:sad: Hello fellas,
Well I have finally started my gen VI 454 and it sounded pretty good but I noticed my fuel pressure gauge is bumping up to about 15 lbs . it is a edelbrock model 1722 and is supposed to put out around 6psi , I have no fuel pressure regulator and i'm running a holley 770 street avenger. I let it idle about 15 min while setting timing etc. and it started making a clicking sound ( not quite like a engine knock but close) so I shut it down and drained the oil and it was super thin and has a brown color and smelled like gas.... any thoughts??

if your fuel pressure was 15 psi you should have fuel running out of the carb as the floats can only handle about 9psi max. as far as fuel being in the oil are your floats set properly? and im not sure which was making the clicking sound the motor or the fuel pump

Put a fuel pressure regulator on it.

Bob,From reading your post,sounds like fuel is finding it's way into the oil system.My 1st. thought is intake manifold/intake gaskets/heads area.Did you check (set intake on heads w/o gaskets)to see how well your intake surfaces mate with the heads and upper block ends? What type of heads/gaskets/intake do you have? What type of fuel pump,(elec.or mech)?Did you use a fresh set of intake gaskets? Hope it's not the worst...cracked head(s),intake or block? Were these magged at the machine shop to check for cracks? did your oil level increase? my$.02:confused:

No, I had no fuel running out of the carb but but its running a little rich , I played around with the floats a little but wanted to shut it off when it started making strange sounds... I think I will send back the fuel pump and get another one . It may be less expensive than buying a regulator and dealing with the finished plumbing. So you guys dont think I caused any major engine damage... i had no metal shavings in oil. Thanks for your time..

The engine is brand new , however I did have the intake off and used fel pro gaskets ..but did not check the mating surface. The engine is a factory GM 454 HO.

The engine is brand new , however I did have the intake off and used fel pro gaskets ..but did not check the mating surface. The engine is a factory GM 454 HO.
When you say you had the intake off, are you saying you had it mounted an torqued in place,took it off and REUSED the gaskets? That would be a NO-NO ! Fuel could leak into the lifter valley/oil system. Then that could explain the clicking sound.(raw fuel washing the oil out of the lifters,rockers,pushrods etc):cool:

15 lbs of fuel pressure will overpower your floats. Get your fuel press. under control 1st, and go from there.

15 lbs of fuel pressure will overpower your needle & seats. Get your fuel press. under control 1st, and go from there.

fixed it for you:thumbsup:
I knoe this is what you mean't to say.:D

If getting the fuel pressure down where it belongs doesnt fix it then the diaphram in the mech fuel pump is likely bad if running a mech pump,that will dump raw fuel into crankcase when that happens.

Scott

Well I have finally started my gen VI 454 and it sounded pretty good but I noticed my fuel pressure gauge is bumping up to about 15 lbs .
If you REALLY had 15 psi being delivered to the carb, I'd expect it would flood like mad and the engine would run terrible. Might want to check the accuracy of the gauge.

it is a edelbrock model 1722 and is supposed to put out around 6psi
More evidence that you don't actually have 15 psi of fuel pressure.

I let it idle about 15 min while setting timing etc. and it started making a clicking sound ( not quite like a engine knock but close) so I shut it down and drained the oil and it was super thin and has a brown color and smelled like gas
You ran the engine 15 minutes, then drained the oil. The oil was thin because it was warm; it was brown because that's what color oil is.

As for the clicking sound--there's a dozen other things that could cause that; and if the oil smelled funny, I'd consider the possibility that hot oil does just plain stink. If it was fuel-contaminated, you'd be able to easily set a sample of it on fire by holding a match or lighter under the wet dipstick.

Short story: MAYBE you're right about having gasoline in the oil; it's possible, I suppose. But it doesn't sound LIKELY at this point.

What concerns me is the clicking noise; and could that be lifter tick either from improper adjustment or from a cam lobe or five going flat? Defective fuel pumps can make ticking or rapping noises. Exhaust leaks (especially the dreaded "Header Tick") can be mistaken for engine noise.

Fresh oil, fire it up, and begin really investigating the source of the noise...and keep an eye on the oil pressure.

If you REALLY had 15 psi being delivered to the carb, I'd expect it would flood like mad and the engine would run terrible. Might want to check the accuracy of the gauge.


More evidence that you don't actually have 15 psi of fuel pressure.


You ran the engine 15 minutes, then drained the oil. The oil was thin because it was warm; it was brown because that's what color oil is.

As for the clicking sound--there's a dozen other things that could cause that; and if the oil smelled funny, I'd consider the possibility that hot oil does just plain stink. If it was fuel-contaminated, you'd be able to easily set a sample of it on fire by holding a match or lighter under the wet dipstick.

Short story: MAYBE you're right about having gasoline in the oil; it's possible, I suppose. But it doesn't sound LIKELY at this point.

What concerns me is the clicking noise; and could that be lifter tick either from improper adjustment or from a cam lobe or five going flat? Defective fuel pumps can make ticking or rapping noises. Exhaust leaks (especially the dreaded "Header Tick") can be mistaken for engine noise.

Fresh oil, fire it up, and begin really investigating the source of the noise...and keep an eye on the oil pressure.
Thats the key. Watch your oil pressure. If your oil gets "fuel-contaminated" you will loose oil pressure. A blown pump diaphragm can send fuel into the oil.

FYI,the poster stated "THE OIL SMELLED LIKE FUEL" when he drained it so thats why he supected it was contaminated with raw fuel.

Scott

maybe this is why mine always had a bad smell of gas.... ;D pig rich holley....

Thanks for all the replies... I changed out my brand new edelbrock fuel pump and put a 20 dollar carter on and my gauge now reads 6-7 psi and the clicking sound is gone. Oh and my oil is now clear and feels like oil between my fingers. Called edelbrock today and explained my 2 year old fuel pump was just removed from box ( finally) and is defective and they are sending me a new one even though it was only a 1yr warranty ...GOOD FOLKS !! Thanks all or most , Bob

That's what i thought,bad f-pump diaphram dumping fuel into the crankcase,good thing you caught it before it caused bearing/engine damage.

Scott

They sell fuel pressure regulators for a reason...hope you didn't wipe out your bearings...

Glad to hear you drained and replaced the oil and filter as nothing wipes out bearings as fast as raw fuel.