470 Mercruiser spitting oil out the valve cover tube

[19ft Galaxy]

Good day fellow boaters! I just bought an 84 Galaxy Cabin boat. Its got the mutt 3.7L. Half Ford half Chevy concoction. Its been under a shade tree in Mid Michigan for 5 years. Needless to say, A LOT of bug and some rodent infestation. So far the silonoid on the starter, plugs, wires and a cap and rotor have been changed and she runs beautiful. Except the tube going from the valve cover to the air "cleaner" is spitting way too much oil out. The boat has VERY very few hours on it and is in great shape. Is there a pcv valve somewhere thats plugged? As high as the compresion is and no starter free up when it rools over, I doubt the rings or valves have any issue. It runs too good as well. Doese anyone know why its spitting oil out so bad? Im new here and new to boats. Thanks so much in advance for any help.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: 470 Mercruiser spitting oil out the valve cover tube

check your oil level. if its raising, you have an issue elsewhere.

 

[cr2k]

Re: 470 Mercruiser spitting oil out the valve cover tube

Have you checked the oil? Is it at the proper level? Not milky? It sounds kinda like water intrusion raised oil level. If not that I might think head gasket or cracked head, block. Hard to tell.

 

[19ft Galaxy]

Re: 470 Mercruiser spitting oil out the valve cover tube

Have you checked the oil? Is it at the proper level? Not milky? It sounds kinda like water intrusion raised oil level. If not that I might think head gasket or cracked head, block. Hard to tell.

Forgot to mention. I checked the oil when I first got it. Looked perfect. Clear, new oil and right on full. Upon starting it for the first time the coolant pump was leaking coolant out of the weep hole. Tore it apart and changed the badly deteriorated seal, also the harmonic balancer seal as well (as long as I was there). After about 8 hours it had spit almost a whole quart of oil out the tube into my carb and all over the motor. I replaced the missing quart and ran it easy the rest of the day. High rpm (4000 max now) it spits it pretty bad. Not losing any fluids anywhere, other than the oil. Not getting hot. Point dwell and gap are on point. Timing has been set. (distributor, not chain) IDK. Compression test is next I guess. Timing chain after that. I thought it might be an easy fix all things considered. Might just get a 4.3l replacement this winter which is a bad deal. Thought this motor would last a while. Looks great and bought from an old lady whos son used it only a few times (according to the tale)lol..... You can tell when something that old has been used or not. Has zero wear on everything including the trailer. The tires are extremely weather worn but basically brand new tread. Big hint I think...Thats why Im not thinking rings or valves.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: 470 Mercruiser spitting oil out the valve cover tube

if it sat, you could have stuck rings. put in some seafoam and see if they loosen up.

 

[19ft Galaxy]

Re: 470 Mercruiser spitting oil out the valve cover tube

if it sat, you could have stuck rings. put in some seafoam and see if they loosen up.

Thanks. That's the second time someone has suggested that. I'll test the compression tomorrow and if it's low, I'll get the sea foam.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: 470 Mercruiser spitting oil out the valve cover tube

Valve seals could be hard and not sealing. Could add some conditioner to the oil or just use an overhead spring compressor and replace them.

 

[nola mike]

Re: 470 Mercruiser spitting oil out the valve cover tube

Valve guides aren't replaceable on this engine.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: 470 Mercruiser spitting oil out the valve cover tube

Valve guides aren't replaceable on this engine.

I was talking about the valve guide seals !

Valve guides are replaceable on any engine!

 

[nola mike]

Re: 470 Mercruiser spitting oil out the valve cover tube

Mercruiser calls for the bores to be reamed and replaced with oversize valves, though IDK whether Ford specs something different. Either way, I wouldn't think that the valve guide seals would cause that much oil loss, would they?