major oil leak, need help Options

[ericoneal]

I finished my pushrod tube seals last night and prepared for a short "shakedown" run this afternoon. Checked oil while cold, and it was at first level mark. Added .5 quart which took it to just above full while cold (odd).
Now this: Attached is a silver box located on my fire wall, used for crankcase pressure. I think its there from when the car was carbed, but the PO had installed Megasquirt FI, but there are still three hoses running to this. It has always been 'oily' but never really leaked. I checked the hoses and wiped it off. They seemed tight. Again, never any real problems from here, so I thought all was good.
After a few miles of spirited driving, I get home and saw the attached. Oil everywhere, pooled on engine, splattered on firewall, etc. Pretty sure it is all comgin from here.
My question is, if the hoses are indeed tight (i did not touch them), what would cause this? Pressure overload from the crankcase? Too much oil?

IM at a loss.

[malcolm2]

Maybe when you checked the oil, you did not fully seat the stick and it looked low....then added more and you are over filled. You can't tell where it is coming from? Clean it up and get a helper to start the car and you watch for drips or an oil spray.

#2. The silver box is not supposed to hold oil, right? Just oily air flowing around and eventually burning off? If so, it seems that a hose is blocked and the oil is pooling up in the box and leaking out.

Maybe, since it sounds like you don't think you need the box and did not put it there yourself. Take it off as a troubleshooting measure. You can always put it back.

[ericoneal]

Thanks, maybe I did overfill.. Will check when it settles more.
I did let it idle for 5-10 minutes before I left the house and nothing was leaking, seemed to only happen once I got out driving it.

Maybe when you checked the oil, you did not fully seat the stick and it looked low....then added more and you are over filled. You can't tell where it is coming from? Clean it up and get a helper to start the car and you watch for drips or an oil spray.

#2. The silver box is not supposed to hold oil, right? Just oily air flowing around and eventually burning off? If so, it seems that a hose is blocked and the oil is pooling up in the box and leaking out.

Maybe, since it sounds like you don't think you need the box and did not put it there yourself. Take it off as a troubleshooting measure. You can always put it back.