Oil spewed out of dipstick tube...what the heck?

[eldusto84]

I was cruising just a little while ago, when I noticed smoke coming from the engine bay in my rearview mirror. CRAP. Luckily, I was a block from my house, so I quickly pulled into my driveway and popped the engine cover. The smoke was coming from the muffler, and the reason it was smoking is because hot oil had shot out of the dipstick tube, onto the left side of the engine bay, and onto the muffler/cat below. The dipstick itself was slightly ajar as well.

I checked the oil level and it doesn't seem like I lost too much, but what would have caused this in the first place?

[Soundkillr]

Perhaps your rings are shot and your getting positive pressure in the crank case? Car isn't turbocharged is it?

[eldusto84]

The car is not turbocharged, no.

[Michael]

Most likely your PVC valve has become stuck, but check the hose to the air cleaner...you may have a blockage there too. Also, if you have recently done an oil change, check your oil level and make sure it's not overfilled just to rule that out.

If all that comes up OK, then you may want to do a compression test.

[dmc6960]

There is no PCV valve in these cars, only calibrated nipples, gigity. It is entirely possible one is plugged up though. They are the two ports on the brass pipe below the cold start valve.

Did you just change the oil recently? Could be a little spillage from when filling it up with oil. Or was the dipstick blown out of the tube when you looked?

[David T]

Not too many reasons you would blow oil out the dipstick. if you are not turbo'd maybe it is not the right oil, you overfilled it, or you blew a ring. Typically if you blew rings (or pistons) on a turbo'd car you blow the oil fill off, not the dipstick. Check the oil level, recheck what kind of oil you used and do a compression test and leak-down test. Maybe you never put the dipstick all the way in? Check the level in the morning BEFORE you start the car. It should also be on level ground. It should be between the full and low marks. I keep mine right in the middle. Make sure you have no other leaks. Other places to check include:
The plate (and "O" ring) behind the idler pulleys
Oil sender on the left side
Leaky oil filter
Leaky crank pulley seal
Rotten VOD in the block (you can lose a LOT of oil from this one!)
David Teitelbaum

[eldusto84]

Hmm. I added about half a quart of oil about a week ago so maybe that's what did it? I started the car up today and let it run for 10-15 minutes and didn't lose any additional oil. Engine was running just fine too. Bizarre...