Crankcase Pressure

nothwoods · May 11, 2014

Just wanted to throw this out there before I tear down my motor. I have a t-trim running about 15 psi on a 333ci motor, puts 540 to the wheels, (or used to at least!). Last year it started making lots of pressure in the crankcase, which started with blowing out the oil cap, then got worse where it would blow oil out of the breather, then started burning oil out the exhaust. Still runs great, put it away intending to tear down the motor. Just got it out today and drove it down to my shop, ran great and didn't seem to burn any oil until it was warmed up and I got on it hard a couple times. There's no oil coming out of the blower, I think it either has a burnt piston or rings, is there any simple thing I'm overlooking before I tear it down? PCV seems okay. Thanks for reading!

modulistic · May 11, 2014

valve seals in the heads. might be blowing out one or two intake valves, pressurizing the crank case, and then blowing oil in through an exhaust valve seal. I think if you vented a piston or hurt the rings, it would be running pretty bad.

nothwoods · May 11, 2014

Yeah I thought about valve seals, is it common for them to slide up on a blower engine? The fact that it still runs so good is just what's bugging me. I would expect to have a misfire, at least at idle. Thanks for replying Mod.

FoxMustangLvr · May 12, 2014

Do a compression test or leak down test to eliminate rings. What kind of crank case ventilation setup are you using?

nothwoods · May 12, 2014

I just have the PCV valve in the stock location and a breather cap on one valve cover. I think I'm going to tear it down anyway and at least change the rings and bearings for piece of mind. It's a great running engine and it's endured a lot of punishment without so much as a hiccup, so I think I'm going to freshen it up anyway so I don't destroy it.

RacEoHolic330 · May 12, 2014

With that much boost, I would be ditching the pcv and run two breather Iines into a catch can. I also agree that you should check compression before you start taking things apart.

FoxMustangLvr · May 12, 2014

RacEoHolic330 said:
With that much boost, I would be ditching the pcv and run two breather Iines into a catch can. I also agree that you should check compression before you start taking things apart.

Yup, vent each valve cover to a catch can. Also, even if you just want to rebuild the bottom end anyway, you should diagnose the problem before you go through it and put it all together and still have the same issue.

nothwoods · May 12, 2014

I'm not familiar with the catch can system, I've seen valve covers that extend the breathers up a few inches. It's actually never given me any trouble up until now, and I put this setup together about 12 years ago.

MikeH686 · May 12, 2014

This is my setup

madspeed · May 12, 2014

Mines very similar. Good proven setup

nothwoods · May 12, 2014

That's a nice looking setup. Is it an-10 line?

MikeH686 · May 12, 2014

I think so it's 5/8" line

madspeed · May 12, 2014

Looks like 10an

MikeH686 · May 12, 2014

Yeah it is I had to do the conversion haha

nothwoods · May 13, 2014

I'm thinking maybe this could be part of the problem? Had 40 psi on #8, but a little JB Weld and she should be good to go! Looks like the block is okay at least.

FoxMustangLvr · May 13, 2014

What is that chunk from? Have you drained your oil to check it for any debris?

nothwoods · May 13, 2014

That's a missing piece of piston! I tore the whole motor down, the only damage I can find is to that one piston and rings. The piston is demolished, it even broke around the oil ring land somehow! Haven't pulled the valves out yet but there is no damage at all to the combustion chamber, even the rod bearing looks fine. Thinking about putting in a set of flat tops and a different cam and going back to N/A.

7991LXnSHO · May 13, 2014

At least the leak down told you where to look. I figured the valve guides were not the problem. But WOW, do you think it went lean and melted the piston edge, or did that chunk somehow make it out past the exhaust valve?

nothwoods · May 13, 2014

I'm wondering if it detonated because the fuel was stale, but if it did I couldn't tell driving it. Looks like it started to melt and then a piece broke off, but its weird because there's no marks on the piston or combustion chamber. The lower ring land on a 331/333 stroker crosses the pin bore, and one side is somehow broken downward toward the pan in that spot, can't figure out why. Only damage seems to be to the one piston.

89oem · May 13, 2014

good catch for sure...

Crankcase Pressure

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