
We (engineers who spec'd
an built the engine) did an
oil splash test using a faux
valve cover with spacers
to measure rocker oil splash
major accumulations at
different heights. Almost no
splash was recorded at
about 3-1/2" valve cover
height. Contrary to what was
posted earlier.....breathers
in the valve covers do not
draw air in, they vent out at
much lower pressures than
intake air. If you do have
excessive venting thru the
breather in the valve cover,
that air is being pulled past
the piston rings. If there's
enough pressure in the
crankcase to force oil leaks
and deformed intake valley
pans...it's definitely a piston
ring problem. Broken or
misgapped. I would follow
the advise of others here
and protect your investment
with a simple leak down
test.
PCV's were invented to
control the expelled (under
pressure) gasses to route
back thru the combustion
chambers, to be burned
instead of being vented to
atnosphere.
My '52 Chevy Delux had a
steel tube routed from the
oil pan 90 degrees to the
ground. Stuff just dripped
out where it happened to
land. There was no breather
in the valve cover.

Just after break in (2nd pic)
See any oil?

 

[1STMP]

The breathers were 100% there to breath out before widespread usage of pcvs.
Then it changed to breathing in.

How can this occur unless
there is a vacuum in the
crankcase? Never gonna
happen under normal
operating conditions. Water
or condensation in the oil
alone creates a pressure
condition of steam. It's
gotta go somewhere.....
Probably out the breather.
(Too much air in with no
way to escape, pooches
valley pans).