So my 1960 Truck with her 272 1957 heart likes to claim her territory. Just behind the fuel pump is what I assume to be part of a basic pcv system. When the truck is running, i can see a stream of exhaust coming out of it. After the truck has been running for a bit and as she cools off, i get a small oil leak out of the pipe. She ends up leaving me a nice little two inch oil stain.

Is this something that's normal? Or is it indicative of a greater issue. I should note the the rad is currently a bit clogged and truck runs on the warm side.

I also have noticed as the motor cools, i get smoke that vents out of the oil fill tube in the valley. Is this normal?

This is my first motor of this era...

Thanks.

 

I think you are referring to the road draft tube...you can convert to a PVC system. Someone should be by to help ya on that or you can use the search feature and there is an article somewheres on the forum that speaks of it.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...rchid=13296885

 

If you have a bock mounted tube oil coming from the road draft tube could be caused by blow by from a worn engine. Also, inside the road draft tube is a small tube about 1/4 inch that drains oil that has accumulated in the bottom back into the crank case. That tube my be blocked with old sludge and need cleaning.

Not sure about ones that are attached to the valley cover..

A small amount of smoke from the filler tube or road draft after shut off is normal if it isn't excessive which would be another indication of blow by..

 

The Valley Cover tube, only smokes a little when you turn the motor off, its just small wisps. The road draft tube has quite a bit of smoke coming from it. I have only looked at start up though. Ill have to let it get up to temp and check. The oil drain is nothing terrible, Iv not had to add oil (i check each time i take her out) but it is enough to leave some good sized stains on the drive way. I just don't know quite what to expect from this motor, since i have no normal baseline. Driveway is at a slant, and shes always parked nose up. Not sure if that matters.

 

The draft tube comes off the back of the Valley Pan and runs down the back of the engine. It is designed to create a slight vacuum on the engine block from air blowing across the end of the tube as you drive the truck down the road. This ventilates the engine block. A PCV system takes these vapors back to the intake manifold for further burning.

As stated, oil coming out of the tube is usually a sign of blow by from a worn engine. All engines have some blow by, but lots of oil is an indication of significant wear.

I converted my engine to a PCV system when I rebuilt the engine. I modified the valley pan for a PCV valve and added vents to the valve covers (to let new air in). It seems to work fine.

Lastly, are you sure the oil on the drive way is coming from the draft tube and not the real main seal. That is a common place for these Y-block engines to leak oil.

 

The OP stated his road draft tube is located on the block just behind the fuel pump and thats where the oil drip is. This is typical of early passenger car/trucks. I don't what years and models had the tube located in the valley cover but I have seen them there also. I added a PCV system to my early Y block using a 62-64 valley cover that has a provision for PVC connection..

PS: Fords don't leak oil they are just marking their territory

 

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PS: Fords don't leak oil they are just marking their territory[/QUOTE]


Correct, the word leaks implies that the original intent was for nothing to come out! Not the case here!

 

PCV introduced in 1961, so no 1960 or earlier has it.

 

Bill, my memory is getting as rusty as my truck, but wasn't there a California law that required retrofitting older cars with a PCV when sold and before they could be registered? I remember seeing many with PCV valves in the valve covers and a tapered rubber plug stuck in the road draft tube on may old Fords.

 

Your memory is just fine, because at one time, CA smog tested all 1950 and newer vehicles.

Since no 1960 or earlier came with PCV, it had to be retrofitted along with the lovely (not!) NOX device that was spliced into the upper radiator hose.

Auto parts stores sold kits to install these features.

 

Thats right! The damn NOX thing, it also connected to the ingnition. I think it retarded the timing until the engine warmed up or something like that.