I have been battling oil loss in my 390. I know that I am leaking some oil from the oil pan, the rear main seal, and the valve covers. The valve covers will get redone soon, I was just sloppy when I had the valve covers on and off repeatedly while adjusting valve lash. The oil pan gasket looks wet mostly around the rear half. The tranny is very oil soaked. When I parked in the snow while skiing, it leaked several teaspoons worth. I also blow blue smoke. Usually when cold, and when I down shift. This is not consistent, somedays I seem to blow a lot, others not. I have been assuming that because I put fresh heads on without doing a lower end rebuild that I have been blowing it past the rings. I notice that there is oil well up the dipstick when I pull the stick out to wipe down, but I don't see any evidence that I'm blowing it out the tube. I also have been trying to track down a ticky-clacky sound that I have been thinking has been lifters. When adjusting my rockers, I was using a fuel hose as a listening tube. I had a couple of rockers that "clacked" on the valve stem and I adjusted this away. There still seemed to be a ticky sound coming from inside the lifter valley in general. I am now having thoughts that I might be having an intake manifold leak allowing oil to be sucked into an intake port past the gasket. Since the heads where assembled by a Pro at a machine shop, I am making an assumption that the valves are sealing. I am thinking of doing a compression test to see if I have good compression. If I do then I think I will try redoing the intake manifold. Two main questions would be:

1. could you hear an intake manifold leak similar to an exhaust leak?
2. I have a compression gauge I have never used that is a press in type. I've never checked compression, what is the best way for me to do this?

When I put the Edelbrock manifold on the first time, I used a Mr Gasket intake manifold on my speed shops advise over Fel-Pro. It looked a little thicker. I had to re-do a month later when I replaced the cam. I had a Fel-Pro that I used this time. I also didn't use the cork end gaskets in favor of a ton of anaerobic grey RTV as per Edelbrocks instructions. I believe I smeared what I considered a thin layer or grey RTV around the water passages. I don't have any water/oil mixing.

BBT

 

In General, YES ,to the oil loss because of bad intake gaskets!! I have had Bad Luck with Mr. Gasket and Victor types.. But not Fel Pro..
My Dad was using 1 qt of oil for every tank of gas.. the Iron manifold was not re torqued and the gaskets went away ..
I have also had Exhaust gas being blown into the crank case valley area from bad gaskets. Looks just like you have blown the rings out. A good screw in compression gauge will test for good compression and check for the `blow by` thing..
I also have had Water in the head area from the victor gaskets not sealing PRIOR to the engine getting `Hot`. if you are using some water every day (But not a lot like a pint or so) Any brown `snot` looking stuf in the valve covers can mean Gasket Time!!


__JOHN__Õ¿ö
72 F-250