LT5 Assembly Project

[Pete]

Check oil pressure and or try to relief motor of pressure maybe put in a catch can, filters on your cam covers.
Make sure your PCV valves are working.
Just some thoughts
Pete

[LGAFF]

Oil pressure at start up is 70lbs.....at warm idle is about 25-30

[XfireZ51]

Lee,

Agree w Pete. Sounds similar to my issue after motor was first put together. Crankcase may be pressurizing at 5k+. What did you use for vent material? Any oil puddling in cam cover bolt boss especially next to vent tube?

[LGAFF]

I used PCV material....the white fluffly stuff...

[LGAFF]

If it was crankcase pressure, wouldn't it be pushing out the dipstick?

[Paul Workman]

Originally Posted by LGAFF

If it was crankcase pressure, wouldn't it be pushing out the dipstick?

I don't think you could entirely rule out crankcase pressure, based on the dipstick. The rings are not fully seated yet, and will need some miles on them before they do. Just about every motor I've built had some seapage here and there, but usually stopped after some breakin time. So, I hafta think, with all "the right stuff" you put in there, it has to be a matter of breaking in and some time for seals to ... well ... seal! (I'm just sayin.)

Besides....This is a British motor. Oil leak?? What else would you expect??

Sure wish ya coulda made it to the Pizza GTG. It was a good time, as usual, and the Hillbilly pizza was terrific as usual!

You other casual readers never heard of Hillbilly pizza??? Oh! You don't know what your missing! Hafta come to Bob's place for one of the FBI gatherings and find out!

P.

[XfireZ51]

Originally Posted by LGAFF

If it was crankcase pressure, wouldn't it be pushing out the dipstick?

Mine did not. But the oil leak followed a similar pattern as yours. Appeared to come from front. I re-did the oil cooler lines, checked the oil sending unit under the filter housing. Re-sealed the left front corner oil pan bolt, finally using a Doti washer. Sometimes I would take car out and drive it, then park for days and no leak. But when I'd get on it, that's when I would smell a whiff of burnt oil coming into the car. Then I had a small pool of oil by the cam cover bolt right next to the passenger side vent tube. I had used the Scotch Brite for the vent. Finally removed cam cover and replaced w Haibeck's foam material.
No more leaks. No burnt oil smell. That was my experience.
The pressure was causing multiple areas to leak.

[LGAFF]

anyone vent to the exhaust like drag cars

[LGAFF]

A few other thoughts...

Creating a vent out of the oil cap, with a breather

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Originally Posted by XfireZ51

Mine did not. But the oil leak followed a similar pattern as yours. Appeared to come from front. I re-did the oil cooler lines, checked the oil sending unit under the filter housing. Re-sealed the left front corner oil pan bolt, finally using a Doti washer. Sometimes I would take car out and drive it, then park for days and no leak. But when I'd get on it, that's when I would smell a whiff of burnt oil coming into the car. Then I had a small pool of oil by the cam cover bolt right next to the passenger side vent tube. I had used the Scotch Brite for the vent. Finally removed cam cover and replaced w Haibeck's foam material.
No more leaks. No burnt oil smell. That was my experience.
The pressure was causing multiple areas to leak.

I also have some very small puddling in the cam bolt recess next to the vent tube. Not bad, but I have to wipe it clean every so often. I run up past 5k every time I drive it. Not a time I drive it that I don't hit 7k at least once, just for good measure.