something broke: 400 motor

[bhm1712]

Was test driving today after bleeding the brakes and also topping up the oil to the full mark. I know i have valve stem seal issues but something got worse today

Within minutes of starting the drive upon deceleration i was puffing out ooddles of oil smoke from the tail pipes like never before. So much so i was leaving a smoke screen behind and felt i had to turn back home.

No idea whats gone off as it wasnt particularly bad before today.

Dad said ive overfilled it with oil and its forcing oil through where it shouldnt but ive rechecked the level and its at full on the stick.

Not sure what the plan is now.

Any ideas why thats happened so instantly?

[SUPERCHARGEDGTA]

are you sure dipstick is right?
if so it might be worth giving it another run, topping up oil dose tend to fill valve spring wells with oil making any seal issues worse for a mile or 2
jammed pcv valve? (easy to check, dose it rattle, if so its ok)

[bhm1712]

im wondering if the dipstick is wrong too....

I think to sort it out im going to have to do an oil and filter change and pour exactly the right amount of oil in and then wait 30 mins and check the dipstick then. If its a different level to the line i will re-mark the stick.

Plus, it never crossed my mind that when filling the oil its pouring directly onto the valve springs/stems/guides......so it may be that!

Thanks for giving me a little bit of assurance before i go to bed!

[bhm1712]

dang cars! if its not headers being a pain, oil filters leaking all the time, exhausts being a bugger to fit etc etc......

[G20BlazerTA]

Once had a car that had a split diaphragm in the vacuum modulator on autobox. Sucked ATF fluid into intake causing loads of smoke out of the exhaust. Prob not that but you did say it smokes on deceleration (high engine vacuum) Just a thought.
Hope you get it sorted soon mate

[Mikey V8]

On my 78, my dipstick was wrong, what I did was drain the oil and put the correct amout in then put a new mark on the dipstick for full, cant be a coincidence that you fill the oil then this happens?

[bhm1712]

True! I've driven over 200 miles since the new exhausts went on until I started having an issue with the brakes and it wasn't doing this until yesterday right after I topped up the oil. I'm thinking its the oil pooled around the valve stems - I may have pointed the funnel directly onto a valve and poured in the new oil. I've filled the level to the max mark on the dipstick before and never had a problem however, I had to remove the dipstick tube to fit headers so it may not be fitted exactly in the same position as it was before

[bhm1712]

Well it's not doing it today !

Not at least when I had a quick 20 min test drive.

Seems odd

[SUPERCHARGEDGTA]

happy days

[thirdgen]

pain in the butt these old cars

[Retro]

Talking of checiking the oil. Should you check the oil when the car's cold with the engine off OR whilst runing the engine

[thirdgen]

engine off for engine oil cols is good or hot let it run down to the sump.

only check auto box when running

my dipstick is wrong also i remarked it with 4 litres plus the filter full. the other full mark was about 2 litres !