Thread: Oil in air filter

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I have a 472 Cadillac engine with a stock air filter. The way they have it set up is out of the drivers side valve cover they have a pipe that comes up to a little round metal piece with another pipe that comes out of the side and goes into the air filter cover. There is no filter on the inside of the cover where the pipe comes in. This pipe acts like its a pump, and that's just what it does. It pumps a ton of oil into the air filter. In the other valve cover, I have a PCV valve w/a hose running to the base of the carberator. What can I do to keep the oil out of the air filter? This is the way the car was designed, is there a better way to run it? This is in a 1969 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham. Help Thanks.

-VEGAS

Vegas, First thing to do is make sure the PCV valve is functioning and the hose from the PCV to the manifold is not blocked or kinked. Also make sure tha if the PCV valve is in line in the hose that it is not intalled backwards. Air should flow from the valve cover to the vacuum source and not the other way. That pipe you mentioned is supposed to be a breather and the flow of air should be going from the air cleaner into the valve cover, not the other way around as you mentioned. The PCV hose should be providing vacuum from the manifold pulling out of the valve cover on the opposite side from the pipe are talking about. When everything is working right, vacuum from the manifold should be pulling air through the hose, through the PCV valve, through the valve cover and crankcase, then through the opposite valve cover and finally from your air cleaner housing. There should be a foam or fiber filter on the inside of your air cleaner where the pipe connects to it. Check to make sure that everything is clear in that circuit and it should stop your oil problem.

Hope this helps

Pat

Thanks Pat. The air filter cover where the pipe comes in does not have any kind of filter on the inside of the cover, nor does it have any place to clip one on or put one there. It doesn't look like it was designed with one. I have had some problems with the carberator though, and will probably replace it shortly. I don't know if this could be the problem or not. The PCV valve in the other valve cover seems to be okay. I can't understand why its dumping all the oil in the air filter cover. The way that the pipe that comes up to a little bowl like bucket and then the pipe comes out of the side over to the cover may be the problem. Because the little bucket might be holding oil and then leaking over into the air filter cover. I don't know why the air flow is going backwards.

Vegas

PAT I just went out and breathed through the PCV valve both ways both sides, I should only be able to blow air through it one way right? I could blow air through in either direction, so, this must be the problem, what do you think? By the way YUCK! that PCV valve tastes awful. Thanks for the help.
-VEGAS

HOW MANY MILES ARE ON THIS MOTOR? yOU MIGHT BE IN NEED OF SOME NEW RINGS IF YOUR PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY COMBUSTION GASSES LEAKING PAST YOUR PISTIONS INTO YOUR BLOCK. i HAVE HAD THAT PROBLEM ON SEVERAL WORM OUT SB CHEVY'S IN THE PAST.

Dvereckis I'm not sure how many miles are on it,but it dosen't smoke alot, only when I really get on it.but I know the carburator is bad,it was missing some parts for the automatic choke.But it runs and it doesn,t get that cold down here in florida. I think some one must have been thru this engine at least once because I've had a look in the valve covers,timming cover and oil pan and it is way to clean, no build up of any kind,looks like it was just put together!!! On the other hand it is a 1969, I'm planning on picking up a 500 cadillac moter and replacing this 472 but I'll use some of the parts on the 500.I'll probable do this with in the next year. thanks for the in put.

Vegas