The last 2 times I have popped my hood on my truck there is light smoke coming out of my breather. I checked the oil both times and it was fine. Is this normal or do I need to worry?
That's why she's called a breather-it let's the heat out and combines with air, you see a smoke or vapor. Perfectly normal.
I'd be more worried if there wasn't a little smoke coming from it. I'd begin to think something was stopped up. I've never had a flathead that didn't do it at least just a little.
Isn't this from the lack of a PCV valve or something similar on flattys? __________________ HAH! Flattys were discontinued in 1953, PCV came in 1960. Old hemis, Olds Rockets, Caddys...they all smoke thru the 'breather'. Guys that put PCV on flatheads would run Boyds wheels.
PVC was available on 1941 Deosots and Chryslers as an option. It was commonly used on military vehicles with flathead mopar 6's, was part of the wet proofing for vehicles which were expected to ford streams and other water barriers. Most of the mist is water vapor. As rings wear and compression blowby becomes more of an issue the crankcase becomes presurized the smoke and vapor will be more prevailent as the engine wears. Most of it is likely water vapor from condensation from short runs. Not real familiar with ford flatties but where is the crankcase exit?? My engine has a road draft tube as the exit.
A little blowbye is a good thing. Keeps everything lubricated . You might want to check your road draft tube to see if it isn't plugged up.
perfectly normal. All engines with out a PCV system will have wisps at the breather when not in motion. If it's an 8RT flatty the road draft tube will **** the wisps out through the bottom tube when you are traveling down the road. It only comes out through the top breather when the truck is sitting still.
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