l20b spitting oil iut the breather on the valve cover.

[dislexicdime]

My l20b is pumping oil out of the valve cover at freeway speed's I drove it 13 miles to work today and it pumped out about 3/4 of a quart of oil. What do you guys think it is? I just replaced the head gasket and head. I am guessing it is a cracked or stuck ring.

[banzai510(hainz)]

I would look at the PCV valve and swap a oil filter as they do have a valve in there.

[dislexicdime]

I pulled the pcv and cleaned it it still moves back and forth if I shake it. Didn't think of the oil filter. Guess I will try that

[RonM]

U could do a compression test, but if it were a ring you'd see tones of smoke. Did you see any? When you replaced the head did you have it flushed? Could you have a clogged oil return?

[dislexicdime]

I hot tanked the head . And last time I checked the comp was even across the board. I will have to check it again.

[datzenmike]

Over filled with oil. Check dipstick against a known good one or drain and refill with exact amount and compare to stick.

[bertvorgon]

I'm with Mike. Do you have a spray bar too?

I have/had this problem before...with my L20B turbo motor, Few more details please.

[dislexicdime]

L20b stock pistons. A87 closed chamber head wber 32/36 unknown cam not much bigger then stock.

I just changed the oil filter oil and pcv . I noticed after that the valve cover had come loose some how and squirted out the gasket so I tightened it down. On the trip home I ran a hose from the breather in to a coke bottle and I noticed it is pumping mostly steam in to the bottle and a hint of oil. Then after the oil change I went for a spin and the darn thing over heated. I am wondering if the block is warped or if there is a crack in the block I can't see. This is the second head that has done this . Me and my buddy threw a vacume on it at his machine shop and it checked out so I don't think it is the head .

And if it was the intake leaking water you would think the water would be going out the exhaust not the top of the valve cover!

[James]

Blown Head gasket would be my guess. Try re-torquing the head bolts?

[datzenmike]

There's where you 3/4 Qt. of oil went on the highway... out the cover gasket.

If the head gasket is leaking into a cylinder, the steam from it can work down past the rings into the crankcase and out the valve cover hose. A little water makes a lot of steam/water vapor. It would explain an over heating too.

[dislexicdime]

I just changed the head gasket yesterday. That is why I am thinking it is somthing els.
And I pulled all the plugs and none of them look clean like they do when steam get's in the cylinder. But who knows maybe this hg gave up all ready.

[banzai510(hainz)]

check the center hole where the head bolt goes thru for cracks in the block between the water passages.

loose intake bolts and running a hot water line to intake manifold?


front cover on tite? around water passage area?

[dislexicdime]

Good advice hainz that's exactly what I just finished doing.

Ok so I forgot one of the main thing's about swapping a l series head.


I went from a head with out coolant ports for the intake to a head with coolant ports for the intake
I forgot to hook up this line.


And I think since the coolant had no where to go it seaped in to the the intake runners.

Head side







Intake side




The last time I drove it it got hot . And now I can't decide if I should buy the intake gasket replace it and hope for the best! Or should I replace the head gasket again.

[James]

I would get a new intake gasket - I always install them dry, and re-install. Start at the middle and work to the outside so you don't warp the intake.....then if you still have issues deal with the head.....
Why did you replace the head gasket in the first place?

[dislexicdime]

It blew between 2 and 3 and warped the head .020 so I replaced the head and head gasket