Hello! I seem to have a problem with my 460, the Oil is getting thinner and thinner i've done two oil changes on it and with in about few days of driving the Oil runs off the dipstick like water when its cold running 15w50 and the oil pressure is maxing out, I've never come across some thing like this, I cant smell gas in the oil and the oil won't burn..
Any idea's theory's

 

It sound like you are getting gas in it.Smell it if its gas you can smell it.
If its turning into a chocolate color its water.
Both bad.

 

its not turning milky and I can't smell gas.. maybe it is gas if it was gas the only place it would be getting in would be the pump right?

 

Is it FI or does it have carburetor on it?

 

Holley 4bbl

 

It could be the fuel pump or the intake gasket. Has the gas mileage gotten worse?{ I know its a 460 so thats hard to tell}.

 

I would pull an oil sample and send it out to Blackstone (a site sponsor)for an oil analysis. They will tell you for sure what the viscosity is and if you have a fuel dilution problem.

It is very tough to judge oil quality by looking at it on a dipstick.

Lou Braub

 

I wonder how much that would cost...

 

I agree it kinda sounds like fuel dilution, if so & the fuel pressure checks out ok, maybe suspect the carb float is sticking, or maybe has a leak in it & won't float to shut fuel off, to prevent the float bowl from overfilling, or maybe excessve fuel pressure has caused it's settings to go out of calibration, or maybe the float bowl valve seat or seal is the culprit.

Could even be trash in the bottom of the float bowl not allowing it to properly seal, or maybe the seal material is just bad.

Anyway check the fuel pressure & if ok you might try draining the float bowl & see if any trash comes out that might prevent the float valve from sealing, so draining it might flush the bowl out.

When it's idling, look in the top of the carb & see if you can detect fuel spilling out of the vent tubes into the carbs throat, if so the float is allowing the bowl to overfill for some reason.

I believe a oil analisis is about $20 in round numbers.

A bunch more thoughts for pondering.

 

I second that. Please dont rely on looking at the dipstick to judge oil quality. I use Blackstone all the time. Way too many people change the oil based on how "dirty" it looks. Bad idea. I have had analysis done recently on oil that still looked "clean", but the Total Base Number was only 0.5. In other words, the base oil itself (Havoline full synthetic) was fine but the additives were used up. In the past I had Chevron Delo 400 look black as coal, but tested perfect and could have run for thousands of miles more.

If I understand your post, you are talking about 15W-50 full synthetic, probably Mobil One. Because synthetics flow better at low temperatures, it will tend not to "cling" to the dipstick at room temperature. This is normal.

Jim

 

Blackstone Labs says $22.50

 

It is money well spent, as this is not normal. Even a small amount of gasoline introduction into the oil, will weaken and dilute the system. Using a 15w50 oil (or higher) is not even going to solve the problem.

One way to tell if moisture or coolant is in the oil, is to drop a tiny amount onto a hot exahust pipe or manifold. If you see bubbles, or white steam = moisture / coolant involved.

Clearly though, I'd send a sample of your oil to Blackstone Labs, and this way you won't have to guess anymore.

My inclination: You're gettting trace amounts of gasoline in the oil via a bad choke or lazy opening choke at cold start, or gasoline leaking down during heat soak after the engine is shut off.

If nothing else, too I'd rebuild or have a good shop rebuild your Holley 4bbl. However, get a lab analysis done...

Ed

 

I agree 100% with that. You can't judge it by looking at it. Well, you can tell a little, but not the exact viscosity.

 

Well when it runs off the dip stick like water and leaves nothing behind there is some thing wrong going on, I found out what I think is the source, one of the screws on the bottom of my carb is leaking large amounts of gas, I tried tightening it and it stilled leaked I put some sealant on the threads and it still leaked every where, so I am now officially sick of screwing with it, gonna go get a Edelbrock..

 

Is it that thin when it's cold?? Jesus. Definitely sounds like fuel in the oil, but I thought you said you couldn't smell it?