Mr Nick

Working on an oil consumption issue with the 350. My PCV has no baffle what-so-ever, using an open grommet and no baffle in the valve cover.

The cast Oldsmobile covers have 4 small nubs that could be used as mounting points for a baffle. Should I mount something here, or just use a baffled grommet?



http://www.speedwaymotors.com/PCV-Gr...Caps,7332.html


Thanks!

Ozzie

I'd first try to determine where the oil is going. If it's going out the PCV, a baffle would be a good start. The factory covers had baffles. Since the grommet is easy and relatively low in cost, you could try it and see if the oil consumption ceases or reduces. Or if you don't mind a bit of shop work, you could mount one on the cover's nubs. Be careful that it clears the rockers.

nsnarsk65cutlass

Unless its directly above a rocker oil hole i doubt that is the cause,remove the pcv and cap the hole to verify.

oldcutlass

I agree, you can temporarily remove the PCV and cap the vacuum line. From my past experience, oil being sucked through the PCV has been known to happen without baffles. Those 4 nubs are where you would drill and use very short self tapping screws to attach one.

jpc647

My M/T valve covers had a small circular baffle, no bigger then 1.75 diameter. It used to leak out the grommet.

The factory installed plates running about 1/2 length down the valve cover to eliminate this. I will take pictures when I get home and post them of what I made and it worked, along with a new rubber grommet and a small amount of RTV silicone on the grommet.

I guess my point if don't just make a circular baffle and screw it in, it might not be enough.

No more leaks out of the valve cover. When I changed the valve covers to a different set, I did the same thing with the grommet and it worked fine.

If this is confusing, I apologize. I'll post pictures tonight to show what I'm referring to.

Mr Nick

Pictures would be great! I don't have any factory covers laying around, but I do seem to recall the baffles were rather long.

Thanks for all the tips so far, I picked up some baffled grommets this evening and will give them a shot. I'm going to test it by running a small clear fuel filter in the PCV line sort of like a catch can (air/oil separater)

jpc647

Sorry I didn't get to the pictures. Got stuck in traffic last night and it was dark by the time I got home. Before you install it, let me send you a picture of what I made. I bought the dorman grommets but it still leaked until the baffles went in. I'll post pictures tonight of the original, and the one I make for the M/T covers I had. If you can hold off today to install them I'll show you what I did. It certainly cured my problem.

Mr Nick

No problem, I won't have time to tinker with it till Sunday or Tuesday anyway. I do appreciate the effort!

Nick

jpc647

hmm, my pictures didn't post. I tried doing it from the autoguide app. It still shows on my phone. Hang on, I'll re do it.

Stock Baffles: 20130618_202038_zps433a1530.jpg

20130618_202047_zps95f54bac.jpg
Baffle I had to make for my MT valve cover. They came with acircular one that didn't cover the hole, so I made this one and it helped.

Mr Nick

Excellent, I was planning on something like that. After fabbing that, I'll probably still use a fuel filter temporarily to confirm the issue is gone.

Thanks again!

jpc647

Be careful to measure, you don't want to make it so big it hits the lifters and such under the valve cover!

Just thinking out loud here, but if you put a fuel filter in line after the pcv valve, it's going to get oil/oil residue in it. The residue is going to build up in the filter and eventually look like oil, isn't it. Or maybe I missed the point.

frankr442

If you're curious about what may be flowing thru your PCV system, instead of a $filter, how about a piece of clear vinyl hose?

1970-W30

"Be careful to measure, you don't want to make it so big it hits the lifters and such under the valve cover! "
I think you mean the rocker arms not the lifters, right?

jpc647

Yea, that's what I meant, thanks bud!

Mr Nick

The point of the filter is to act like a cheap "catch can" just so I can confirm the PCV is no longer sucking oil. A clear tube would work, long as it isn't sucking any oil (which of course is preferred!) But a filter can help show how much, if it's still sucking oil.

My weekend project is making a sheet metal baffle for the PCV and then driving it!

ziff396

With my new covers, I used the baffle style rubber grommits from Morroso and installed this cap with baffles in it also with my pcv attached in line like another I have seen on the board. Seems to work great so far.

Mr Nick

Didn't have time to fab up a bracket, but was itching to go for a ride. So I used a baffled style grommet (small slit in the bottom) for the PCV and picked up a Mopar style breather for the other side. Stinky idle and smoke are gone. I'll monitor oil levels and if needed, install a metal baffle, but I think the grommet did the trick!

I also swapped the sides with the covers so the PCV and breather are on the front of the engine. I wonder if the oil primarily draining down the rear passages of the heads had anything to do with it... Hmmm.

60193W30

I am having a similar issue... A few questions...

1. I am afraid of drilling and taping b/c of vibration, heat etc... The last thing I want is a loose screw dropping into my head... Any thoughts???

2. Can one tack weld sheet metal to the cast covers? (I have the same covers)

3. JB Weld??? Is this even an option. I have fabricated some baffles w/ rt. angles etc... (S shaped) I will post some pics later...

I am only experiencing oil leaking @ high rpms.... (coming out of the breathers)

Joe

oldcutlass

You can use red loctite if your concerned about them coming loose.

60193W30

If I JB Weld the flat side of the baffle to the flat side of the vc I should not have to worry about drilling, tapping and fasteners...

Thoughts....

Joe

oldcutlass

Possibly

RetroRanger

I think I would feel safer drilling and tapping IMO

ziff396

Just a comment on the rubber grommets with a slit cut into them. They did not work on mine. I moved the PCV to the passenger side and it still did the same. I solved it for now with the cap with baffles in it for the time being until I can do it right with a metal baffle. See my previous pic. I would not be afraid of the red Loctite for the small screws to hold it if done right.

Mr Nick

The rubber baffle with the slit helped my issue, but didn't solve it. I installed a catch can and after just over 1 tank of gas it was full of oil.

I plan on installing a baffle like shown in 60193W30's picture, but I would drill/tap/red locktite some screws in them, instead of JB weld. Throttle blades on carbs have screws in them that don't come out...

60193W30

Thanks for the input fellas...

When I drill/tap the nubs should i run spacers off the nubs to increase the distance of the baffle from the grommet... (allowing more ventilation)

These covers are 5" tall and have ample room to the rockers...

I am just spooked with the amount of vibration and heat...

My mindset was if the baffle broke lose with the JB I would have a lesser chance of doing damage with that larger section of sheet metal as opposed to a small screw etc...

Winter is coming Mr. Nick so I too have a project...

Joe

BTW the nubs are .375 wide x .375 tall...
It this enough area for proper ventilation if the baffle is mounted directly to the nubs... (w/o the spacers I mentioned above...) I can get .25 or .5" spacers etc...

Mr Nick

I would think an 1/8" would be plenty of room between the baffle and PCV valve.