Aespooncivic

(i have a ls block with a b20 head with a full drag turbo kit)

so i was drivin down the highway goin about 80 in 4th and then i hear pffff and i lose power and sounds like im runnin on 3 cylinders..so i pull in to a parkin lot and pop the hood and see oil on the hood and on the back of the fire wall i reach my hand on the back of the valve cover and feel oil.. im pretty sure its a blown valve cover gasket.. i was wondering if u have anyother ideas.. and if it is a blown valve cover gasket..does that damage anything elsE?
thanks for the help.. this really sucks..


Modified by Aespooncivic at 9:55 PM 4/15/2005

SHystrdyGSRtdy

what's your setup? got any ideas what caused it?

Aespooncivic

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SHystrdyGSRtdy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">what's your setup? got any ideas what caused it?</TD></TR></TABLE>


b18a1 block bored to 1.9 b20 head-full drag turbo idk what caused it i was doin 80 maybe 90 in 4th and thats when it happened it splattered oil on teh hood and firewall... its comin from the valve cover gasket im pretty sure tahts what it is im wondering if theres chance i did other damage... im hopin it was runnin crappy because there was no seal on the valve cover and not blew a cylinder...

SHystrdyGSRtdy

your VC torqued down?

Bailhatch

sounds like massive blow by if the VC gasket blew out. time for pistons and rings if thats the case. Also if you have the stock PCV hooked up that could have not closed under boost and pressurized the crankase. What is your crankcase evacuation setup?

Aespooncivic

so its bad if the valve cover gasket blew...

SHystrdyGSRtdy

do you have an oil catch can?

Aespooncivic

yeah

Aespooncivic

how much to fix u think?

Bailhatch

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Aespooncivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">so its bad if the valve cover gasket blew...
</TD></TR></TABLE>

considering there should be vac or at least 0 pressure in there, ya its bad. So whats you crankcase vent system? it could be a 2min job if its just the PCV valve.

Aespooncivic

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Bailhatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

crankcase vent system? </TD></TR></TABLE>


?

Bailhatch

got a pic of your engine bay?

Aespooncivic

Bailhatch

ok cool, see that little gray plastic valve in your VC? thats the PCV. if it doesnt close it will see boost the crankcase sees way too much pressure. take it out and firmly plug the end of that think line and see if it leaks oil anymore.

Aespooncivic

can u highlight what ur talkin about

Bailhatch

No

ok see the oil cap. look 8" to the right. that little 90* elbow in the middle is the PCV valve. Actually i shouldent be so confident, I'm 95% sure thats it but I dont work on the non OBD motors ever so im not 100%. The OBD 1 motors have it in a different spot.

Aespooncivic

Bailhatch

exactly. so take the thick vac line off of that little valve and plug it really well with something. Then clean up all the oil from before and go boost. see what happens. I take it the motor runs fine otherwise right? no weird sounds or smoke or anything?

Aespooncivic

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Bailhatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">exactly. so take the thick vac line off of that little valve and plug it really well with something. Then clean up all the oil from before and go boost. see what happens. I take it the motor runs fine otherwise right? no weird sounds or smoke or anything?</TD></TR></TABLE>

i lost power.. and sounded like it was runnin on 3 cylinders.. no metal sounds or anything thought like pingin or anything..blue smoke..

Bailhatch

err, ya i cant read very well i guess. Do a comression test before you take my previous advice.

Aespooncivic

alright thanks man.. i appreciate the help

Bailhatch

good luck! time for sleep

Aespooncivic

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Bailhatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">time for sleep </TD></TR></TABLE>

word

BoostedCivicSedan

Not tryin to be the bearer of bad news, but it sounds like theres a lot more going on here then a blown valve cover gasket... Granted, if your crankcase ventilation system failed, that would probably be one of the easiest places for crankcase pressure to escape, but that would not cause everything you have described... The pop sound is understandable because of the pressure escaping, but losing all power and the car sounding like its only on 3 cylinders PLUS the blue smoke, would not be related to a blown valve cover gasket... Check your coolant for any oil, and also, check your oil for coolant... I would reccomend before you do anything, run a compression test and see what the results of that are... Hate to say it, but it sounds like your ring lands took a poop (if you are running stock pistons, this would most likely be the case), or you could have just popped the head gasket...

I may be wrong here, but I have seen/heard this scenario before, and it was usually one thing, or the other.... Just do a compression test to find out.....

Good luck man, and I surely hope I am wrong

*Boostwerks*

...A valve cover gasket will never blow. Unless the breather line is completely capped off, and your getting horrible blowby.

Either headgasket, or you have larger problems.