You just never know what you find when you open-- up an engine. I pulled the heads off to do a head swap and I found two 9/16” staples inside. One in two pieces under the passenger side valve cover and one setting on the same side lifter tray. I did have the covers off years ago to change the valves springs for a cam swap. So, the one that got chewed up by the springs could off gone in then----but not the one on the tray.

The inside was clean, 73000 miles of 10-30 Moble1 changed whenever it starts to get dark. But the inside the intake was a dirty caked on oil mess. I tried a rattling type PCV, it came with a plain orifice type, but with both it still uses oil on the highway. So, looks like a LS6 # 12577927 valley cover is in order. The 5.3 has the PCV in the driver’s side valve cover now.
If I can figure out how to keep an “oil Catch can” from freezing up in North Dakota winters, that will go on also.

Anybody heard of a heated oil catch can?


One in the tray, the other with the valve springs.

 

Those are wood staples. You got punked somehow. Location of the oil catch can will help you, I would mount it in vicinity to the front corner above the power steering pump (near the exhaust manifold)

 

Hello dsmmace,
Thanks, that is a step in the right direction. But it would have to be drained every time before a cool-down---freeze up-- if the normal winter condensation white foamy stuff is collected that could plug-freeze up the can. I could see the filter material freezing up in the can.
I googled about cans freezing up and it does happen, oil dip sticks pushed out and oil leaks from high crankcase pressure.

Maybe a solenoid that opens a valve to drain the can when ever the engine is off. Will need a diaper then, the truck not me.
Also, a check valve in the system that would release pressure if the can side would freeze up should be added.

I think my neighbors to the North punked me, I live in ND and the truck was built in Canada. Nooo body else was in my garage when I pulled the heads off. On the broken staple one can see it was smashed multiple times until it broke.

 

Yup, putting a staple in an unsuspecting engine is TOTALLY something us Canucks would do. Sorry aboot that Eh?

I think you are overcomplicating the issue that has a solution that with radiant heat would solve your freeze up. The only other way around this issue is to not let your truck idle for hours or park in garage and not let the engine warm up, also to not change your oil on regular mileage intervals or time duration. The common combustion engine can suffer the pcv freeze up, regardless of manufacture or design, it's a condition of the environment that the vehicle is operated in. If you want the ultimate solution, skip the catch can and route the pcv system to your exhaust piping and burn the oil and condensation out that way.

Your thinking like the astronauts, NASA spent lots of money on a pen that works in space. The Russians used a pencil...

 

Thanks, you made me smile!
I did call my neighbors : neighbors, maybe it was Sasquatch that had a few extra staples. LOL
I do change the oil when it starts to get darker. Both valve covers were clean with no varnish. But the intake side: the plastic runners, intake port and valves were caked up and the tops of the pistons. But the piston carbon is over the full top----not washed clean on the edges so the rings should be OK.
What bugs me the most that it uses oil at 80 m/h, about 1 quart/1000 miles. Maybe the new valve guides and seals will help that.
I like the exhaust piping idea, a reverse EGR system, and the pencil, KISS.
No not you, "Keep it simple stupid"
I agree about warming up and the problem with short trip driving. I have seen a few carbureted air cleaners iced up from the moister coming out of the PCV inlet .
Thanks again