oil coming out of breather hose

[larryeddington]

There is no question that oil is coming out the breather hose that is aimed at the spark arrestor, some goes in and the rest spills off the manifold and ugh in my bilge. The engine is running perfectly, starts perfectly and revs. My question is could this be caused by the PCV valve not allowing a negative pressure in the internals of the engine. I am going to replace them, one cheap and will know for sure. But looking for opinions. And no I have not done a compression test or cylinder leakage test yet. Also is it possible the breather that the hose comes off of could be malfunctioning. I find it hard to believe it is the engine as it runs perfectly.
Help:

[prowlersfish]

Yes a pcv valve could cause it . Also make sure the oil is nor over filled

[larryeddington]

Well oil not overfilled as the low oil pressure alarm went off when it lost enough to lose oil pressure. Guess I am going to have to do compression check and cylinder leakage tester (blow down gauge slang name). I do like them as they can tell you were the leakage is, rings, valves, or head gasket.

I am hoping the pcv is the culprit as she runs perfect.

[Big D]

Did you check the valve? does it click when shaken? If so, start the engine with everything put back together then remove the valve from the cover and put your finger over it, you should feel a vacuum. If you don't and the valve is good, you have a venting problem at the base of your carb, passages may be blocked. I assume the hose from the valve is going into the base of the carb and the hose from the flame arrestor is connected to the oil fill cap?!...that's the way the venting occurs; from the cover on one side through the valve to the base of the carb, out the breather to the fill cap on the opposite cover.

[larryeddington]

Well I have now eliminated the pcv valve it is new and the hose to base of carby is open and carby clean. So having two 50 hour 318s and transmission packages ready to go in I will put the new engines in. My bigger question is whether to do it my self or just have the shop do it. At present my better judgment is not prevailing and most likely have the shop do it along with some other things. That way less work and more use. Was almost 70 today and complete canvas is being created and installed presently.

I may do compression and leakdown checks but at present may just replace as I have the extra engines.

Any thoughts?