Think I 've blown my heads today

[bigmanjbmopar]

Well started to see lots of blue/white smoke on deceleration today think these stealth heads the the pre fabbed stuff they used are finally wearing out after 3 years.

Have been playing with the PCV trying to run without for oil soaked plugs which worked, dried them right up running just breathers on each side. but went back to a PCV / breather combo on one side and just breather on the other. Now this big plum of smoke after a 120 mph run no smoke while cruising or from stop to start and just checked the oil level and it was a 1/4 qt low. it also had a strong pungent smell like fuel oil mix.

Not sure how to describe the smell of the oil as it looks golden in color. but does smell a lot. Thinking the valve guides or seals are **** now, any thoughts?

Wired thing is was my first impression of this was ring wash, 850 cfm double pumping big amounts of gas in the plenum then a decel washed some if past the rings? maybe got mixed in oil?

 

[Hemi Rebel]

Sounds like a piston ring issue maybe. Something is worn out for sure.

 

[HawkRod]

I had what I thought was a very serious problem with my (now my son's) 340. It has an 8 quart system and almost burned 6 quarts driving 250 miles round trip to my in-laws one day. It turned out to be a bad intake manifold gasket that had failed between the intake and lifter valley. The engine was sucking in oil from the lifter valley. So it was any easy fix to throw another intake manifold gasket set on the car.

I realize this may be less likely with a big block car, but maybe a similar issue is something to check on. In my case, I could track down the area this was happening by checking out the plugs - two plugs were oil fouled and this turned out to be the area of the failed gasket. Do all your plugs look fouled? Only one side of the engine? Specific ones only?

 

[440ronnie67]

compression test?

 

[lewtot184]

doing a cylinder leak down test will tell you how healthy the rings are. from my experience i'd look at intake manifold sealing. also, do a valve guide to seal check. did you check retainer to seal clearance before installation?

 

[Badvert65]

I had a mechanical fuel pump go bad on the 440 in my truck. Pumped fuel just fine, but it leaked gas into the crank case. I discovered this while checking the oil (strong gas smell). Anyway, replaced oil, filter, fuel pump and everything worked out fine.

 

[WileE]

Your first sentence would start me looking at the intake gasket, valve seals/guides, since you say it occurs during a high vacuum condition.

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

compression test?

Not yet

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doing a cylinder leak down test will tell you how healthy the rings are. from my experience i'd look at intake manifold sealing. also, do a valve guide to seal check. did you check retainer to seal clearance before installation?

Working on getting the leak down kit. Manifold was put on with bath tube only no gaskets just sealant have a new set read for a switch.

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doing a cylinder leak down test will tell you how healthy the rings are. from my experience i'd look at intake manifold sealing. also, do a valve guide to seal check. did you check retainer to seal clearance before installation?

No did not check retainer to seal cleraences as the 440source stealth heads are supposed to be otb ready to go just crossed fingers

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I had a mechanical fuel pump go bad on the 440 in my truck. Pumped fuel just fine, but it leaked gas into the crank case. I discovered this while checking the oil (strong gas smell). Anyway, replaced oil, filter, fuel pump and everything worked out fine.

Interesting, have an eddy hp pump on there, bronze tip comp cam rod. Hoping this set up would be pretty tough could pull rod and check out the tip.

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Your first sentence would start me looking at the intake gasket, valve seals/guides, since you say it occurs during a high vacuum condition.

Well I always new if this day came the the stock stealth set up would have to be redone with better quality stuff hell they even say that in the description of the parts on their web site lol. Was hoping for just another year or two of cruising first or more progress on the car in other areas.

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Today all I wil be able to do is top off the oil with some Lucas oil stabilizer and run it again to see if it's smokes any worse at any speed. Will have to get a leak down kit and do a compression test along with gasket replacement. and oil change. If that fails then I think I'll pull the heads and buy new stuff and have a shop re do it and maybe some port and bowl work. I guess my new headliner work will have to wait again lol

 

[sleepar]

I would check the intake manifold bolts... sucking oil on vacuum.. a lot more common on a small block to leak and puddle up on the out side of the intake... cracked block or heads would do it all the time

 

[Garys1969RR]

Sounds like you are pulling oil into the intake manifold some how. Check the PCV valve set up first. Alot of guys have stated that excess oil from the valve cover area was being pulled into the PCV valve, especially at higher RPMs. Make sure the valve cover is properly baffled where the PCV valve hooks up.

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Alot of oil is pumped into the valve covers at high RPM.

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Bad rings or valve guides could be the problem too. But check the easy things first.

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

Sounds like you are pulling oil into the intake manifold some how. Check the PCV valve set up first. Alot of guys have stated that excess oil from the valve cover area was being pulled into the PCV valve, especially at higher RPMs. Make sure the valve cover is properly baffled where the PCV valve hooks up.

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Alot of oil is pumped into the valve covers at high RPM.

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Bad rings or valve guides could be the problem too. But check the easy things first.

Ok here is something interesting, Background - running PCV on passenger side to carb base, closed MP breather drivers side well not closed but enclosed with holes on the bottom'

A week or so ago I pulled a plug noticed oil soaked, pulled a few more more of the same not some much on some but a lot on a couple.

Went round and round in my pee brain about what is causing this, decided to yank the PCV and switch to all breathers.

Went for a run and pulled same plugs and wow oil all burned off, did smell a bit like oil in the cab at stop lights etc not much.

talked to a few guys about it, most of them said run the PCV to get rid of the smell.

Decided just recently right before this last run to use a PCV breather comb.

In the pick right side is MP breather, left side is combo PCV breather, it twist into the oil cap hole which is kinda cool and has holes in the bottom with filter material inside. want to add both are baffled.

Here's the thing, the first PCV I had had some wet oil inside the tube the valve seemed to work ok, but just seemed to always be wet inside sucking wet oil into the carb base.

When I capped it off it seemed better.

Now that I have put it back with this combo I checked last night and again the tube going to the carb base has oil in it? WTF? I know a little is normal but **** I am loosing a 1/8 to a 1/4 qt of oil every 500 miles or so.

wondering If this motor would just live better with out a PCV?

 

[Garys1969RR]

I think the valve covers may need to be baffled. Actually it may be me who is baffled. Lol

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Does it smoke with the PCV disconnected?

 

[Meep-Meep]

You may be onto something with the PCV. The valve covers should be baffled (or just confused) to stop the oil mist from being sucked up by the PCV. From a hard decel you will generate a lot of vacuum for a long time and that seems to be a good opportunity to suck oil. There is a breather available that has a PCV hole in the top. This might be worth trying as it will put the PCV farther out of the valve cover. It's a parts store item too. Don't run without PCV or some form of crank case ventilation but rather find out why oil is getting in there.

Another good point made is extended time at high RPM will fill the valve covers up more so baffling is more important. The stock baffles are much longer than what is typically found on the aftermarket valve covers. Maybe get some sheet metal and fab up a set of long baffles.

 

[AMX364]

With the Turbo 2.2 Dodges the issue was bad parts form most PCV makers. A number started going to used OEM units from salavage yards and cleaning them. Maybe something close to this issue?