Blowing crankcase cover gasket

[mpro26]

Ok, since I have rebuilt the top end of my FE290 engine, it has been blowing the crankcase cover gasket. I tried to torque the cover bolts according to spec, and putting locktite on the bolts, to prevent loosening. After changing the gasket twice, I finally bought some thicker gasket material and made my own gasket. Hopefully this will help! Im considering making a gasket out of thin copper! I have read some other posts on here, and this seems to be a common problem. However, I havent seen any real good solutions, other than correct torque and locktite. There has to be something else causing this. Maybe too much crankcase pressure building up, or poor crankcase ventilation??? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[mpro26]

Ok, so after making a thicker gasket and running the cart for a few hours, it blew the crank cover gasket again. There must me something Im not seeing. Isnt this engine supposed to have a positive crankcase ventilation system to prevent this from happening? Someone please give me some advice. Thanks! Mike

[mpro26]

Ok, I ordered another crankcase gasket and Im wondering if the gasket is blowing out because of a bolt loosening up? Im going to either install the new gasket I ordered, and put some better thread locker on the bolts, or buy some thin copper and make a copper gasket. I absolutely have to try something to prevent this continuing problem. Anyone have any suggestions?

[TahoeDawgZ71]

Do you have the RPMs cranked up through the roof? I see this very often and 9 times out of 10 it's on an engine that the speed has been tampered with.

[mpro26]

No, actually it has been governed to about 3400 RPM's. I havent been driving it any different than before it started blowing the gasket. Thanks

[TahoeDawgZ71]

3400 is high but it's not excessively high. I doubt it's causing the issue. Something is definitely causing pressure to build up in the crankcase. Have you tried removing the muffler and shaking it to see if you hear anything rattling around in it?

[fastercarter]

Mine runs close to 4700 rpms with no issues whatsoever. Crankcase pressure is determined by poor piston ring clearance causing pressure to seep back past he rings and or a negative return of said pressure back to the intake line. Try pulling that return line off of the intake and see what happens. It's the pipe that connects between the valve cover and the intake runner.

FC

[mpro26]

Doesn't the tube between the valve cover and the intake circulate positive crankcase ventilation back through the intake? Im wondering if the crankcase ventilation valve in the cylinder head is not working properly. Also, why is it that I keep blowing the gasket on the crankcase cover, instead of the pressure blowing the dipstick out of the tube. I figured the pressure would push the dipstick out before it blew a gasket. I know the dipstick is very easy to pull out, therefore it wouldn't take much pressure to blow it out.

[jamie_cartledge@yahoo.com]

How did you fix gasket problem?