1938 p 6 oil dripping out the vent tube

1938P6 · August 30, 2009, 04:22:40 PM

we fixed the problem by taking off the valve cover in the back and cleaning it out and the cam oil passage out and putting new gaskets on the car is running with no leaks and the oil canister I put a rubber o ring on the b center bolt and it stop leaking thanks guys for all the suggestions they were a big help ;D

1938P6 · August 30, 2009, 03:56:50 PM

we fixed the problem by taking off the valve cover in the back and cleaning it out and the cam oil passage out and putting new gaskets on the car is running with no leaks and the oil canister I put a rubber o ring on the b center bolt and it stop leaking thanks guys for all the suggestions they were a big help

Doran Johnson · May 28, 2009, 12:16:28 AM

Is it possible that the same problem that is causing an oil leak from the vent tube would also be causing an oil leak at the top filter fitting?

Doran

1938P6 · April 10, 2009, 08:41:49 PM

thank you eyer one for for the input I will let you guys know how I make out thanks again Jim Clark

David Pollock · April 09, 2009, 10:46:28 AM

If oil is coming out of the vent tube in a drip, then the problem is thar the drain for the rear cam bearing is clogged with sludge. You will lose about a quart of oil in 5 miles when this happens. It suggests the whole engine needs cleaning, but you might be able to clear it by putting a good solvent in the vent tube opening and possibly blowing jets of air into it. However, the drain is Below the camshaft and it would be advisible to remove the pan and get at it from below. Clean the pan and the oil inlet screen while you are in there. A messy job to be sure. Low compression would not cause this problem unless the car was putting out so much smoke, you would not be able to drive it at all.

plym_46 · April 08, 2009, 12:26:57 AM

Make sure the breather in the cap on the filler is clean. If the crank case can't breath in and out properly, it will get preasurized and force oil out the toad draft tube. You can check the condition of the rigs by doing a compression test with a compression gauge.
Take your initial reading across the cylinders. the introduce a bit of oil into the cylinders through the spark plug hole. If the reading increase durig a second round of cranking, that indicates worn rings, as the oil will help them seal temporarily and build more compression.

Also hookig a vacuum gauge to the intake manifold where the vacuum wiper hose atteches can also give you a good idea of your engines internal condition. Do a google search for vacuum gauge readings, and thee will be several sites with test procedures and what the readings and needle movements mean.

Pandanom · April 07, 2009, 09:54:33 PM

Road draft tube is same as vent tube

1938P6 · April 07, 2009, 07:39:09 PM

Hi Bill the cap was cleaned out but what do you mean by road draft tube I don,t know what that is please let me know I also took a compression test and found out that one cylinder was week and did the wet compression test it went up the engine does not run bad and this just started all of a sudden the car has not been out for a long time it had brake problems but that has been repaired that why I think you are right about its plugged up we thought that it might be in behind the valve clover next too the vent tube making the back up and come out the vent tube thank you Jim Clark

Wm Steed · April 07, 2009, 12:46:39 PM

Oil dripping from the vent tube is a sign of two things:
1. The engine piston rings are worn out which creates excessive blow by in the crankcase.
2. The breather cap and/or road draft tube are plugged up which prevents air flow through the block, thereby building up crank case pressure which forces oil out of? ? ?
? ? every route it can find.
I have seen older engines, ie, engines that have used nothing but non-detergent oil,? that were so fouled up with sludge that proper air circulation through the block was impossible.
You may be able to solve your problem by removing the draft tube and breather cap and giving them a good cleaning in solvent...Bill

1938P6 · April 06, 2009, 07:15:59 PM

Hello I am a new guy but me and my dad own this car a long time 33 years but know were having a problem with the engine oil is coming out the vent tube on the flat head 6cyc. when it warm up it is a steady drip I was wondering it the valve are cloged up not letting the oil getting back to the oil pan can any one help or suggest a solution to this problem this is a rare car they only made 2700 of the 1938 business coup it looks like the car that was in the Humphrey Bogart movie THE BIG SLEEP AND HIGH SIERRA NICE CAR thank you yours truly Jim Clark