Oil Blowout

[Jeremyrig]

Hello FJ folks - I'm wondering if you can please help me out. I was freeway driving my 1974 FJ40 2F, smelled burning oil so pulled right over to fine oil sprayed all over the left side of the engine compartment, on the firewall, starter, side of the motor, seemed like the oil came out at high pressure or it dripped onto the axle and sprayed from there.

So I cleaned up as well as I could although it was a few weeks before I could work on it so it sat. Also, it hadn't been started or driven for probably 30 days or so, possibly more. It still had a quart or so of oil, still on the L level on the dip stick. I filled it back up to F, started her up, let her warm up with no signs of leaks that I could see. I then revved the engine, keeping it at about 3000 RPM for a few minutes to see if it would leak under pressure, nothing... Then took her for a drive, again at higher RPM, again no leaks.

My only thought is a dry gasket that sealed back up once it soaked up some oil but I hate not knowing. Any ideas? I'd greatly appreciate any/all advice!

 

[Advrider639]

I would think if it spit out that much oil, you should be able to see the source. Id deep clean engine and surrounding areas, and then check again for leaks.

Distributor/fuel pump/oil filter are tightened down? PCV valve is okay?

 

[Tools R Us]

There is an oil galley plug that can come out, but it's in the head, passenger side, roughly over the distributor.

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

There is an oil galley plug that can come out, but it's in the head,

X2

 

[rrv333]

X3

 

[SteveH]

You said 'left side of the engine' but implied the right side. I would replace the oil filter with a new one and carefully inspect the gasket on the current one. Cheap to do.

 

[Jeremyrig]

Thanks all!! I'll let you know what I figure out

 

[65swb45]

Besides the common culprits (oil valley plug, oil filter) I would wonder about the possibility of oil being pushed out by excessive blow-by in the engine, either through a leaky valve cover/side cover or the PCV.

That kind of blow-by doesn’t usually show up under static testing in the driveway.

 

[Jeremyrig]

Besides the common culprits (oil valley plug, oil filter) I would wonder about the possibility of oil being pushed out by excessive blow-by in the engine, either through a leaky valve cover/side cover or the PCV.

That kind of blow-by doesn’t usually show up under static testing in the driveway.

How would you recommend I check for that?

 

[SteveH]

Start the engine, remove the oil filler cap, and see if there is a breeze coming out of the oil filler hole. Then do a compression or leak down test if there is.

 

[Solace in Solitude]

If a ‘74 has the rear valve cover vent hose, to the air cleaner, check your air cleaner... is there oil in it?

 

[Living in the Past]

Start the engine, remove the oil filler cap, and see if there is a breeze coming out of the oil filler hole. Then do a compression or leak down test if there is.

Would check the PCV valve to be sure it's not stuck or plugged. If that working the valve cover should be negative. If the PCV is good have some pretty good blow by. Either past the rings or valve guides.

If a ‘74 has the rear valve cover vent hose, to the air cleaner, check your air cleaner... is there oil in it?

The FJ25 had a draft tube off the oil fill tube and slit in the valve cover. Starting with the FJ40 there was a PCV valve and vent in the valve cover to provide filtered air for the was being pulled out thru the PCV line leading into the intake manifold.

 

[Bripars40]

Had the exact same issue a few years back on a long road trip. It ended up being a cracked/missing piece of the fuel pump spacer.

The passenger side of the engine and undercarriage is thoroughly rust proofed now...