Smoke from breather and dipstick - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

natas13 · 03-23-2014, 09:33 PM

Like the title say I'm getting a light steamy smokey burnt oil smelling steam from my breather and dipstick any ideas on what's going on? It's a 350 sb

litew8 · 03-23-2014, 09:51 PM

How's the oil check out? look/level
Check you pcv filter

magicoolbus · 03-23-2014, 09:54 PM

Make sure the PCV valve is not stuck closed. You should be able to hear it rattle when you shake it. When engine is running at idle, you should have good suction at the PCV valve. Smoke is from blow by not properly being evacuated. If your PCV valve is operating normally and you have blow by, I am afraid your problems are deeper in the engine.

natas13 · 03-23-2014, 10:00 PM

Pcv valves solid replacing it on the tune up anyways oil levels a little low gotta do the oil Pan gasket it did not happen till recently and it has lost oil since I drove it more could that be the case low on oil? I really hope it's not my rings

**Steeveedee** · 03-23-2014, 10:08 PM

Rings. It's blow-by, unless the engine is so overheated that it's cooking, which is going to mean rings, anyway.

mmiddle · 03-23-2014, 10:10 PM

Chances are the engine is just flat worn out. A correctly working PCV will mask the problem by sucking all the smoke out of the CC and reburning it. The problem is that the compression rings are allowing blow-by.

litew8 · 03-23-2014, 10:10 PM

check your compression

litew8 · 03-23-2014, 10:12 PM

how many miles?

natas13 · 03-23-2014, 10:14 PM

Sounds like I'm better off buying a new 350 the miles are unknown but it runs and idles like a champ. That's why I'm so confused but a compression test will tell the true story thanks guys

Lee H · 03-24-2014, 09:46 AM

All engines have blow by, even well broken in ones with great compression. On a used engine it is perfectly normal to have a little blow by wafting out of the breather, a little. Now if it's clouding up the engine bay, that's a different matter. While a compression test will is useful in looking at the over condition of the rings and valves, only a leak down test will tell the real story.

cdowns · 03-24-2014, 10:50 AM

if it is used infrequently it will smoke from the moisture that builds up inside the block and will gradualyy go away when the block gets up to operating temps

Old Truck Man · 03-24-2014, 11:01 AM

Excessive blow by like stated previously is compression. usually rings. could be a bad piston. sometimes they burn part of the top away? Ive seen broken rings and cracked ring lands on just one cyl. run a compression check. a seeping head gasket can cause smoke also. many times a engine that isn't used but for short trips (city driving) and doesn't get thouroughly warmed up will collect significant condensation and that evaporating looks similar to blow by. A 250 in a 65 that was perfect before I left home burnt a piston in Dallas Tex traffic. I made it home but the blow by was teriffic burnt a gallon of lucas oil additive on the way home.

geezer#99 · 03-24-2014, 10:54 AM

Check the pcv vac hose. They collapse if you use the wrong one.

03-23-2014, 09:33 PM	#1
natas13 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Olympia Washinton Posts: 21	Smoke from breather and dipstick Like the title say I'm getting a light steamy smokey burnt oil smelling steam from my breather and dipstick any ideas on what's going on? It's a 350 sb

03-23-2014, 09:51 PM	#2
litew8 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Des Moines, Iowa Posts: 3,016	Re: Smoke from breather and dipstick How's the oil check out? look/level Check you pcv filter __________________ project: "my happy mess"

03-23-2014, 09:54 PM	#3
magicoolbus Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 513	Re: Smoke from breather and dipstick Make sure the PCV valve is not stuck closed. You should be able to hear it rattle when you shake it. When engine is running at idle, you should have good suction at the PCV valve. Smoke is from blow by not properly being evacuated. If your PCV valve is operating normally and you have blow by, I am afraid your problems are deeper in the engine. __________________ JB from AZ 1969 Chevy Sub K10 1957 Chevy 3200 1962 VW Beetle 1957 Willys CJ5

03-23-2014, 10:00 PM	#4
natas13 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Olympia Washinton Posts: 21	Re: Smoke from breather and dipstick Pcv valves solid replacing it on the tune up anyways oil levels a little low gotta do the oil Pan gasket it did not happen till recently and it has lost oil since I drove it more could that be the case low on oil? I really hope it's not my rings

03-23-2014, 10:08 PM	#5
Steeveedee Who Changed This? Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 10,612	Re: Smoke from breather and dipstick Rings. It's blow-by, unless the engine is so overheated that it's cooking, which is going to mean rings, anyway. __________________ ~Steven '70 Chevy 3/4T Longhorn CST 402/400/3.56 Custom Camper Simi Valley, CA

03-23-2014, 10:10 PM	#6
mmiddle Registered User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Forestburg, Texas Posts: 659	Re: Smoke from breather and dipstick Chances are the engine is just flat worn out. A correctly working PCV will mask the problem by sucking all the smoke out of the CC and reburning it. The problem is that the compression rings are allowing blow-by. __________________ Mark Jesus is the Way! 2003 2500HD CCLB Duramax/Ali (Clifford) 2014 2SS/RS black on black Camaro (Betty) 2006 Pontiac SOLSTICE silver/black (Lula-Bell) 1970 C/10 Short Wide (Peggy) 1964 C/10 Short Step (Hambone) RIP Jimmy Hamilton Thank you for the trucks

03-23-2014, 10:12 PM	#8
litew8 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Des Moines, Iowa Posts: 3,016	Re: Smoke from breather and dipstick how many miles? __________________ project: "my happy mess"

03-23-2014, 10:14 PM	#9
natas13 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Olympia Washinton Posts: 21	Re: Smoke from breather and dipstick Sounds like I'm better off buying a new 350 the miles are unknown but it runs and idles like a champ. That's why I'm so confused but a compression test will tell the true story thanks guys

03-24-2014, 09:46 AM	#10
Lee H Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Upland Ca Posts: 4,147	Re: Smoke from breather and dipstick All engines have blow by, even well broken in ones with great compression. On a used engine it is perfectly normal to have a little blow by wafting out of the breather, a little. Now if it's clouding up the engine bay, that's a different matter. While a compression test will is useful in looking at the over condition of the rings and valves, only a leak down test will tell the real story. __________________ 1972 C10 SWB, Air, PS, PB, 350/350THM. Second owner. 1965 Corvette roadster, 44K miles, 327/365 SHP, 4 speed, side exhaust, knockoffs, teak, second owner (bought in 1970), Have ALL numbers matching components. My frame off restoration thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=556703

03-24-2014, 10:50 AM	#11
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: Smoke from breather and dipstick if it is used infrequently it will smoke from the moisture that builds up inside the block and will gradualyy go away when the block gets up to operating temps __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

03-24-2014, 11:01 AM	#12
Old Truck Man Registered User Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Pocahontas Arkansas Posts: 684	Re: Smoke from breather and dipstick Excessive blow by like stated previously is compression. usually rings. could be a bad piston. sometimes they burn part of the top away? Ive seen broken rings and cracked ring lands on just one cyl. run a compression check. a seeping head gasket can cause smoke also. many times a engine that isn't used but for short trips (city driving) and doesn't get thouroughly warmed up will collect significant condensation and that evaporating looks similar to blow by. A 250 in a 65 that was perfect before I left home burnt a piston in Dallas Tex traffic. I made it home but the blow by was teriffic burnt a gallon of lucas oil additive on the way home.

03-24-2014, 10:54 AM	#13
geezer#99 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bowser Posts: 13,721	Re: Smoke from breather and dipstick Check the pcv vac hose. They collapse if you use the wrong one.



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