Oil Leak/Geyser-AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH

[Robbo]

Looking for a best guess from the experts.
I have a river of oil leaving my engine. I'm using about a quart of oil every 100 - 150 miles There's a puddle of oil on top of the timing chain cover just behind the distributor. It doesn't appear to be coming from the valve cover, but there is a slight puddle on the top of the engine by the
front of the drivers' side valve cover. I think the oil here is dripping off the wires and hoses which are wet from the fan blowing the oil around.
The engine the stock 360 is in my 86 wagoneer with 150,000 miles on it. It's running strong, getting just shy of 15 mpg.

So, what could be the source of the oil? I have the crispy Jeep with an engine which has about 15k miles on a rebuild. Would it be faster and easier to just swap engines? I'm leaning towards the swap and then I'd rebuild the leaky one as I have time.


Bob
:eek:

[xj2fsj]

i'm always one for a looksee into a new powerplant.plus you'd have a clean new engine bay, a chance to clean all those hard to reach spots( like the left rear spark plugs smile.gif use the new engine is my vote!!!

[porchpiggy]

I had the same puddle, but after doing a timing chain and intake install, it was gone. I did so much that I could not tell you which seal/gasket was the direct cause of that particular puddle, but I strongly suspected the timing cover or front seal.

[SpruceMoose]

change the pcv valve, clean the filter inside the oil cap, make sure the hoses to/from the pcv valve are clean inside and not leaking, make sure the hose from the oil cap is not plugged.

in other words, the oil could be forced out by too much pressure in the case. happened to me after i replaced the intake manifold and swapped the 2bbl for an efi kit. i used the same pcv valve, but without the small hose on the side of it. i found a valve for an older jeep with a 360. been working fine ever since.

or, the front cover gasket might be shot. but checking/replacing the pcv stuff is a lot easier.

sm.

[ibnfe]

My '85 had the same problem. I isolated it after degreasing it several times then dusted the front with baby powder. Found out the front of the intake was leaking, so I pulled the intake to fix, and lo and behold at what I found!! There was so much carbonated oil and such caked under the intake between the heat shield and valley pan that there was hardly any room left for air to flow :eek: . Basically the PCV system wasn't doing anything due to internal blockage :eek: , not to mention the lack of oil drainage back through the case. Of course mine had a few extra miles (230,000), but you may be running into the same scenario. If there is oil coming from the front of your intake at the rate you're talking, something is making the oil pool up inside, unless the seal is hanging out. Check and see if your PCV is working good. If it isn't, then I would probably pull the old out, put the new in, and start planning a rebuild. Good Luck.

[Robbo]

The PCV was changed just before this leakage started,
maybe I got a bad one??
I'll try another new one and
see if it helps. Hopefully that's what it is, and it hasn't caused more problems.

Bob

[chrisnsarah]

I've heard that the neophrene gaskets at the front and rear of the manifold are trouble. It's best to just use a bead of rtv in this area.

[Josh D]

I think ibnfe hit the nail right on the head, as I'm experiencing the same problem with leaks in various places due to crankcase pressure buildup. I have a new intake and carb waiting to go on when I have the time. In the mean time, I blow compressed air done the PCV port in the intake manifold when engine is warm to blow off the buildup on the grate area of the heat shield. Poking coat hanger wire down the hole might help as well. It seems to help for awhile, as my leakage slows way down afterwards (my main leakage is rear main seal). Definitely degrease/pressure wash frequently to stay on top of where the leaks are coming from. Hope this helps.

[Snakeyes_Tx]

Oh yeah.. swapping engines looks good on paper but gaw! All those nickel and dime items... and I always seem to have a few bolts left over when I'm done too! (fear!)

You should take the intake off and clean out the entire underside of it, in the shield and all. New intake gasket and valley pan, and while ya got it apart, go ahead and change the valve cover gaskets and the small one under the distributor too.

[thos]

I had the same problem 5-6 years ago. Oil pouring out to the point where it was spraying the cars behind me! :mad: I had no idea where it was coming from until the engine was degreased. Sure enough it was from the timing cover. Replaced seals (and, of course chain while there) and no more pbm. :D

[Robbo]

Got the PCV and new hose tonight and will put
them on tomorrow. If this fails, looks like I might as well get a new cam and timing chain and do that upgrade at the same time.

Bob

[waggin'ear]

What do i need to do BEFORE I replace the rear main seal and oil pan gasket or any other oil leak for that matter.

What does the oil fill tube to air cleaner housing connection have to do with the PCV/crankcase pressure.

My PCV valve is good (has vaccum sucking air towards carb)


I am afraid to replace my rear mainseal, for fear that I have increased crankcase pressure that will blow out the new seal in short order.

Should I remove the intake manifold and clean out underneath of there first?

[Josh D]

waggin'ear,

If your engine's PCV system is clogged, or not functioning correctly, it'll vent crankcase vapors out the oil fill tube, at least until it clogs as well. Then the pressure has to go somewhere, usually out deteriorated gaskets or seals allowing oil to spluge out as well. If your engine is high mileage, it might be best to remove the intake, clean all the gunk out of the manifold heat shield, and replace all the gaskets on the top end while you got her down changing out the rear main seal. The extra work equals piece of mind.

[Robbo]

Well I changed out the PCV valve and that
looks like the cause, at least I hope it is, driving will tell.It looks like the hose between the valve and the carb pinched shut. The combination of goofy angles and vacuum collapsed the hose. It does look like I should shedule my next long weekend to clean out the intake replace the seals.

Bob