The 323ci (worked 318) in my Imperial is eating oil with no proof. No smoke, no sludge, no leak. I'm about 85% sure I've traced it to the PCV-to-carb line, but I'm not 100% sure about how to go about this...

What happens: Around town driving (under 60mph), the car is fine with no oil loss. At highway speeds (65-ish-80mph) I'm losing oil at the rate of about 1qt/hr, speed dependent. There is no residue that is worth noting anywhere near the exhaust.

Ideas: This engine has always had high pressure. It's blown off two breathers. The PCV valve hose is "sweating" oil, how I don't know.

Need to know: is the PCV gone, or do I need to build a baffle system to keep the oil from migrating into the carb?

Any other info needed, please ask and I'll help out. This car is getting driven cross-country in about a month and I want this engine to live.

Yes you need baffles on the valve cover that houses the PCV. Likely that will take care of you, & if not blowby may be excessive especially if the PCV on one side ain't clogged & neither is the breather on the other side & you did mention there is excessive crankcase pressure which is blowby.

I vote for rings. Heres why:

What you're describing is as RR said, blowby. Your car has a very low (numerically) rear end and when you're driving it it takes a bit of throttle to move it. This increases cylinder pressure and some of that pressure blows past the top ring and unloads the oil ring, allowing oil to be metered into the chamber and burnt. It's metered so well that you don't see traces in the exhaust.

R.

Make that 2 votes for rings. Leakdown test needed.

Remove oil fill cap, rev. Tons of "fumes"? Rings!

Rick

You need a baffle inside your valve cover under the PCV, do you have one now?

Quote:

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This engine has always had high pressure. It's blown off two breathers. The PCV valve hose is "sweating" oil, how I don't know.

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the above statement indicates excessive crankcase pressure, ASSUMING the breather on the other valve cover is open to atmosphere.

The valve covers should be baffled to prevent oil loss but that will not cause the breathers to blow off.
You could try running it without the pcv using two open breathers but you may find a mess in the engine compartment IE: oil everywhere.
Sounds like rings