Oil coming out of the dipstick hole

Hey All,
freshly rebuilt 455 out of a 1970 Riviera, seems to be leaking oil out of the dipstick hole in the block and dripping down onto the headers.
It doesn't have an extension tube for the dipstick, just goes in the block. Is there supposed to be a rubber gasket at the top of the dipstick to seal this? don't know it it just dried up and crumbled away over the years that the motor sat.

 

If it is weeping past the tube and the block, some PTFE paste (plumber pipe dope) will fix that and not prevent you from pulling the tube out if you need to.

Use a little and then wrap a thin strip of rag around the base and "shoeshine" to clean the excess off the tube after you install it.

(it gets on everything and spreads like anti-sieze and stripper dust...)

 

Thanks for the Response TM,
That's what confuses me, is there is no tube. The stick just goes directly into the hole in the block, which I've never seen before, but it puts the dipstick at the correct depth in the pan.
There is a tiny little cap at the top of the dipstick, just didn't know if maybe there was supposed to be a little rubber grommet or something in there.

 

Sorry. I mis-read "It doesn't have an extension tube..." for "it does".

No grommit or felt under that cap. Most likely it is blow by or crankcase pressure causing the oil/vapor to be pushed out.

Is it like a few drips, or a good bit being forced out?

Any gasket leaks or seeping? Oil consumption an issue?

Damn, I hate "old eyes". (and blind spots from getting "sparkled" in the US of Air Force back in the olde days...)

Make sure you have a good PCV valve. (just buy a new one, the time and effort to test it with vacuum is not worth a few bucks, and shaking them does nothing but make your wrist tired)

And make sure the valve cover vent cap(s) are clean/clear.

Start the car cold, and see if you notice any blow by with the valve cover cap open, and then after warming up.
When cold, if you can, puff some smoke into the valve covers, or into the PCV valve hose, it will help show cold blow by, as it may be less when warm.
(since most of us smoked way back when, all the smoke was a useful tool...)

 

The early 400/430 motors, and the very first 1970 big car 455's used the stick with no seal.. and they did leak a little, even in normal use. The A body 455 cars in 1970, and all models there after used a dipstick tube and stick.

I recommend that you install a tube/stick combo on your car there, it can be a bit challenging with some types of headers, but is do-able.. Not many HP BBB's fare well that non-tube stick setup.

TA Performance has the reproduction parts you need for this.

JW

 

Thanks for the input guys,
I will check all those things, replace the pvc valve and order the dipstick w/ tube setup.
My thinking was that the oil slashing around is not very far from that hole even though I'm not running very high on oil pressure, just the slinging from the crankshaft could throw it up there, were as the tube, I believe goes down into the oil pan almost the length of the dipstick.

 

X2 on Jim. I tried running at the track with the old style dipstick tube and oil just loved dribbling out. Mayeb the oil level was high? Upgraded to the dipstick tube type. Done.

 

That's one of the first places blowby will try to escape. Detonation with cause oil to push out there.....

There was a guy at the local track with a 70 Electra and it was rattling all the way down the track and smoking.
I asked him what gas he was running and he said it runs just fine on 87. I told him I could hear it from the fence as he went down the track. Must have been deaf....Didn't bother to try to ask what timing he was running. Never saw it at the track again.....likely blew up.....

 

Is it weeping or really pushing out? If it’s really pushing out,you probably have a ring seal issue.

 

I believe it's just weeping out, but not sure. it runs down the headers, then back towards the flange when driving i guess, and drips of of the flange on the floor when parked. Leaves a wet spot about the size of a baseball if that.

 

I am interested in adding the tube/stick combo. Doesn't something need to be removed from the block to give the tube room to go in?

 

Yes, just the old dipstick, insert tube and bolt on head to hold it down.

 

Yes, that's what i was wondering too, if the tube would fit inside the hole that's there if it didn't come with the tube.

 

Sounds good. Thanks

 

I run just the stick in mine racecar.......so it doesnt see tons on run time.......i had to grind that stopper button to even clear my header on my stage2 heads, luckily it does drip or have blow by even with the big camnin there