oil issue or not ?

[billysboat]

I don't know if this is a problem or not , but I keep trying to resolve a lot of little issues in getting this boat right.
This motor is a ford 351 with a volvo outdrive. It's a brand new motor. My oil pressure seems real high, It's reading 80 psi. I'm using straight 30 weight, but I think it may be the gauge. I'm gonna hook up a mechanical gauge later to check it out. I noticed there is no PVC valve so I put one on. I hooked it to the back of my hollye 4160 carb. It smoked quite a bit and burned a quart of oil up pretty fast. So then I disconnected it, it stopped smoking and then seemed fine.
Each of the valve covers has a breather and they are saturated in oil. I'm wondering if this is normal. So, does anyone no if there should be a pvc valve connected and if so where would it go ?

 

[JustJason]

Re: oil issue or not ?

There doesn't need to be a pvc, that's an automotive emmisions item, but there should be a breather tube in each valve cover thats routed with hose to the flame arrestor.

You shouldn't be burning that much oil though. On a brand new engine you may suck a quart over 20 or 30 hours, but after that oil consumption should stop. You might want to do a leakdown test to see if your burning your oil through the rings or not.

 

[billysboat]

Re: oil issue or not ?

Thanks Jason,
I was reading other posts on pcv valves and their purpose. It was when I hooked up the pcv to the back of the carb, that is when it started burning oil , when I disconnected it, it stopped. That is why I was wondering if it was needed.
As I stated before , the breathers are saturated, that is why I hooked a pcv up thinking it needed to breath more ...so it makes sense that the carb was drawing oil directly from the valve covers when the pcv was hooked up.
I'll keep reading more posts, but I will note, doing a google search for trouble shooting problems leads me back to the Iboats forums fater than the site search.

 

[billysboat]

Re: oil issue or not ?

.....oh I forgot. there are no baffles on the valve covers.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: oil issue or not ?

Did someone install a Hi-Vol oil pump?

 

[KJSmitty]

Re: oil issue or not ?

If you installed the PCV valve/system correctly, regardless of whether a boat needs one or not, it would/should not be sucking oil through the valve. The fact your breather caps are saturated etc tells me you have other issues.

Also, even if it was a high volume oil pump it shouldn't cause a need for excess venting. The only remote issue with high volume oil pumps is if the engine design does not allow for good oil return to the pan. With all of the engines I have built with "higher than standard" volume/flow - Ive never had an issue. So IMHO, either you have a ton of oil pooling in the valve cover area or you have issues with blow-by (or both).

As Jason mentioned, a leak-down check may still be warranted.

80psi: You may or may not have an oil pressure issue. 80 psi isn't really abnormal depending on temperature and/or engine rpm. Bottom line, your saturated breathers may not be related to the "possible" oil pressure issue.

What yr of boat/engine? A 351 ford and no PCV says older obviously yet I am just curious.

Good luck

 

[billysboat]

Re: oil issue or not ?

As the Doctor asked, I am almost certain a high volume oil pump was added. Aren't they always ? The motor is a rebuild from rapido marine in Fla. And, yes it has got to be an older block too.

 

[fishinpa]

Re: oil issue or not ?

I believe you need the baffles in the valve covers.

did the covers come with the rebuild?




fish

 

[billysboat]

Re: oil issue or not ?

Fish,
They are aftermarket covers and I can see right down through the oil fill hole to the valves.
Everything Ford is new to me. I've always been a chevy buff, but now understand why the baffles look the way they do.