bmylez

iTrader: (3)

Well, bad news bears. I had been burning oil since my cam install (1/4 qt in just a couple hundred miles), so my first thought was valve seals. Sure enough, it looked like I didn't completely press on the #7 exhaust valve seal. It didn't look damaged, so I tapped it on and thought I was good. Well, I decided to check my oil a few hundred miles after that, and I had burned another 1/4 qt, so I knew I was burning oil from somewhere else. Decided to pull my throttle body and check inside the intake...this is what I saw:
Attachment 725386

What is puzzling to me is the valve cover breather hose is bone dry, the PCV/valley cover hose is fairly clean inside. I ran a paper towel into the hose and it had some grime on it, but it wasn't completely soaked in oil. Also, if you look in the pic, you can see the PCV port in the intake and it doesn't look like a lot of oil is built up around it. Where is the oil coming from? I'm at a loss and starting to worry about the health of my motor.

LLLosingit

iTrader: (4)

PCV is likely the only way for it to get there since it's a dry intake. I would do a leak down test to see where the problem might be.

bmylez

iTrader: (3)

Just so weird...car was not consuming oil, then right after cam/tune, this started. Wonder what happened...

STAGEUP

That intake looks pretty normal to me if you dont have a catch can.

I would start by doing a leak down. Check for any oil leaks around the crank pulley, rear main, and timing cover

bmylez

iTrader: (3)

The picture doesn't really do it justice, then. Remember, I've gone through 1/4 qt in only 300 miles or so. If I never checked my oil and just kept driving, I would've run very low before noticing the pressure taking a ****.

turboal1

did you check the valve spring retainer to valve guide when you put the cam in
you mite have crushed the valve seals. not enough clearance.

bmylez

iTrader: (3)

If the valve seals were leaking, would it get oil into the intake manifold??

bmylez

iTrader: (3)

Alright, I will try a catch can.

twmSS

Is this for your 07 cts v? if so there is a bulletin from GM #PIP4388A, Excessive Oil Consumption During Aggresive Driving - Replace Pistons And Oil Control Rings. Not sure if this helps you since you didn't have the issue til you cammed it but I figured I would let you know about it.

bmylez

iTrader: (3)

Haha, that sure sounds like my issue. Replacing the pistons wasn't very high on my list of things to do. I've switched to Rotella T6 5w40 to see if that helps a little. I saw a 2-3psi bump in oil pressure at warm idle, so I'll see if it slows down consumption a bit.

redtan

iTrader: (5)

You'll be surprised how much oil collects in the catch-can after you run it for a bit. Then think that all of that would be going and depositing on the inside of your intake or on on the backside of the valves. No bueno.

bmylez

iTrader: (3)

Yeah, I came from the turbo 4 cyl world, where catch cans are an absolute must. I'm still surprised so many of you think this isn't an alarming level of oil consumption, though. 1/4 qt in 300 miles?? I just don't know how I could have hurt my motor so quickly, but anything is possible.

bmylez

iTrader: (3)

This car won't be getting new pistons. My plan in about 4 years was to get a low mileage LS3, big boy cam, and ported heads. This is a bit sooner than 4 years, though. I'm just hoping this motor holds on for a little while longer while I hunt this problem down.

dw456post

Did you change valve covers? Some aftermarket covers do not have splash guards and the engine really sucks it in. Other than that, yep, get a catch can. The leaky valve seal will cause it to burn oil, but will not wind up in the intake.

bmylez

iTrader: (3)

I did the homemade catch can on the CTS-V how-to site, so we'll see how quickly it fills up. It looks like it only holds maybe 6oz, but it will at least give me an idea of what's happening.

LS6427

iTrader: (2)

Just get a new PCV valve....it's probably just stuck open.

.

Jimbo1367

BMYLEZ,
DO YOU HAVE A LINK for this DIY catch can?

thanks,
JIm

bmylez

iTrader: (3)

http://cadillacfaq.com/faq/answers/oilcatch/index.html

bmylez

iTrader: (3)

Huh? http://www.ls2.com/forums/showthread...1#post12537165

Mark200

He was doing okay until he vented the crankcase to atmosphere (disconnected the TB vacuum and installed the K&N breather)... now he no long has a PCV system, which they say is detrimental to the engine over the long term (no positive evacuation of the crankcase gasses).