The Ford Barn

pat in Santa Cruz · 03-03-2012, 01:18 AM

After realizing I was looking at data provided second and third hand, I decided to go over the engine personally. What I had asked was, " did you see any clogs in the oil filler tube or cap?"

I was told no. That's because the 2 who tore down the engine and inspected it did not investigate in detail. They saw this:

GEDC0525 by tiopato2000, on Flickr

a normal oil filler tube. When I pulled the cap, I found this:

GEDC0526 by tiopato2000, on Flickr

This was " filtered" with a green Scotch Brite pad which was saturated with the typical oil and water vapor froth from a winter engine subject to short trips. I tried to blow air through it...it was totally clogged...no means for crankcase pressure to escape except through the rear main, the pressure pushing the oil up the drain tube and out the rear seal.

A call to Rich Falluca by shop staff got this answer, without any leading or information on the event, other than that the engine seized.
Rich said, " oh yeah, a plugged filler cap, It would take about 50 miles for the crankcase pressure to push the entire oil supply out the rear main, and another 20 for the engine to fail."

This engine failed at 70 miles from starting out with a full pan. There was 1/2 cup of oil left in the pan when all 4 pistons seized.

03-03-2012, 01:18 AM	#1
pat in Santa Cruz Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: santa cruz, calif Posts: 2,011	baffling loss of oil UPDATE After realizing I was looking at data provided second and third hand, I decided to go over the engine personally. What I had asked was, " did you see any clogs in the oil filler tube or cap?" I was told no. That's because the 2 who tore down the engine and inspected it did not investigate in detail. They saw this: GEDC0525 by tiopato2000, on Flickr a normal oil filler tube. When I pulled the cap, I found this: GEDC0526 by tiopato2000, on Flickr This was " filtered" with a green Scotch Brite pad which was saturated with the typical oil and water vapor froth from a winter engine subject to short trips. I tried to blow air through it...it was totally clogged...no means for crankcase pressure to escape except through the rear main, the pressure pushing the oil up the drain tube and out the rear seal. A call to Rich Falluca by shop staff got this answer, without any leading or information on the event, other than that the engine seized. Rich said, " oh yeah, a plugged filler cap, It would take about 50 miles for the crankcase pressure to push the entire oil supply out the rear main, and another 20 for the engine to fail." This engine failed at 70 miles from starting out with a full pan. There was 1/2 cup of oil left in the pan when all 4 pistons seized.