Oil infiltration into cylinders

[Kid_Again]

Ever since the sb was rebuilt, I've had problems with each plug oil fouling.

After one hell of a lot of tinkering, I replaced the intake with an edelbrock and that helped a bit. The plugs continued to be wet but the MSD fired through the fouling. But it's not right.

In a previous post, someone suggested pulling the rocker studs and then sealing the threads. I pulled one intake and one exhaust studs and, as expected, they are blind pockets.

Even though I pulled the intake before, I pulled the intake again. It was either that or I had no valve oil seals (I could see I did, the heads are new Dart Iron Eagle IIs) or half of the piston rings were left off :confused

This time, when I pulled the intake, I had the garage lit up like Yankee Stadium so I could see. Now I can see each intake runner is wet with oil. Also, it looked like the manifold side of the intake gasket was wet with a lot of oil. OK, so I'm pulling oil directly in from the rocker valley. I'll be darned.

Before I get to the speculation about why I have mismatched mating surfaces, can I use Copper gasket maker on both sides of the intake manifold gasket to seal the intake when I reassemble it? I KNOW this is the not the correct solution but I am not pulling those heads. Period.

Which intake gasket do you recommend (original 327, .030 over).

As to the cause, my guess is that the guy who did the engine rebuild decked the block a BIT too much. No?

 

[WayneC]

There are a number of possible reasons, no simple answer. Here is a link to a thread on another forum that addresses this problem:

http://tinyurl.com/buqut

Bolting the intake down with only the port (side) gaskets in place, then measuring manifold-to-block clearance at the two ends with a feeler gauge may give you an idea of whether the block decking is the culprit.

 

[Tom Bryant]

I agree. It sounds like the block (ends) may be holding the side (port) up too high to seal. Your machine shop may have to mill the intake to get it to seat down snuggly. You can always experiment with double intake gaskets first to see if your problem goes away. It will require a larger bead on the ends but will make up the difference on the sides.

Tom

 

[Kid_Again]

Thanks guys.

The link to that other post was really helpful. That guy actually pulled his heads and had the heads and intake measured and everything was in spec.

Dagnabbit.

Well, I will be buying two sets of intake manifold gaskets just in case. I also have the Copper RTV sealant but it warns against using it in contact with gasoline. Hmmm...probably will also buy GaskaCinch if I can find it.

No doubt in my mind that it's pulling oil in from the bottom of the intake/head.

Obviously a pretty common problem.

ttfn

 

[Kid_Again]

OK, ordered a new regular thickness gasket (.060) and a .120 version also. I also ordered a new Permatex product called MotoSeal that is a gasket maker resistant to gasoline and most fuels. It is expensive but beats the hell out of pulling the heads.

I'm NOT pulling those heads

 

[JL66REDCPE]

Joe -- This was from another post which I saved. The person had an internal oil leak similar to yours. He also had an Edelborck Performer aluminum manifold.

He used the Fel Pro Printo-O-Seal, with the exhaust crossover restrictions installed. It totally solved the problem per the post.

This was taken almost verbatim from his post.

 

[Kid_Again]

John...you home this weekend?

We may be downa' shore and all it's going to do is rain anyway.

 

[JL66REDCPE]

Yep -- cmon over -- let me knoiw what time and what day

 

[Ken Anderson]

OK, ordered a new regular thickness gasket (.060) and a .120 version also. I also ordered a new Permatex product called MotoSeal that is a gasket maker resistant to gasoline and most fuels. It is expensive but beats the hell out of pulling the heads.

I'm NOT pulling those heads

Use modeling clay under the dry intake gasket surface and no gasket to find where the big gap is.

 

[Kid_Again]

Whew! Just read the drama going on in the "Fraud" threads. Geez.

John...I'll let you know! And thanks to everyone who's provided their suggestions on the oil infiltration.

BTW, to all my not so friendly admirers out there, I don't do PMs. If you have something to say to me, say it here or just stay logged on to Ken_and_barbie.com

 

[Kid_Again]

Well, I sealed the intake/gasket/cylinder head surfaces with the MotoSeal and so far, it seems to have made a difference

 

[JL66REDCPE]

Joe - good luck -- hope it works.

 

[Kid_Again]

Joe - good luck -- hope it works.

Yup, looks like it did. No more blue smoke. Runs much stronger. An additional 10# of oil pressure. ABOUT TIME.